Top 20 Greatest Acting Debuts in Movies

These actors turned in career-defining performances on their first try! For this list, we’ll be looking at the best debut performances in movie history. Our countdown includes Alan Rickman, Orson Welles, Natalie Portman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Oprah Winfrey, and more! What do you think is the best debut performance of all time? Let us know in the comments below!
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[@WatchMojo]

Check out our greatest actors by decade playlist!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gF61Z6hod5xmgc0 What do you think is the best debut performance of all time? And let us kn ow what other videos you'd like to see on the channel!

[@John-oh8nq]

Nah

[@devingiles6597]

Mark Hamill from the original Star Wars.

[@bambinocinefilo9702]

@@devingiles6597 Harrison Ford.

[@bambinocinefilo9702]

Anna Paquinn.

[@devingiles6597]

Hey, WatchMojo. Can you please do a list of the Top 10 2000's EDM Songs? Examples: Benny Benassi - Satisfaction (2002) Enur feat. Natasja - Calabria 2007 (2007) ATC - Around the World (La La La La La) (2000) Cascada - Everytime We Touch (2005) David Guetta feat. Akon - Sexy Bitch (2009) Ian Van Dahl - Castles in the Sky (2001)

[@michellemiddlebrooks8095]

You left Lupita N’yongo out; 12 Years A Slave was her first film and she won an Oscar for it.

[@rhj107]

Not even an honorable mention... Howler

[@olvialee7221]

I remember that when I was the watching the awards years ago.

[@enriquelarosa5597]

Because 12 years slave wasn't her first film. Please don't make this something is not. And get your facts straight

[@michellemiddlebrooks8095]

@@enriquelarosa5597 it was her first feature film.

[@garrettkelley1148]

@@enriquelarosa5597 it was her first feature film, all she did before was short films

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

Alan Rickman was a decent human being, and may he rest in peace. 'Die Hard' is still one of the best action movies ever made.

[@Survivor-dw7we]

Does Die Hard qualify as a Christmas movie ?

[@davidchism6081]

@@Survivor-dw7we does Die Hard take place on Christmas Eve?

[@ashdoglsu]

I like the story about dropping him at the end of Die Hard.

[@davidchism6081]

@@ashdoglsuduring the take, we're going to be dropping you on the count of three. During the actual filming of the scene. One... tw-drop. Genuine shock expression, wasn't expecting to fall at THAT moment.

[@lestat2558]

I think it's a tie with T2 Judgement Day on the Best Action Movie Ever Made

[@nicolethomas8174]

Edward Norton In Primal Fear was just amazing

[@kidpeligro7878]

Orson Wells acting debut was on a movie he wrote, produced and directed. The same movie that received record Oscar nomination and considered one of the greatest films in human history. Damn, that's a hell of a way to introduce yourself.

[@PunguinYoga]

Seriously!

[@Chiller11]

The biggest miss of this episode.

[@Neorott]

Kirsten Dunst - Interview With The Vampire at 12yrs old, which won her a Golden Globe.

[@NinetailMini]

She's never won a golden globe. She has only been nominated.

[@dead_beatbunny]

Dunst was in several movies before Interview.

[@nickneuharth]

Was that her first big screen?? Wow she was so good

[@isaacsolis9449]

That was not her first performance in a film. She was un Jumanji which was prior.

[@Excalibur1201]

@@isaacsolis9449 Jumanji came out more than a year later than Interview with the Vampire.

[@davidcottone2700]

Alan Rickman deserves higher he always will be Hans best villian

[@Tigersfan1987]

Alan should've been number 1 in my opinion!

[@willmfrank]

Alan Rickman once said "I don't play 'Villains!' I play 'Interesting People.'"

[@aslan9334]

is that from the movie w/ Bruce Willis? (can't remember the name)

[@Desekratedd]

Facts

[@Crazychick64]

He was the villain in Quigley down under as well

[@suebob16]

I wish you hadn't referred to Jamie Lee Curtis's mother as just a "prominent horror actress". Yes Janet Leigh had the memorable role in Alfred Hitchcock's film Psycho, but she had many other roles too, including earlier historical roles in Little Women and Scaramouche, musicals like My Sister Eileen and Bye Bye Birdie, not to mention Jet Pilot with John Wayne where she played a Russian pilot. She remained a working actress in her later years too. Janet Leigh deserves to be mentioned by name, not just as a horror actress.

[@davidanderson_surrey_bc]

Also, Jamie's dad was that other fine actor, Tony Curtis. So... quite the pedigree.

[@nikkidonovan2101]

Agree

[@beaglemusic]

Agree 💯!

[@comatoo]

Your defense of Janet Leigh is nice but you might want to rewatch that section and listen closely as the narrator calls Jamie, "... the daughter of Hollywood legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh" and is later quoting co-producer and screenwriter Debra Hill who called Janet a prominent horror actress. WatchMojo is merely being accurate. It was Debra Hill who made the quote 46 years ago and she died in 2005 at the early age of 54.

