Perhaps one of the most prestigious awards an actor or actress can receive is a Oscar in one of the four acting categories. As they revel in the special moment of claiming a win at the Academy Awards I wonder if they take a moment to think about their acting journey as a whole. To that night of glitz, glamor, and celebration what was their very first role like?
This is a list of every Oscar acting winner's very first feature film role. Some are bit parts or uncredited background actors while others got supporting or even lead roles in their first movie. Some of these actors were children in their first role, while others were already adults. Joan Crawford…
Perhaps one of the most prestigious awards an actor or actress can receive is a Oscar in one of the four acting categories. As they revel in the special moment of claiming a win at the Academy Awards I wonder if they take a moment to think about their acting journey as a whole. To that night of glitz, glamor, and celebration what was their very first role like?
This is a list of every Oscar acting winner's very first feature film role. Some are bit parts or uncredited background actors while others got supporting or even lead roles in their first movie. Some of these actors were children in their first role, while others were already adults. Joan Crawford was a body double in her first movie, while only Anjelica Huston's hands make an appearance in her first role!
Some of the movies these Oscar-winning actors were in first are bad horrors or made-for-TV movies you've never heard of while others had the opportunity of being in timeless classics, box-office hits or movies considered one of the best of all time. Unfortunately, some of these movies are still considered lost and are unlikely to ever be seen by anyone ever again.
The name of the actor or actress, the award they won, what film they won an Oscar for, and the years they won are featured in the notes.
Fun Facts:
Eleven actors won Oscars in their first feature roles. They are:
Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave | Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls | Anna Paquin in The Piano | Marlee Matlin in Children of a Lesser God | Haing S. Ngor in The Killing Fields | Tatum O'Neal in Paper Moon | Miyoshi Umeki in Sayonara | Harold Russell in The Best Years of Our Lives | Katina Paxinou in For Whom the Bell Tolls | Gale Sondergaard in Anthony Adverse | Helen Hayes in The Sin of Madelon Claudet
Five movies were the first feature acting gigs for two eventual Oscan winners. They are:
George Burns and John Mills in The Big Broadcast | Martin Balsam and Red Buttons in Winged Victory | Eileen Heckart and Jo Van Fleet in The Trip to Bountiful | Anne Bancroft and Eva Marie Saint in The Man Who Had Influence | Humphrey Bogart and Spencer Tracy in Up the River
