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Here's What The 2023 Academy Award Nominees Looked Like In Their First Roles Vs. Now

Ke Huy Quan, aka Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, is now an Academy Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor.

Lauren Garafano
by Lauren Garafano

BuzzFeed Staff

1. Austin Butler

Above, a closeup of Austin in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide; below him in Elvis
Nickelodeon / Warner Bros. / Everett

Then: He was an extra on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2005–2007). 

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in Elvis (2022). 

2. Michelle Yeoh

Above, a closeup of her in The Owl vs Bombo; below, her with a third googly eye in Everything Everywhere All At Once
D&B Films / A24 / Everett

Then: She played Miss Yeung in The Owl vs Bombo (1984). 

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).  

3. Angela Bassett

Above, a closeup of her in The Cosby Show; below, a closeup of her speech in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
NBC / Disney / Everett

Then: She played Mrs. Mitchell on an episode of The Cosby Show (1985).

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). 

4. Jamie Lee Curtis

Above, a closeup of her in Halloween, below, a closeup of her as the mean tax lady in Everything Everywhere All At Once
Compass International Pictures / A24 / Everett

Then: She played Laurie Strode in Halloween (1978).

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022). 

5. Ke Huy Quan

Above, a closeup of Ke Huy Quan and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom; below, a closeup of him as the husband of Michelle Yeoh's character in Everything Everywhere All At Once
Paramount / A24 / Everett

Then: He played Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022). 

6. Brendan Fraser

Above, a closeup of Brendan in Dogfight; below, a closeup of his character in The Whale
Warner Bros. / A24 / Everett

Then: He played Sailor No. 1 in Dogfight (1991).

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Whale (2022). 

7. Colin Farrell

Above, a closeup of Colin in Frankie Starlight; below, a closeup of him looking confused by his former friend in The Banshees of Inisherin
Fine Line Features / Searchlight Pictures / Everett

Then: He played Young Man in Cinema No. 2 in Frankie Starlight (1995).

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022). 

8. Barry Keoghan

Above, a closeup of a young Barry in Stalker; below, a closeup of him with bruises in The Banshees of Inisherin
Stalker Films / Searchlight Pictures / Everett

Then: He played Tommy in Stalker (2012).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022). 

9. Ana de Armas

Above, a closeup of Ana with messy hair in Una rosa de Francia; below, a closeup of her as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde
Alta Classics / Netflix / Everett

Then: She played Marie in Una rosa de Francia (2006). 

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in Blonde (2022).

10. Michelle Williams

Above, a closeup of Michelle as a preteen in Baywatch; below, a closeup of her as the mom in The Fabelmans
NBC / Universal / Everett

Then: She played Bridget in an episode of Baywatch (1993).

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in The Fabelmans (2022). 

11. Hong Chau

Above, a closeup of Hong looking earnest in How I Met Your Mother; below, a closeup of her as Brendan Fraser's nurse friend in The Whale
CBS / A24 / Everett

Then: She played Cook Pu in an episode of How I Met Your Mother (2010).

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Whale (2022).

12. Judd Hirsch

Above, a closeup of Judd in The Law; below, a closeup of him as the great-uncle in The Fablemans
NBC / Universal / Everett

Then: He played Murray Stone in The Law (1974).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Fabelmans (2022).

13. Bill Nighy

Above, a closeup of a younger Bill in Softly, Softly: Taskforce; below, a closeup of an older him in Living
BBC1 / Sony Pictures Classics / Everett

Then: He played Albert Blake on an episode of Softly, Softly: Taskforce (1976).

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in Living (2022). 

14. Brendan Gleeson

Above, a closeup of Brendan in a police outfit for Into the West; below, a closeup of an older him in The Banshees of Inisherin
Entertainment Film Distributors / Searchlight Pictures / Everett

Then: He played Inspector Bolger in Into the West (1992).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022). 

15. Cate Blanchett

Above, a closeup of Cate with curly blonde hair in Heartland; below, a closeup of her with straight blonde hair in Tár
ABC / Focus Features / Everett

Then: She played Elizabeth Ashton on Heartland (1994).

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in Tár (2022).

16. Andrea Riseborough

Above, a closeup of Andrea in Party Animals; below a closeup of her smiling in To Leslie. Her nomination for this role has caused controversy
BBC Two / Momentum Pictures / Everett

Then: She played Kirsty in Party Animals (2007). 

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in To Leslie (2022).

17. Paul Mescal

Above, a closeup of Paul in Normal People; below, a closeup of him as the dad in Aftersun
Hulu / A24 / Everett

Then: He played Connell Waldron in Normal People (2020).

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in Aftersun (2022). 

18. Brian Tyree Henry

Above, a closeup of Brian in a military uniform on The Good Wife; below, a closeup of him in Causeway
CBS / Apple TV+ / Everett

Then: He played Randall Simmons in an episode of The Good Wife (2010).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Causeway (2022).

19. Kerry Condon

Above, a closeup of Kerry in Rome; below, a closeup of her in The Banshees of Inisherin
HBO / Searchlight Pictures / Everett

Then: She played Octavia of the Julii in Rome (2005–2007). 

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022). 

20. And finally, Stephanie Hsu

Above, a closeup of Stephanie holding a mirror upside down in Girl Code; below, a closeup of her in a pink wig and bejeweled makeup in Everything Everywhere All At Once
MTV / A24 / Everett

Then: She played herself on Girl Code (2013–2015). 

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).