[@jemz4555]

I was a kid when I saw Alan Rickman in Die Hard & even though he was the bad guy I felt there was still something appealing & captivating about his character

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

That’s Alan Rickman in one sentence

[@buckysti]

I think Rickman should have been higher on the list.

[@aslan9334]

oh my God me too! - i could not remember his character name but he stuck in my mind (that movie was my introduction to him😄)

[@lefantomer]

There is going to be a great big empty place in the upcoming Harry Potter reunion because wonderful Alan Rickman won't be there.

[@jjmanzano9]

He’s ranked WAY too low on this list.

[@emilyhilyard4983]

Melanie Lynskey is such an underrated actor. She's deserved of just as many accolades as Winslet imo

[@ArchieBC]

I would put Natalie Portman as #1 due to her age. Wells is the obvious and safe choice, but at 11 years old Portman’s performance affected me more profoundly than most films I’ve ever seen.

[@comatoo]

Have you seen Paper Moon? Tatum O'Neal was a mere 8 years old and earned an Academy Award for it.

[@bandgeek89]

Everyone always forgets Justin Henry, who played the son in Kramer vs Kramer. Even though he didn't win, he remains the youngest Oscar nominee at age 8.

[@arubafanatic]

Sorry dude Shirley Temple was 6

[@bandgeek89]

@arubafanatic Shirley Temple never won or was nominated for an Oscar. She did get a Juvenile Academy Award however, which is not a competitve award

[@joannesmith2484]

He was the first person I thought of. He was great in that film. A natural.

[@bcent5758]

He was great.

[@philgiglio7922]

I would add Linda Hunt in The Year Of Living Dangerously and Vincent D`Onofrio in Full Metal Jacket.

[@jameswoods4793]

I believe he was Adventures in babysitting asThor before that

[@joeproton4700]

Amatuer actor in his film debut won Best Supporting Actor: Dr Haing S Ngor for the Killing Fields

[@tamelaculp57]

Marlee Matlin's made her film AND acting debut in "Children of A Lesser God." opposite the late William Hurt. In 1986 she won the Best Actress Oscar at age 21. She's still the youngest Best Actress Winner.

[@benniboop752]

I agree! ☝️ She also brings awareness & education of abilities & removes stigma. She was the 1st id seen that was truly Deaf/Hard hearing outside of B&W movie with a cartoonish cone to amplify sound to head on an old “g-pa” actor who was probably needing it.

[@rlkinnard]

Timothy Hutton and Patty Duke both won Oscars for their first performance on film.

[@pussycat6995]

Roger, yes. Plus, so did Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday.

[@cinematictheatrics]

And Jennifer Hudson as well. And Emily Watson was nominated for her first film

[@KIRAMH1023]

Also you missed Dev Patel in Slumdog Millionaire.

[@dwales3159]

He was in skins before slumdog

[@Daniel-qw7mm]

@@dwales3159 it’s debut in movies not in their career

[@jamiethal1319]

Technically his debut was an animated film called Only Yesterday.

[@BamaShanks]

Damn can’t believe that was Edward Norton’s and Alan Rickman’s first movies.

[@BamaShanks]

@Gevorg1989 well it's the first thing on his filmography...

[@keiyangoshin3650]

I remember Natalie Portman and Anna Paquin. It was my first time seeing young teenagers in such a dark and tragic movies. It was hard to forget and painful to watch. It always disturbs me to see children in suffering and pain. I guess that’s as it should be.

[@christystewart4567]

There’s a French movie about a little girl whose mother dies. If I remember right the actress was about 4 or 5. I gather there was some debate if they should have used such a young child in this movie.

[@keiyangoshin3650]

@@christystewart4567 - There are many and more such movies sadly. I presume the directors want to give their film a real and truly tragic feel to it, but at what cost? Thankfully, in recent years the laws on, what is essentially child labour, have developed to protect the child more and more.

[@LunoxAngel]

My favorite film debut is Sigourney Weaver in Alien as she was a theater actress before the film, and she is the only actress who could have brought the literal female legend character of Ellen Ripley.

[@yasumotonoboru]

She had a small role in Annie Hall in 1977.

[@LunoxAngel]

@@yasumotonoboru well, Alien was her breakout debut as the star.

[@yasumotonoboru]

@@LunoxAngel yep, just not what this list is about.

[@gregkluge]

Linda Blair in The Exorcist Total Oscar Material.

[@melindakinnaird]

Marlee Matlin, Children Of A Lesser God should be on this list.

[@sheilarough236]

She won an Oscar for that role

[@rhonafenwick5643]

A hundred percent. It's absolutely criminal that she's not included. And including her is not about inspiration porn, it's not about her having "overcome the adversity of disability" or any of that nonsense. Rather, it's the simple fact that her debut film performance was entirely in a non-English language and still won her the Best Actress Oscar. (To put that in context: regardless of gender, just four people have won lead acting Oscars on their film debut, and just six have won lead acting Oscars for wholly non-English-speaking roles; Matlin's is the only name in both groups). And cementing this is the fact that she remains the youngest winner - again, regardless of gender - of a lead acting Oscar in the history of the Academy. She should be at least in the top 3 of any list of great film debuts

[@aslan9334]

was that her 1st movie?

[@dameinbell3097]

I’m came here looking for Marlee

[@madknight2986]

You forgot Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba. Man did such an amazing job that when preparing to film the final scene where he gets on the plane the actual sister Connie broke down crying to him and helped give her closure, the movie gave Ritchies mother another reason to hold on despite having terminal cancer and was able to have some closure for her sons death as well, and finally he brought the amazing music to people to enjoy.

[@valerieeslick6324]

I have seen LaBamba at least 10 times

[@JoeKaye959]

No they didn't

[@billcame6991]

That was not his first film role.

[@ChristChickAutistic]

He was in Lost Boys before La Bamba.

[@CherokeeBird]

@@ChristChickAutistic He was not in The Lost Boys

[@ninedeuce8123]

Amanda Seyfried was hilarious af in her start in Mean Girls. 😂😂😂

[@rubygracemoseley8144]

I know! She was hysterical and awesome

[@NickCC23]

RIP Ned Beatty whose first movie was Deliverance.

[@meredithkornfeld2440]

Ok, have another one. Emily Watson gave one of the top 3-4 performances of all time by an actress in Breaking The Waves. Beyond brilliant.

[@kevinlakeman5043]

great one

[@firewings4742]

Amazing picture amazing acting

[@kkandsims4612]

Facts I was like Bess was this movie

[@cinematictheatrics]

Agreed! They also left off Lupita from 12 Years a Slave and Timothy Hutton from Ordinary People!

[@Je-Vette]

But it was her 2-3 film

[@amandaredd3057]

The Color Purple is such a devastatingly beautiful, strong, and emotional movie

[@karmicmoon41]

It was also Whoopie Goldbergs first movie, and she won a Golden Globe for best actress

[@rebeccaradnor8005]

@@karmicmoon41 And Whoopi went on to be a FAR bigger star in terms of acting than Oprah

[@megadiabrous]

and we get to see Oprah get beat up

[@dizzylizzy6839]

I'll never forget... The rich white women sitting around our pool when I was a kid... They all agreed "That black lady with a talk show will never make it"... Dear Lord, were they wrong. None of them ever experienced anything near the wealth & status of Oprah!!

[@citizensammy2303]

And total garbage that was designed to destroy the black MAN

[@karenladd1110]

Tom Holland in "The Impossible" was incredible. His first dramatic and film role, he held his own alongside Naomi Watts. I think he was 14 at the time it was made.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Stellar acting from both of them (along with Ewan McGregor). Such a riveting film.

[@A-G-A-G]

Yea I remember watching in in theatres and thinking wow that’s one of the best performances from a kid I’ve ever seen

[@mainlineproductions9419]

He was 16

[@HeronCoyote1234]

Excellent movie. Stunning in its reality (yes, I know it’s based on a real family, whose mom and wife chose Naomi Watts to play her), but the acting was pitch perfect.

[@Chucklehound]

You left out Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun. My goodness, what a shocking oversight :)

[@deborahmazza8123]

That movie, and his performance in it, were astounding.

[@lilychu8912]

Christian Bale was my first tween celebrity crush. Guess I had great taste as a 12 yrs. old!

[@rrss7212]

it wasnt his debut per se, coz i know him from the Soviet-Scandinavian movie Mio My Mio. My fave childhood movie btw )

[@alyssstout8112]

One of the best and most underrated films of all time. And yes, Christian Bale was phenomenal in it.

[@Chucklehound]

@@rrss7212 I didn't know that. In the credits it says "introducing Christian Bale" so i assumed it was his debut. Good to know, thanks :)

[@TheDealMaster]

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber was legendary. That's a career defining role. And of course Edward Norton in Primal Fear. What a debut!

[@hugginduff]

The best debut for me was Hilary Swank, "boys don't cry"

[@edwinalfaro6610]

I think her debut movie was actually the lead role The Next Karate Kid

[@LdyVder]

@@edwinalfaro6610 Nope, Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1992 was her first film role. The TV show came in 1999. The movie had Donald Sutherland in it and Paul Rubens along with Luke Perry.

[@HeronCoyote1234]

The scene of Scout first seeing Boo, and the subtle smiles of recognition on both of them, I’m in tears. Probably my favorite movie of all time. One case in which the movie is as good as the book, thanks to Mr. Foote. And that score by Elmer Bernstein…all add up to a beautifully crafted film.

[@susancullimore5643]

I smiled and teared up at the same time when I saw that scene. I agree with you that it was a collaborative success.

