Here Are 2024's Oscar Nominees In Early Roles Vs. The Role They Were Nominated For

    Danielle Brooks went from a supporting role on Orange Is the New Black to becoming an Oscar nominee, and we love to see her continually thriving.

    Joseph Longo
    by Joseph Longo

    BuzzFeed Staff

    This year's Oscar nominees are largely veteran actors competing against some of the biggest stars of the moment. So take a trip down memory lane to see how far these performers have come from their early roles to the ones they were nominated for this year:

    Note: Many of the films or TV shows mentioned below are not the actors' first projects but a notable role as they were breaking out in the industry.

    Best Lead Actress:

    1. Annette Bening in The Great Outdoors (1988):

    Close-up of Annette with wavy, neck-length hair and wearing a blouse
    Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Annette in Nyad:

    Close-up of Annette sitting, wearing a robe, and looking in a mirror
    Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection, Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    2. Lily Gladstone in Certain Women (2016):

    Close-up of Lily wearing a plaid shirt against a desolate background
    Jojo Whilden / © IFC Films / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Lily in Killers of the Flower Moon:

    Close-up of Lily looking at Leo DiCaprio
    Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Jojo Whilden / © IFC Films / Courtesy Everett Collection, Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    3. Sandra Hüller in Requiem (2006):

    Close-up of Sandra in a sweater standing next to a window
    IFC Films / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Sandra in Anatomy of a Fall:

    Close-up of Sandra in a cable-knit sweater
    Neon / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    IFC Films / Courtesy Everett Collection, Neon / Courtesy Everett Collection

    4. Carey Mulligan in Pride & Prejudice (2005):

    Close-up of Carey with other young women in period costumes and bonnets
    Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Carey in Maestro:

    Close-up of Carey in a sleeveless dress and pearls, holding a cigarette
    Jason McDonald / © Netflix /Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection, Jason McDonald / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    5. Emma Stone in Superbad (2007):

    Close-up of Emma in straight hair and side bang and an apron
    Columbia Pictures / Ccourtesy Everett Collection

    Emma in Poor Things:

    Close-up of Emma with straight hair in a puffy-sleeved outfit with frilly button front
    Yorgos Lanthimos / © Searchlight Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Columbia Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection, Yorgos Lanthimos / © Searchlight Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Best Lead Actor:

    6. Bradley Cooper in Wet Hot American Summer (2001):

    Close-up of Bradley in a shirt onstage with two other people
    Focus Features / YouTube / Via youtube.com

    Bradley in Maestro:

    Close-up of Bradley sitting in front of a chorus and smoking a cigarette
    Jason McDonald / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Focus Features / YouTube / Via youtube.com, Jason McDonald / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    7. Colman Domingo in Selma (2014):

    Close-up of Colman arm in arm with other people marching
    Atsushi Nishijima / © Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Colman in Rustin:

    Close-up of Colman in a shirt and tie, smiling
    David Lee / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Atsushi Nishijima / © Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection, David Lee / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    8. Paul Giamatti in Private Parts (1997):

    Close-up of Paul yelling in a suit and tie
    Paramount Pictures / YouTube / Via youtube.com

    Paul in The Holdovers:

    Close-up of Paul standing in front of a blackboard
    Seacia Pavao / © Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Paramount Pictures / YouTube / Via youtube.com, Seacia Pavao / © Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

    9. Cillian Murphy in Disco Pigs (2001):

    Close-up of Cillian holding a tool
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    Cillian in Oppenheimer:

    Close-up of Cillian in suit and tie talking to Benny Safdie, also in a suit and tie
    Melinda Sue Gordon / © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Courtesy Everett Collection, Melinda Sue Gordon / © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    10. Jeffrey Wright in Basquiat (1996):

    Close-up of Jeffrey standing with paintings behind him
    Miramax / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Jeffrey in American Fiction:

    Close-up of Jeffrey in suit and tie, smiling and walking with a woman amid high grass
    Claire Folger / © MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Miramax / Courtesy Everett Collection, Claire Folger / © MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Best Supporting Actress:

    11. Emily Blunt in My Summer of Love (2004):

    Close-up of Emily sitting on a bike behind another woman
    Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Emily in Oppenheimer:

    Close-up of Emily holding a baby and standing in a crowd
    Melinda Sue Gordon / © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection, Melinda Sue Gordon / © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    12. Danielle Brooks in Orange Is the New Black (2013):

    Close-up of Danielle in a prison uniform
    Eric Liebowitz / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Danielle in The Color Purple:

    Close-up of Danielle sitting with another woman and wearing a bonnet
    Eli Ade / © Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Eric Liebowitz / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection, Eli Ade / © Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    13. America Ferrera in Real Woman Have Curves (2002):

    Close-up of America sitting on a bed with an older woman and wearing a backpack
    Newmarket / Courtesy Everett Collection

    America in Barbie:

    Close-up of America with Barbie and her daughter in a car
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Newmarket / Courtesy Everett Collection, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    14. Jodie Foster in Ironside (1972):

    Jodie as a child with a man
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    Jodie in Nyad:

    Close-up of Jodie sitting and wearing a headband, glasses, and a T-shirt
    Kimberley French / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Courtesy Everett Collection, Kimberley French / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    15. Da'Vine Joy Randolph in Selfie (2014):

    Close-up of Da'Vine smiling and wearing a print outfit
    Nicole Wilder / Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

    Da'Vine in The Holdovers:

    Close-up of Da'Vine seated and holding a book
    Seacia Pavao / © Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Nicole Wilder / Walt Disney Television via Getty Images, Seacia Pavao / © Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Best Supporting Actor:

    16. Sterling K. Brown in Starved (2005):

    Close-up of Sterling seated and fist-bumping with another man
    FX / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Sterling in American Fiction:

    Close-up of Sterling in a pool
    Claire Folger / © MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    FX / Courtesy Everett Collection, Claire Folger / © MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection

    17. Robert De Niro in Greetings (1968):

    Close-up of Robert in glasses and a suit and tie, with a small mustache
    Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection

    Robert in Killers of the Flower Moon:

    Close-up of Robert in a suit and tie, looking angry
    Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection, Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    18. Robert Downey Jr. in Tuff Turf (1985):

    Close-up of Robert with gelled hair standing with James Spader
    New World Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Robert in Oppenheimer:

    Close-up of RDJ sitting on a couch in suit and tie and glasses
    Melinda Sue Gordon / © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    New World Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection, Melinda Sue Gordon / © Universal Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    19. Ryan Gosling in Breaker High (1997):

    Close-up of Ryan in a shirt and denim jacket
    Breaker Productions / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Ryan in Barbie:

    Close-up of Ryan as Ken holding up an LAPD sign and smiling for his mugshot
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Breaker Productions / Courtesy Everett Collection, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    20. Finally, Mark Ruffalo in Houdini (1998):

    Close-up of Mark crouching with his arm raised and his hand interlocked with another man's hand
    Courtesy Everett Collection

    Mark in Poor Things:

    Close-up of Mark in a suit, vest, and bow tie
    Yorgos Lanthimos / © Searchlight Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    Here's a side-by-side:

    Courtesy Everett Collection, Yorgos Lanthimos / © Searchlight Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection