"Introducing" The film debuts of your Best Actress nominees

by Nathaniel R

Nicole Kidman's first dramatic closeup in a movie. Her mother has just told her no in Bush Christmas (1983)This season's best actress race is a quintet of considerable fame. We have three previous Oscar winners (Nicole Kidman, Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz), a multiple nominee (Jessica Chastain) and a first timer though she's been globally famous for over a decade (Kristen Stewart). All five are in demand and oft-celebrated. We thought it would be fun to look at their very first movies long before superstardom happened which was the impetus for this four part "introducing" series (you've already witnessed Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress).

How were these now acclaimed actresses introduced to audiences? Let's take them in chronological order of their official debuts after the jump...

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"Introducing" Best Supporting Actor debut roles

by Nathaniel R

Kodi Smit-McPhee in his film debut. Getting a foot rub from his first screen mother, Franka Potente

With just a little over a week until Oscar night, we thought it would be fun to look at the official debuts of all the acting nominees. We previously witnessed baby Kirsten Dunst and a 29 year-old Judi Dench as well as the actresses that haven't been working that long in movies but made quick splashes. Today's Best Supporting Actor honorees have all been in the movies for a good while now. Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit McPhee were professional child actors but Ciarán Hinds, Troy Kotsur, and JK Simmons all got their first movie roles well into adulthood. We'll take them in the chronological order of their debuts to see the very first time they appeared on the big screen...

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"Introducing" The film debuts of your Best Supporting Actresses

by Nathaniel R

Aunjanue Ellis in her film debut, "Girls Town"

In the glitz and glamour of awards season it can be hard to remember that today's most celebrated performers were once just starry eyed hopefuls trying to land a movie role. For this four-part series, a look back at the films that launched each of our acting nominees, some more auspiciously than others. Because acting is a three medium art form (stage, tv, screen) we're sticking to their first feature film role to make it easier. Some of the nominees had acting gigs before landing their first film. We'll take them in chronological order of their debuts and share a screen shot of the very first credited moment on film.

We begin with Supporting Actress which we'll be discussing at length on the Smackdown this weekend. But first a look back at their very first roles...

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Introducing the Smackdown Panel for '37

On Sunday the next Supporting Actress Smackdown and its companion podcast arrive, with a discussion of the 1937 Oscars and the Supporting Actress nominees. You know what that means. For maximum enjoyment (re)watch Best Picture nominees the Bogart noir Dead End, the actress-stuffed dramedy Stage Door and the epic In Old Chicago as well as two films that were both nominated for two acting Oscars, the thriller Night Must Fall and weepie classic Stella Dallas (all of which are readily available online) and send in your votes by Friday October 1st. Let's meet your fellow panelists, shall we? 

PLEASE WELCOME...

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Introducing the Smackdown Panel for '98

Writer/director/showrunner Leslye Headland returns to TFE !by Nathaniel R

On Monday July 25th the next Supporting Actress Smackdown and its companion podcast arrive, with a discussion of the 1998 Oscars and more specifically, the Supporting Actress competition. You know what that means. For maximum enjoyment (re)watch Best Picture winner Shakespeare in Love  as well as  Little Voice, Hilary & Jackie, Primary Colors, and Gods and Monsters and send in your votes by Saturday July 23rd. 

Let's meet your fellow panelists, shall we? 

PLEASE WELCOME...

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