[@PunguinYoga]

@@susancullimore5643 Just great!

[@amandaredd3057]

Gabourey Sidibe was the greatest part of the Precious adaptation. She broke my heart.

[@WrenFaithBridger]

She was criminally robbed of her Oscar. Now, I love me some Sandra Bullock, but her character in "The Blind Side" wasn't so far removed from her own personality. The only thing that Gabourey and Precious had in common was their physicality. THAT, my friend, is Oscar-quality acting.

[@amandaredd3057]

@@WrenFaithBridger AGREED!!

[@PeterAckarey]

Definitely missing Dakota Fanning in "I Am Sam". Oh my god what a movie! The same film also featured li'l sis Elle Fanning in her first film, though for only just a few seconds.

[@lilychu8912]

Considering that she even had to act against heavyweight Sean Penn in that movie!

[@TheDealMaster]

That film had incredible performances.

[@dananola]

How can ANYONE watch "To Kill a Mockingbird" and not take note of Brock Peters' performance as Tom Robinson? Even Gregory Peck who played Atticus commented on Brock's performance. He was a singer and they snagged him for that movie because he was tall, dark, and handsome and it was his first acting gig.

[@AZPremierGK]

What about Barkhad Abdi in Captain Phillips? He should definitely be on this list or at least an honorable mention, he was nominated for an Academy award and had never acted before.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Agreed. He was so good in that film. I also saw him in 'Eye in the Sky'. He has a genuine on-screen appeal. I'd like to see him in more films.

[@SaveUsDCS2003]

Look at me! Look at me! I am looking at you! I'M THE CAPTAIN NOW!

[@xaviermann9963]

Watch Mojo so white

[@aslan9334]

he was good i saw the movie after the Oscars and he was just so natural!

[@thebeatnumber]

@@xaviermann9963 Yea because Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier and Quvenzhane Wallis are so white

[@billcame6991]

Reese Witherspoon was very memorable in her debut in "The Man in the Moon".

[@donniehuynh2391]

You're missing Angela Lansbury in Gaslight (1944). She was nominated for an Oscar for that film.

[@jameswoods4793]

She was in Gone with the wind 1939

[@donniehuynh2391]

@@jameswoods4793 That’s not true.

[@michaelst7680]

I was very surprised that Kathleen Turner's performance in "Body Heat" wasn't mentioned. It was William Hurts third film and they both gave outstanding portrayals.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

I didn't realize that was her debut film performance! They were both fantastic in that film.

[@ma53jg]

I am so glad you included Kate Winslet's performance in "Heavenly Creatures". Her performance is unforgettable.

[@ChrolliForever]

She always is

[@halluhmee]

And yet didn't even mention her costar Melanie Lynskey who I thought was even more phenomenal in that movie.

[@jalabi99]

The late Dr. Haing S. Ngor whose debut movie role in _The Killing Fields_ won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1986 deserves to be on this list, especially since not only was it his first film role but because it dealt with an experience that he had actually lived: escaping the Cambodian genocide.

[@jjmanzano9]

It’s so hard to find that movie! I’ve heard it’s powerful.

[@bheast86]

it was a travesty that he was considered a 'supporting actor': The story was obviously about him

[@josephtaylor3221]

Kate Winslet wasn't the only actress who excelled in her debut movie role in 'Heavenly Creatures', Melanie Lynskey also dazzled in her first ever film, playing Pauline Parker. They should've received a joint entry on this list. I'm still waiting for WatchMojo to acknowledge Lynskey as one of the most versatile NZ-born movie character and leading actresses of recent times.

[@JMwhocares]

Love love love Melanie Lynskey!! She definitely needs more recognition.

[@halluhmee]

It's astonishing to me the way people constantly overlook her incredible performance in this movie. Even in the clips they showed Melanie is enthralling

[@Fakeaorta]

I think Melanie was even more impressive than Kate. Both were wonderful, but Melanie was scary good.

[@HeronCoyote1234]

Melanie Lynsky was the ditzy neighbor on Two and a Half Men, in case she looked familiar.

[@alyssstout8112]

@@HeronCoyote1234LOVED her in that role! Except she wasn’t ditzy she was the quite brilliantly weird and filthy rich neighbor that would have Charlie no matter what it took. 😅

[@samdiego1965]

How on earth did you not have Audrey Hepburn on here?! She won an academy award for her first role in Roman Holiday. Talk about an oversight

[@iluvmusicals21]

She had done minor roles before she was hired for Roman Holiday.

[@jinakaye]

Is Roman Holiday her first feature film?

[@Chihiro33333]

I love Audrey Hepburn, but according to Wikipedia Roman Holiday was certainly her break through movie, but not her debut. She had acted in ten movies before that one.

[@marcosc9130]

I came here expecting Audrey too, but this is only for the real first credit, she was a minor (sometimes REALLY MINOR) part in other movies before Roman Holiday.

