Film acting debuts of actors/actresses that are just so impressive to you

Submitted by ChrisEvansFan t3_11a35q0 in movies

During the BAFTA speech for All Quiet on the Western Front (https://youtu.be/wTgY4K1ztjY)the director mentioned that this is Felix Kammerer’s film debut. I was truly surprised by that! Given the emotional weight the film had to convey and he was at the helm of it and it is his first film to boot. I think the consensus for AQOTWF is that the acting is one of its biggest strengths even though some may not like the film overall. That scene with him and the soldier is definitely a highlight of his acting.

Another example I can say is a young Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun. But not sure if he acted before (in tv) and this is only his big screen debut. As someone that young being the lead of a Spielberg film and nailing it, well that is just amazing.

Do you have other samples or favorites?

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testingtor t1_j9pi2wl wrote

Ed Norton in Primal Fear.

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Jobrien7613 t1_j9r96yi wrote

First thing that popped into my head. I remember watching it and then trying to find everything else he had done. Turns out I was already caught up.

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PurpsMcNuggets t1_j9phmrq wrote

Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins

Jamie Bell as Billy Elliot

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nowhereman136 t1_j9pji8u wrote

Lupita Nyang'o in 12 Years a Slave

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Looper007 t1_j9psdaj wrote

And she hasn't come close to topping it since.

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nowhereman136 t1_j9ptet6 wrote

Shes really only done a handful of movies since. She was fantastic in Us. It wasn't a very challenging role but she was good in the Black Panther movies.

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Looper007 t1_j9pxmgp wrote

She never really struck while the iron was hot, half her roles have been for voicing . Us definitely was only thing she's done that I've seen her in that gives me hope that it wasn't a one off performance with 12 years a Slave. It's been 10 years now since that film, and only really one more eye catching performance. She definitely hasn't been prolific for sure.

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official_bagel t1_j9pmdsg wrote

  • Orson Wells in Citizen Kane
  • Alan Rickman in Die Hard
  • Frances McDormand in Blood Simple
  • Natalie Portman in Leon: The Professional
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rabid_scotsman t1_j9pm5ky wrote

Alan Rickman in Die Hard is the answer.

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Holy_Hole_Inna_Donut t1_j9pwbqm wrote

Kirsten Dunst in Interview With The Vampire, playing a 60 year old mind trapped in the body of an 11 year old girl. It was especially impressive because she stole scenes from two powerhouse A-listers.

Also Julie Andrews who won an Oscar for her first role.

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Agent_Tomm t1_j9pi528 wrote

Wasn't "Primal Fear" Edward Norton's film debut? If so that one.

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Looper007 t1_j9pswjz wrote

Paddy Considine in Room for Romeo Brass

Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit

Anna Paquin in The Piano

Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun

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notthatbigtuna t1_j9ppgv2 wrote

I’m a big Brad Dourif guy from way back and his performance in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a pretty great way to start a career.

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Ebolatastic t1_j9pph16 wrote

Sharlto Copley was so good in District 9 that he got major roles for like a decade afterward.

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TheCosmicFailure t1_j9pl36r wrote

Cynthia Erivo. I thought she was very good in Widows

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DrRexMorman t1_j9pou9o wrote

>But not sure if he acted before (in tv)

He had.

> Do you have other samples or favorites?

I would say 99% of child actors are terrible, but sometimes we are graced by a child who can act - Tatum O’Neil’s performance in Paper moon comes to mind.

It is considerably harder to think through this for adult actors, who are either grown up child actors (like Bale) or who made it big after a slate of small appearances (like many of the answers in this thread).

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WindingRoad10 t1_j9pzi1p wrote

Oprah Winfrey & Whoopi Goldberg - The Color Purple

It's true that Oprah never really pursued a full on acting career, but her debut got her an Oscar nomination & she was great in the role.

Same thing with Whoopi (who I wished would've just stayed an actress...she's more of a personality now)

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coderedmountaindewd t1_j9t4uil wrote

That movie was absolutely heart wrenching and made me hate Danny Glover for a little bit

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Arkeolog t1_j9pzjit wrote

Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey in Heavenly Creatures.

(Kate had done some tv before that, but it was her film debut)

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Psychological-Rub-72 t1_j9q10ux wrote

Kate Beckinsale -- Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing, as Hero.

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skibidido t1_j9q96z3 wrote

James Dean, East of Eden

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estine1979 t1_j9qvy91 wrote

Ice Cube in Boyz In The Hood.

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ELIE41 t1_j9ssyun wrote

Ben Kingsley in Gandhi.

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