Top 20 Acting Debuts
I’m still waiting to make my long anticipated acting debut. These actors however were not as patient as I and have already made their debuts. In this list I’m going to shoutout 20 actors who had absolutely legendary film debuts. First, a few notes. I am considering an actors feature film debut, so short films, television, and the stage don’t count for this list. I also am going to be ignoring any roles in which the actor was uncredited. Finally, I didn’t want to just copy a list of actors who won or were nominated for Oscars in their debuts, so while many actors on my list do fit that bill, there are some notable exclusions.
Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins, ‘Mary Poppins’- I’d say this may perhaps be #1, although this list is not ranked 1-20. After having worked for years on West End & Broadway, including originating the role of Eliza Dolittle in ‘My Fair Lady,’ Andrews was passed on to star in the film adaptation of ‘My Fair Lady’ for Audrey Hepburn. She was soon approached by Walt Disney himself to play the lead in his new film, ‘Mary Poppins.’ Andrews was 3 months pregnant at the time & Disney ensured her that he would postpone filming until after she had given birth because he wanted her to play the lead so badly. Andrews would win an Oscar for the role and starred in ‘The Sound of Music’ the following year.
Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, ‘Halloween’- Horror is not typically a critically praised genre, but many fans consider ‘Halloween’ one of the greatest films of the genre. Starring Donald Pleasance as Sam Loomis, a psychiatrist looking for his most dangerous escapee patient, Michael Myers. Myers goes on a killing spree and comes across the path of Laurie Strode, a teenage babysitter played by a debuting Jamie Lee Curtis. Curtis would go on to have an Oscar-winning career and star in many popular films, as well as reprise her role as Laurie on six occassions.
Robert Duvall as Boo Radley, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’- One of the more minor parts on this list, Robert Duvall made his film debut in the legal drama, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ based on Harper Lee’s award winning book of the same name. Duvall plays Boo Radley, who is at first an intimidating figure, but turns out to be a protective individual, saving the two young protagonists.
Jennifer Hudson as Effie White, ‘Dreamgirls’- In another Oscar-winning debut, Jennifer Hudson was already a successful singer by the time she made her debut in 2006’s ‘Dreamgirls.’ For her role she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and in 2022 she completed the legendary EGOT (Emmy Grammy Oscar Tony).
Timothy Hutton as Conrad Jarrett, ‘Ordinary People’- The youngest ever recipient of the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, Hutton was 20 years old when he made his debut in ‘Ordinary People.’ In the film he plays a young man who recently tried to commit suicide & is returning home from months in a psych ward. The film also won Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, & Best Director for Robert Redford.
Marlee Matlin as Sarah Norman, ‘Children of a Lesser God’- Marlee Matlin has been deaf since she was 18 months old. When she was 21 years old she made her debut as a deaf janitor working at a school for the deaf who forms a romantic connection with a new teacher (William Hurt). Matlin became not only the youngest winner of the Best Actress Award (a record she still holds), but also the first deaf performer to win an Oscar (she has since been joined by Troy Kotsur for ‘CODA’).
Matthew McConaughey as David Wooderson, ‘Dazed and Confused’- Technically McConaughey’s first credited role was in ‘My Boyfriend’s Back’ as Guy #2, so I’m breaking my own rule. But if there’s anything that can get me to break a rule, it’s the possibility to include Matthew McConaughey on a list. Not only did McConaughey steal the show as a supporting player in Richard Linklater’s ‘Dazed and Confused,’ but he also originated the three words that would become his catchphrase even now over 30 years later. Well, really it’s one word repeated thrice. Alright, alright, alright.
Haing S. Ngor as Dith Pran, ‘The Killing Fields’- Ngor won the Oscar for his debut role in this 1984 biographical drama. What is even more incredible is his real life story. Just like the man he played on screen (Dith Pran), Ngor was a Cambodian refugee who relocated to the US. Ngor was an OB-GYN in his home country, before surviving three terms in concentration camps and crawling to safety in Thailand. Ngor was tragically killed at age 55 when he was shot by thieves when he refused to hand over a locket containing a picture of his wife who had died in the concentration camps when she couldn’t get the c-section she needed. I literally teared up writing this. Rest in peace sir.