[@richardcanedo1614]

WatchMojo's film awareness tends to fade away at 35-40 years ago. There's are occasional exceptions: here they're Duvall in Mockingbird; Streisand in Funny Girl (but note they were still very active well into the 35-40 year span) and Welles's debut in one of the, if not the, greatest film ever. Mostly, though, they don't know what the Golden Age of Hollywood was, because most of their audience doesn't. And that saddens me. Oh, and you're right about Hepburn.

[@belle.m]

James Dean East of Eden should have been included. Mark Hamill in Star Wars A New Hope an honourable mention

[@NickCC23]

James Dean had three small parts in movies including a Martin and Lewis vehicle

[@narrow3601]

I'm quite sure that Mark Hamill had already acted or voice acted before Star Wars

[@1derfullBeast]

@@NickCC23 yes.. and one movie was a film about a boxer...

[@haintedhouse2990]

@@NickCC23 but if you blink you'll miss him. East of Eden qualifies as a legit screen debut in my book.

[@okcameronfilms]

@@haintedhouse2990 Just not what this list was about, then Peter O Toole would be there for Lawrence of Arabia. Probably #1

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

I would loved to have seen Glenn Close and Dev Patel on this list. Glenn for The World According to Garp, for which she received an Oscar nomination. And Dev for Slumdog Millionaire, which was a massive box-office success. And while I'm at it, I'll throw in Ricky Schroder for The Champ. I believe he was 8 or 9 at the time and won a Golden Globe for his performance. He was absolutely devastating in that final scene.

[@geviesanta3631]

Honestly, I'm gonna have to say Alan Rickman, Christian Bale, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz.

[@anthonynambo6426]

Alan Rickman :,) God rest his soul.

[@lexkanyima2195]

Same

[@2004mojo]

I was going to rant about Christian Bale not being on the list for "Empire of the Sun" (1987) but it was not his debut film. His films "Milo in the Land of Faraway" (Oct 1987) & tv movie "Anastasia: The Mystery of Ana" (1986) came out before Empire of the Sun" (Dec 1987). But I will rant that Bale was only 12 or 13 and basically as an unknown carried the entire film big budget film & deserved an Oscar nomination for his performance. He was praised highly by director of the film Stephen Spielberg and was recommend for the role by his then wife Amy Irving.

[@wanderinroy]

Haley Mills in Tiger Bay. One of best child performances ever. For those who only know her from her work with Disney here in the U.S., check out some of her work she did back in England.

[@sinebachrenleff847]

I told myself before clicking, "If Alan Rickman isn't on this list, I'm gonna throw my computer out of the window". Glad that I don't have to pay for a new computer :)

[@andreagrimaud9288]

Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves was breathtaking and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in the role.

[@georgepatterson700]

Farce. Timothy Hutton? Ordinary People? Won both the Oscar and Golden Globe for his portrayal of Conrad Jarrett. Doesn't even get an honorable mention?

[@sweetsuszie]

I thought his first film was the long road home which was amazing

[@georgepatterson700]

@@sweetsuszie A Long Way Home was a TV movie.

[@sweetsuszie]

@@georgepatterson700 yes I know that. I own it.

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

Jennifer Hudson from 'Dreamgirls' plus she won an Oscar for "Best Supporting Actress."

[@Unknown-oo4hh]

She got an Oscar, a Grammy and won at life

[@amandaredd3057]

incredible performance

[@ahlethescout8404]

I like you

[@LS-ys8nr]

They already mentioned her

[@barbarabradshaw4864]

What about Leo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" That performance blows any of these away.

[@birgitmelchior8248]

That was not his debut but his 4th movie. And he already acted on TV in growing pains

[@jameswoods4793]

Unfortunately he starred in Critters 3 before that

[@donbrown1284]

Missed Patty Duke in "The Miracle Worker".

[@A-G-A-G]

That finger scene in the piano is masterful all around Horrifying

[@cassiebloemendaal7694]

I think Christian Bale has to be mentioned for his work in Empire of the Sun

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Yes, good one!

[@chriscaughey2308]

I am such a fan of Jamie Lee Curtis as the Scream Queen. She rocks the movies like, "Halloween" franchise and Prom Night.

[@PurpleSpiderwebs]

And she's in Ryan Murphy's Scream Queens

[@josefengelhardt2767]

​@@PurpleSpiderwebs Jamie Lee Curtis in made a resurgence reprising the role of Laurie Strode in Halloween Returns in 2018, a year later she co starred in Rian Johnson's Mystery Comedy Knvies Out and her recent film is the Sci-Fi film Everything Everywhere all at once. She won an oscar for best supporting actress. If there is anyone to thank for Jamie Lee Curtis' successful acting career it's John Carpenter. Jamie Lee Curtis has been acting for 45 years ever since her acting debut in John Carpenter's Halloween in 1978.

[@pattierotondo1108]

@@josefengelhardt2767 Maybe it didn't hurt having Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh as parents.

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

We can't wait to see Jamie Lee Curtis again in 'Halloween Kills' starting this October.

[@TimmyD3085]

I'm so excited!!! Don't forget Halloween Ends!

[@marialemos1495]

Count me in!

[@cadillacdeville5828]

Me too

[@thebeatnumber]

Why? She's nearly a hundred years old

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

@@thebeatnumber Actually, Jamie Lee Curtis is now in her 60s, but still a wonderful human being.

[@Rutabaga64]

I have to admit that I was kind of expecting to see Edward Furlong on this list, at least as an honorable mention. No real acting experience and was magnificent in Terminator 2. It's really a shame he crashed and burned after that.

[@ajlynch5235]

I don't think he really enjoyed acting as he got older he was amazing in american history x also

[@annachapman2521]

I was looking for Edward Furlong on this list. I agree with you

[@TheDealMaster]

American History X was an overall acting masterpiece from the entire cast.

[@Krookodile_King]

Commenting before watching, I think Julie Andrews had the best debut for her performance as Mary Poppins.

[@ChrolliForever]

She played the role on braodway for a long time. Not such a stretch.

[@alextromagnetic]

As someone from Yorkshire, I will never not be impressed and how Anya just nails the Yorkshire accent in The Witch. She even drops her Hs at the start of words which is something people not from Yorkshire never do when putting on a Yorkshire accent for a role despite to being central to nailing the accent

[@carag2567]

Not only that but Roger Eggars wrote the script using period sources for total authenticity. So she was speaking in an accent she was unfamiliar with in a dialect that is 400 years old and is no longer in use. At age 14 as the star of the film with the most dialogue of any character.

[@lanceschmidt28]

Tim Curry in Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[@arubafanatic]

Wasn't that Susan Sarandon's first movie?

[@lanceschmidt28]

@@arubafanatic No. Although it was the first movie she gained any critical acclaim for, the movie Joe in 1970 was her first film. Rocky Horror was in 1975. But, although incorrect, it was the first movie she was noticed by critics.

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

Robert Duvall from 'To Kill a Mockingbird.' I really like that guy since the first 'Godfather' movie.

[@xiphocostal]

How is Alan Rickman only number 20? He was brilliant.

[@californiaexploring7319]

Would have had an honorable mention shout out to Keisha Castle-Hughes for Whale Rider.

[@ladyredl3210]

Hell yes! She was brilliant.

[@jinakaye]

She was given a shout out when Quvenzhane Ellis was listed.

[@ThePrinceofHisOwnKingdom]

Alan Rickman. Best ever.

[@caidyc]

Patty Duke at 12 for The Miracle Worker, Oscar winner. The best child performance? Christian Bale, Empire of the Sun. Leonardo Di Caprio, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Nominated for Oscar.

[@mr.decencykeepinitreal6348]

Robert Duvall. Jamie Lee Curtis. Natalie Portman. Luke and Owen Wilson. Jennifer Hudson. Cameron Diaz. Sidney Poitier. Oprah Winfrey.

[@melancholysky13]

I love Heavenly Creatures!! I truly think it's an amazing film and very underrated.

[@whitmanwarden8938]

I very much agree! Peter Jackson had made enjoyable movies beforehand, but this is when he showed himself capable of greatness. It was ALSO Melanie Lynskey's first movie.

[@ChrolliForever]

A really great and underrated movie indeed. The whole cast is great.

[@judywright4241]

Seriously, Shirley Temple and Patty Duke should have at least, been ‘Honorable Mentions’

[@A-G-A-G]

Oh thank you!! Heavenly creatures is such a small an obscure film I definitely wasn’t expecting it to be here

[@laustcawz2089]

Melanie Lynskey was just as impressive, yet no mention of her. She grew up to be (among other roles) the psycho Rose on TV's "Two & A Half Men".

[@A-G-A-G]

@@laustcawz2089 yea I love it when my fellow kiwis make it in hollywood

[@laustcawz2089]

@@A-G-A-G Lynskey's also in one of my favorite films, "Shattered Glass", though Peter Sarsgaard steals the show.

[@johnfloridis62]

Ahem, Emily Watson calling on line one. “She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her debut film role as Bess McNeil in Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves (1996) Watson's performance as Bess McNeill won her the Los Angeles, London and New York Critics' Circle Awards for Best Actress, as well as the US National Society of Film Critics' Award for Best Actress and nominations at the Academy Awards, the British Academy Film Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards.[16]” - Wikipedia

[@stephenmiller2337]

Robert Duvall's Boo Radley made me cry without saying a word. TBF, it was helped by Mary Badham's impressive performance as Scout. Her face melting when she realized it was Boo who saved her brother Jem and said "hey Boo", and Boo's reaction ended up putting me in tears.

