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

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:

Close-up of younger Annette
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:

Close-up of Lily
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:

Close-up of Sandra in a sweater
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:

Close-up of Carey with other young women in period costumes and bonnets
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:

Close-up of Emma with straight hair
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:

Bradley onstage
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:

Close-up of Colman marching
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:

Close-up of Paul yelling
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:

Close-up of Cillian with tool
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:

Close-up of Jeffrey with the paintings
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:

Close-up of Emily on the bike
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:

Close-up of Danielle in the prison uniform
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:

Close-up of America on the bed
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:

Close-up of Jodie as a child
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:

Close-up of Da'Vine smiling
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:

Close-up of Sterling fist-bumping
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:

Close-up of Robert in glasses
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:

Close-up of RDJ with Spader
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:

Close-up of Ryan in denim
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:

Close-up of Mark with arm raised
Courtesy Everett Collection, Yorgos Lanthimos / © Searchlight Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection