Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, And 17 Other "Oppenheimer" Actors In Their First Big Acting Roles Vs. Now

    Matt Damon's very first acting role was in Mystic Pizza opposite Julia Roberts in 1988.

    Nora Dominick
    by Nora Dominick

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. Cillian Murphy's first big role in Sunburn in 1999 vs. in 2023:

    Cillian in a subway station scene and in a close-up
    Sweetland Films / Samir Hussein / WireImage / Getty Images / Via youtu.be

    Cillian's career began when he was in a few short films, with his first big acting role coming in the movie Sunburn. Of course, he's gone on to appear in countless movies, with one of his breakout roles being when he played Dr. Jonathan Crane/the Scarecrow in Batman Begins in 2005. One of Cillian's most memorable roles was as Thomas Shelby in the TV series Peaky Blinders. His work as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer marks his sixth Christopher Nolan movie.

    2. Emily Blunt's first role in Boudica/Warrior Queen in 2003 vs. in 2023:

    Emily smiling in a movie scene and in a close-up at a media event
    PBS / Joe Maher / WireImage / Getty Images / Via youtu.be

    Emily's very first acting credit was for the TV movie Boudica/Warrior Queen in 2003. Then she landed her breakout role as Emily in The Devil Wears Prada in 2006. She's gone on to star in countless movies, including Into the Woods, The Girl on the Train, Mary Poppins Returns, A Quiet Place, Edge of Tomorrow, and more. In Oppenheimer, she stars as biologist Kitty Oppenheimer, who is J. Robert Oppenheimer's wife. Also in 2023, Emily starred in her first major TV show, The English.

    3. Matt Damon's first role in Mystic Pizza in 1988 vs. in 2003:

    Matt in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    The Samuel Goldwyn Co. / Henry Nicholls / AFP / Getty Images

    Matt's very first acting role was in Mystic Pizza in 1988 as Steamer, one of Charlie's brothers. Then he went on to appear in a few other movies in small roles before landing his breakout role in Good Will Hunting, which he also wrote with Ben Affleck. Of course, Matt has gone on to star in and produce some of the biggest movies of the last few decades, like the Ocean's Eleven films, The Bourne Identity films, The Martian, and more. He stars in Oppenheimer as Leslie Groves, a US Army Corps of Engineers officer who directed the Manhattan Project.

    4. Robert Downey Jr.'s first role in Pound in 1970 vs. in 2023:

    As a child in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    United Artists / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

    Robert's very first acting credit was when he briefly appeared in Pound, which was written and directed by his dad, Robert Downey Sr. Then he went on to appear in countless classic movies throughout the '80s, like Less Than Zero, First Born, Weird Science, and more. RJJ landed one of his earliest notable roles in 1992 when he starred as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin. Most recently, his biggest role was when he was cast as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Oppenheimer, Robert stars as Lewis Strauss, a businessperson who was instrumental in the development of nuclear weapons and nuclear power for the US.

    5. Florence Pugh's first role in The Falling in 2014 vs. in 2023:

    Florence in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    Metrodome UK / Henry Nicholls / Getty Images

    Florence's very first onscreen role was in The Falling alongside Maisie Williams. From there, she had a whirlwind few years earning critical acclaim in movies and shows like Fighting With My Family, Lady Macbeth, The Little Drummer Girl, and more. Her breakout roles came in 2019 when she starred in both Midsommar and Little Women. In 2023, Florence has also starred in A Good Person and the upcoming Dune: Part Two. In Oppenheimer, she stars as Jean Tatlock, a psychiatrist who had a romance with J. Robert Oppenheimer.

    6. Josh Hartnett's first role in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later in 1998 vs. in 2023:

    Josh in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    Miramax / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

    Josh's first acting credit was as John Tate in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. He then went on to appear in countless movies and shows in the late '90s and early '00s, like The Virgin Suicides, Cracker, Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor, and more. More recently, he starred as Ethan Chandler in the Penny Dreadful series from 2014 to 2016. Josh also appeared in an episode of the new season of Black Mirror in 2023. In Oppenheimer, Josh stars as Ernest Lawrence, a nuclear physicist who won a Nobel Prize in physics in 1939 and worked on the Manhattan Project.

    7. Rami Malek's first role in Gilmore Girls in 2004 vs. in 2023:

    Rami in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    Warner Bros. / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

    Rami's first onscreen credit was when he appeared in an episode of Gilmore Girls in 2004. Then he went on to star in the Night at the Museum movies, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2, and more before landing his breakout role on Mr. Robot. In 2018, Rami notably earned critical acclaim for starring as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. In Oppenheimer, he stars as David Hill, an associate experimental physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project.

    8. Josh Peck's first big role on The Amanda Show in 2000 vs. in 2023:

    Josh in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    Nickelodeon / Gilbert Flores / Variety / Getty Images

    Josh's first big role came when he landed as a series regular on The Amanda Show in 2000. He then went on to appear in several TV shows before starring as Josh in Drake & Josh from 2004 to 2007. Recently, he's appeared in shows like The Mindy Project, Grandfathered, Fuller House, How I Met Your Father, and the new iCarly. In Oppenheimer, Josh appears as Kenneth Bainbridge, a physicist and the director of the Manhattan Project's Trinity nuclear test.

    9. Michael Angarano's first role on Saturday Night Live in 1995 vs. now:

    Michael in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    NBC / Gabriel Olsen / FilmMagic / Getty Images

    Michael's very first onscreen appearance was in a sketch on Saturday Night Live, where he played David Duchovny's son. He then went on to appear in several movies and TV shows in smaller roles, like Almost Famous and ER, before landing his breakout role as Will Stronghold in Sky High. Recently, Michael has appeared in shows like PEN15, This Is Us, A Teacher, Minx, and more. In Oppenheimer, he stars as Robert Serber, a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project.