[@What_Makes_Climate_Tick]

This is a great list with very interesting stories behind them. At least for those I've seen, they deserve to be on the list. I only fairly recently first saw Rushmore, while even though I think it had a small release, I saw Heavenly Creatures when it first came out. There is such a different feel between a respected Broadway star being turned down for the film adaptation of one of her famous roles but picked up by a big studio doing an unknown musical, vs. a low-budget New Zealand movie with a not-yet-famous director, vs. the young daughter of a famous actor who turned in a great performance.

[@adagiobreeze8493]

Top 10 Oscar nominated roles for acting debuts

[@karawigley6231]

How Leonardo DiCaprio is not on this list or an honorable mention is beyond me. Some of his earliest movies are “This Boy’s Life” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” & “Basketball Diaries” & his performances in all of them are remarkable.

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

I was wondering that too. So out of curiosity, I looked up his debut film. Lol, turns out it was Critters 3! :)

[@WrenFaithBridger]

He's not on this list because his movie DEBUT was "Critters 3".

[@discobaby795]

Where’s Bette Midler in “The Rose? Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement”? Diana Ross in “Lady Sings the Blues? Liza Minelli in “Cabaret”? Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun”?

[@teptime]

Bette was in a couple low budget films in the 70s.

[@discobaby795]

@@teptime: The past films Bette was in were mere incidental roles in which she wasn't even credited. Then she starred an independent film called "The Thorn" that only few could see. "The Rose" can be then considered as her debut which rocketed her to stardom. In any case some other actors in the list have the same previous works before being famous and having important careers. ☺️✌️

[@t.wilson9432]

Minelli had been in films before Cabaret

[@discobaby795]

@@t.wilson9432: Right. She was uncredited too in some of them.

[@TheAmarok87]

Saoirse Ronan's film debut was "I Could Never Be Your Woman", "Atonement" was her third film.

[@ellecullen3986]

Anya Taylor-Joy was so good in The VVitch. It's my favorite horror movie, and I think its so underrated! I just love period-style movies

[@aslan9334]

i don't think is underrated - everybody was talking about it!

[@josefengelhardt2767]

She's a great actress and she's pretty. I loved her Performances in The Northman and The Menu

[@lewismaddox4132]

Christian Bale should be somewhere on this list. I've never seen a young actor so occupy a role as 12 year old Bale did of young Jaime in Spielberg's Empire of the Sun. Taste is certainly not to be chastised, but come on!

[@judeadriyanfernando5565]

Agree

[@JuliusCaesar103]

The VVitch is such a good fucking movie goddamn

[@TrueNorth1217]

Its actually really bad

[@bellman4336]

Agreed, disturbing as hell to

[@raychelgonos224]

@@TrueNorth1217 Was it bad or are you just too impatient to try to understand it? It was amazing.

[@silvaphoenix3652]

It’s exceptional

[@lizardog]

@@TrueNorth1217 "actually" LMAO

[@dawngw26]

Great list!!!! I was about to say what about Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver? -- but that was not her first film. Really liked this compilation and agree with each one!

[@laustcawz2089]

Her first theatrical film was actually a Disney film-- "Napoleon & Samantha", with Johnny Whitaker, Michael Douglas & a real lion!

[@Shestayswet]

Seems like you forgot ALOT of POC actors in their breakout roles like Kimberly Elise in Set It Off, Tiffany Haddish in Girls Trip, Whoopi in the color purple, Viola Davis in Doubt. Come on people.... recognize all people and don’t limit it to just 20 actors. Do a real list!!!

[@nancylee4861]

Make sure you’re looking at Debut, very first, roles. I love Viola Davis by Doubt was her 16th movie role.

[@Shestayswet]

@@nancylee4861 my mistake But the rest were debuts. Thank you.

[@maxwellstupid5253]

How could you forget Eddie Furlong in "Terminator II: Judgement Day".

[@lestat2558]

It's Edward not Eddie

[@maxwellstupid5253]

@@lestat2558 Oh wow. I didn't know that. Thank you very much for pointing that out to me. What would we do without such precise and 'on-the-ball' guys like you!

[@peterwinters8587]

@@maxwellstupid5253 Make more mistakes?

[@createdsoicancomment2833]

Cuba Gooding in Boyz in the Hood was also an excellent debut.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

I recognise that Mojo is heavy influenced by its US audience, and this explains why over 80 percent of its "stars" are from North America. However, this particular list of yours is entirely undermined in its validity when it ignores such first-timers as Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun (Best Juvenile Actor award), Jamie Bell in Billy Elliot (BAFTA best leading actor, in his first movie), or Jacob Trembley in Room.

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

The classic Hollywood film 'Citizen Kane' will be turning 80 this year.

[@zzz43344]

Awesome!

[@sainty1912]

That and $2 will get ya on the bus.

[@BFA100]

What about Glenn Close in The World According To Garp which I think was an impressive big screen debut and was nominated for her first Oscar.

[@josi4251]

19:34 Julie Andrews had a career "spanning NINE decades?" She is 85 years old, and she didn't start performing until she was 10 years old.