Edward Norton as Aaron Stampler, ‘Primal Fear’- In this 1996 legal mystery thriller about a defense attorney (Richard Gere) trying to prove the innocence of his client (Norton) in a murder case. For delivering one of the greatest twist endings in film, Norton was awarded a Golden Globe and received an Oscar nomination.
Lupita Nyong’o as Patsey, ‘12 Years a Slave’- After starring in a Kenyan TV show and graduating with a master in acting from Yale, Nyong’o made her debut as an enslaved woman in ‘12 Years a Slave.’ She won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her efforts and has gone on to have a great career in the 11 years post debut.
Tatum O’Neal as Addie Logins, ‘Paper Moon’- This 1973 road film stars real life father-daughter duo Ryan & Tatum O’Neal as it’s protagonists. In the film her father plays a con man who agrees to take her character to live with her aunt after the death of her mother. The younger O’Neal won Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. And the wildest part? She was only 10 years old, making her the youngest competitive Oscar winner to date.
Anna Paquin as Flora McGrath, ‘The Piano’- The person that has come closest to beating O’Neal’s record is Anna Paquin, who won Best Supporting Actress at age 11, for her debut role in ‘The Piano.’ The film also won Best Actress (Holly Hunter) & Best Original Screenplay.
Natalie Portman as Mathilda Lando, ‘Léon: The Professional’- In this film, Portman stars as a young girl whose family is murdered by a corrupt DEA agent (Gary Oldman), so she is reluctantly taken in by a professional hitman (Jean Reno). Although the film has come under controversy since it’s release, Portman’s performance is undeniably impressive and was the kickoff to a brilliant career.
Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber, ‘Die Hard’- The actor on this list who made the debut latest in life, Rickman was already over 40 when he made his film debut as the villainous Hans Gruber in ‘Die Hard.’ The film would go onto become one of the greatest action films ever, would cement Bruce Willis as an action star, & introduced us to Alan Rickman, who would go on to play many more iconic roles.
Harold Russell as Homer Parrish, ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’- An American World War II veteran, Russell lost both of his hands while serving his country. He was cast in ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’ a film telling the stories of various men readjusting after returning home from war. The film would go onto win Best Picture, and Russell would win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. He was also given an honorary Academy Award (they didn’t think he would win in the competitive category), becoming the only actor to ever win two awards for one performance. He also become the first ever amateur actor to win an Oscar, and the first person to sell his Oscar.
Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross, ‘True Grit’- Steinfeld had appeared in a handful of short films & TV shows in minor roles before she debuted in the Coen Brothers 2010 film, ‘True Grit,’ based on the book of the same name. Acting across Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, & Josh Brolin, Steinfeld was able to hold her own at age 13. She received nominations for an Oscar, BAFTA, & SAG award.
Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice, ‘Funny Girl’- By the time Barbra Streisand debuted on the silver screen, she had already won a Grammy & was a household name as a singer. She also had already starred as Fanny Brice on Broadway, receiving a Tony nomination for her role. For her role in the film adaptation she received the Oscar for Best Actress, and would go on to be the first performer to complete the EGOT.
Anya Taylor-Joy as Thomasin, ‘The Witch’- Taylor-Joy left school at age 16 to pursue acting and after a variety of TV roles made her first film appearance in 2015’s ‘The Witch.’ The film was also the debut of director, Robert Eggers, and is considered one of the best modern horror films, in part due to Taylor-Joy’s performance.
Orson Welles as Charles Foster Kane, ‘Citizen Kane’- After finding success directing theatre productions & finding fame as the director & narrator of various radio series. In 1941 he directed, wrote, produce, & starred in ‘Citizen Kane,’ his debut in all of those categories. The film is considered by some to be the greatest film ever made & put Welles on track for a legendary career.
Oprah Winfrey as Sofia, ‘The Color Purple’- Already a well known TV figure, Oprah made her film debut in Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Color Purple’ as Sofia. She received an Oscar nomination for her role & would go on to be one of the most successful individuals of the 21st century.