    10. Jack Quaid's first role in The Hunger Games in 2012 vs. in 2023:

    Jack in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    Lionsgate / Angela Weiss / AFP / Getty Images

    Jack's first onscreen credit was as Marvel in The Hunger Games. From there, he went on to appear in movies and shows like Vinyl, Plus One, Logan Lucky, and more. Recently, Jack starred as Richie Kirsch in Scream and currently stars as Hughie Campbell in The Boys. In Oppenheimer, he appears as Richard Feynman, a theoretical physicist. 

    11. Matthew Modine's first big role in Private School in 1983 vs. in 2023:

    Matthew in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    Universal Pictures / Stephane Cardinale / Corbis / Getty Images / Via youtu.be

    One of Matthew's first movie roles was in Private School in 1983. From there he appeared in several other movies before landing his breakout role as Joker in Full Metal Jacket in 1987. He went on to appear in numerous other movies and shows, like Birdy, Vision Quest, Married to the Mob, Cutthroat Island, The Dark Knight Rises, Weeds, and And the Band Played On. Recently, Matthew is probably best known for playing Dr. Martin Brenner on Stranger Things. In Oppenheimer, he appears as Vannevar Bush, director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development.

    12. Dane DeHaan's first role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2008 vs. now:

    Dane in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    NBC / Dia Dipasupil / WireImage / Getty Images

    Dane's first onscreen credit was when he appeared in an episode of Law & Order: SVU. He went on to appear in several movies before landing one of his most notable roles as Harry Osborn/Green Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Recently, he starred in Lisey's Story and The Staircase. In Oppenheimer, Dane plays Kenneth Nichols, a US Army officer who worked on the Manhattan Project.

    13. Tony Goldwyn's first role in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives in 1986 vs. in 2023:

    Tony in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    Paramount Pictures / Cindy Ord / Getty Images / Via youtu.be

    Tony's very first acting role was in Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives; then he landed one of his most notable roles as Carl in Ghost in 1990 opposite Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. He went on to appear in numerous movies and voiced Tarzan in Disney's Tarzan. One of Tony's biggest roles came in 2012 when he was cast as President Fitzgerald Grant III in Scandal, a role he played until 2018. In Oppenheimer, Tony stars as Gordon Gray, a US attorney and government official.

    14. Kenneth Branagh's first big role in To the Lighthouse in 1983 vs. in 2023:

    Kenneth in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    BBC / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images / Via youtu.be

    After several uncredited and small film roles, Kenneth received his first notable acting credit when he starred in the TV movie To the Lighthouse in 1983. Then he landed his breakout role in Henry V in 1989 and went on to star in numerous movies, including Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dunkirk, Murder on the Orient Express, and more. Recently, he won Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards for Belfast. In Oppenheimer, he stars as Niels Bohr, a Danish physicist.

    15. David Krumholtz's first role in Law & Order in 1993 vs. in 2023:

    David in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    NBC / Rob Kim / Getty Images / Via youtu.be

    David's first role was in an episode of Law & Order in 1993. He then landed two of his biggest roles as Bernard in The Santa Clause and Michael in 10 Things I Hate About You. He went on to appear in numerous other TV shows and movies, including Superbad, I Love You, Man, Numb3rs, The League, The Good Wife, The Deuce, and Mom. Recently, he starred in White House Plumbers. In Oppenheimer, David appears as Isidor Rabi, a physicist who was a friend of J. Robert Oppenheimer's. Also, he recently reunited with his Oppenheimer costar Jack Quaid while supporting the current SAG-AFTRA strike.

    16. Alden Ehrenreich's first role in Supernatural in 2005 vs. in 2023:

    Alden in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    The CW / Cindy Ord / Getty Images for Vanity Fair

    Alden's first onscreen credit was in the second episode of Supernatural in 2005. Then he went on to appear in movies like Beautiful Creatures, Hail, Caesar!, and more. Alden earned widespread notoriety when he was cast as young Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story. In 2023, he starred in Cocaine Bear, and in Oppenheimer he appears as a Senate aide.

    17. Devon Bostick's first big role in Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2006 vs. in 2023:

    Devon in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    CTV / Netflix

    After appearing in small roles in several TV shows and movies, Devon had his biggest role when he appeared in three episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation. He then went on to notably star as Rodrick in the Diary of a Whimpy Kid series and as Jasper in the CW's The 100. Recently, he starred as Oscar in Netflix's FUBAR. In Oppenheimer, Devon appears as Seth Neddermeyer, a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project.

    18. David Dastmalchian's first big role in The Dark Knight in 2008 vs. in 2023:

    David in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    Warner Bros. / Joe Maher / WireImage / Getty Images

    David's first major acting credit was as one of the Joker's men in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. He went on to appear in numerous TV shows and movies, gaining recently widespread recognition after starring as Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad and appearing in Dune. In Oppenheimer, David appears as William L. Borden, an executive director of the US Joint Committee on Atomic Energy.

    19. And finally, Gary Oldman's first big role in Sid and Nancy in 1986 vs. in 2023:

    Gary in a scene from the movie and in a close-up at a media event
    Palace Pictures / David Livingston / Getty Images / Via youtu.be

    After appearing in several TV episodes in small roles, Gary achieved his first major acting credit when he starred as Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy in 1986. He went on to appear in memorable movies like Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Darkest Hour, and more. Currently, he stars in Slow Horses on Apple TV+, and in Oppenheimer he appears as President Harry S. Truman. 

    Oppenheimer hits theaters July 21!

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