[@shells500tutubo]

If she started performing in the 1940s and it is now the 2020s, that is technically nine decades. Even though she didn't act THROUGH nine decades.

[@carolann811]

@@shells500tutubo That's kind of a stretch. Her first role on IMDB is 1949. The last thing completed is 2021. That's 72 years. "Spanning" nine decades is really putting a spin on things.

[@carolann811]

I thought the same. She's 85. Her first role was in 1949 and she's still working, so in 2021 that's 72 years. Impressive but still not nine decades. Kids these days with their math ;)

[@dstigers6140]

@@shells500tutubo Exactly!

[@fdsfsdfsd1552]

​@@carolann811 ​ - The '40s, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s, and '20s. That's why they said nine decades.

[@robertbrighterlife9501]

How could you leave out Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun?!! What an injustice.

[@jimbo9208]

not his first movie

[@robertbrighterlife9501]

@@jimbo9208 you sure ? I'm almost 100% it was.

[@haba3000]

Christian Bale's first movie was "Mio in the Land of Faraway".

[@robertbrighterlife9501]

@@haba3000 damn. I didn't know that. I really thought it was Empire......Empire was his first starring role though

[@vivienmell8323]

Tom Holland in The Impossible.

[@jimbo9208]

first movie voice work on arrietty

[@PeBoVision]

Alan Rickman left us with such a rich and diverse body of work that I am simply happy he made the switch to film so his performances have been immortalized for future generations. You have some heavy hitters on this list (Oprah! earning her exclamation mark (and Oscar) in breathtaking fashion) but Ms Streisand (pronounced Steissand - no syllabic emphasis) has to get my vote, whatever the competition.

[@donhumphrey4853]

You missed Dolly Parton in 9 to 5

[@joshuaalexander6296]

Barbra Streisand should’ve been top 5. But she made the list so I won’t complain too much lol

[@whimsy339]

My favorite Alan Rickman film is the Robinhood film he did with Kevin Costner. I think it was my favorite film of his that I've seen.

[@annab6726]

He wouldn't agree to do it unless they let him come up with his own lines. Which is why he so outshone Costner's performance.

[@KingLeonLionheart]

I can't believe that Johnny Depp's debut in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" was left out.

[@1216jimmyz]

Can't really call that a "great starting role"... lol

[@jimbo9208]

what acting did he do in the movie

[@KingLeonLionheart]

@@jimbo9208 He played Glen Lantz, the boy who got dragged through his bed by Freddy Krueger, and the final girl's boyfriend.

[@jimbo9208]

@@KingLeonLionheart i know but how is that acting

[@lestat2558]

Johnny can act but not great in that movie

[@codyhiginbotham6616]

It’s always awesome when it’s your first film role (or maybe acting role ever) and you get an Oscar nomination for it

[@OscarMPG1]

You were missing the following Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone Christian Bale in Empire of The Sun Dafne Keen in Logan Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries Tom Hardy in Star Trek Nemesis Chris Hemsworth in Thor Drew Barrymoore in E.T.

[@jimbo9208]

Jennifer Lawrence- Garden Party Christian Bale- Mio in the Land of Faraway Tom Hardy- Black Hawk Down Chris Hemswort- Star Trek Drew Barrymoore- Altered States

[@1216jimmyz]

This list is about great DEBUTS in film...not alk the ones you listed were their first films...

[@amandapile7730]

What about Hayley Mills, one of the most remarkable of all child performers, in "Tiger Bay"?

[@gaylewieneke7084]

I'm reading her autobiography right now. That part in Tiger Bay was written for a boy, but the director was impressed with Hayley.

[@taylorwatts9391]

Hailee Steinfeld and Eddie Murphy made this list!!! Woo!!! 😁

[@mikkibaker6907]

How could you possibly miss Catalino Sandino Moreno in "Maria Full of Grace"?? This Colombian teenager had no credits of any kind when she got this role. Not only was she a breakout wonderful actor, the entire film was about her and she carried the film around on her shoulders. She was rightly nominated for Best Actress. You should have broken out the stage actors and the first-time film actors. Of course, people like Julie Andrews and Orson Welles win, as they carry very impressive careers on stage with them. But those "where did she/he come from?" only get a part of your list. Sandino Moreno gave the most impressive first-time performance I've ever seen (and I've gone to thousands of films over my 80 years). Maybe you should revisit this list.

[@mzwww3243]

I scrolled down to find someone to mention this; not just one of the best debuts ever, but one of the single greatest performances ever. (She's currently starring in "From" on Epix... 4 episodes in, and I'm into it. 'Lost' if it were an R rated horror series in a Stephen King setting). Edit: Closed parentheses.

[@justapeacefulmanwhosbornin7291]

Eddie Murphy, a comedian turned film actor made his debut in '48 Hrs.' Mr. Murphy turned 60 this year.