The power of the first performance can make or break an actor's career. Some debut performances are so captivating that they etch it forever in the memory of everyone who witnessed them and launched a highly volatile journey across Hollywood. These 19 debut roles stand out for raw talent, emotional depth, and lasting impact. From villainous roles to magnificent leads, these performances started careers and became fundamental parts of movie history. Sometimes first impressions are those that one forgets never.
Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.
1. Natalie Portman – Léon: The Professional (1994)

At just 12, Natalie Portman made everyone in the cinema lose their breath with her incredible debut in Léon: The Professional as Mathilda, a young girl caught in a vicious world of violence and blood retribution. Heartbreaking as it was, Portman brought out such remarkable depth to the part, perfectly balancing vulnerability with fierce determination. This early role would, therefore set her up for this glorious career in a spotlight of challenging complex roles charged emotionally well early enough before such was done and it can still shine well today.
2. Orson Welles – Citizen Kane (1941)

Orson Welles's debut as both the director and the lead actor in Citizen Kane proves one of the most influential performances in film history. Through Citizen Kane, he got to play the enigmatic press mogul, Charles Foster Kane, full of ambition and isolation. Welles was just 25 years old while taking up this pioneering role, thereby providing an unparalleled depth and complexity to the character. Citizen Kane continues to be on the list of the greatest ever films, with Welles's performance in it was proof of his unmatched brain in cinema.
3. Hailee Steinfeld – True Grit (2010)

Hailee Steinfeld's Mattie Ross role in the Coen Brothers' True Grit was nothing short of incredible. Already at 14, she has proven how good she could be against seasoned professionals, Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon while playing a film full of grit and maturity. Her portrayal of the determined young girl seeking justice in the Old West earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, which served as proof that from the beginning, Steinfeld had the means to become one of Hollywood's brightest stars.
4. Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Lupita Nyong'o's debut performance in 12 Years a Slave was stunning, leaving every audience breathless. As Patsey, the slave that endures unbearable hardships, Nyong'o outshined with emotional intensity to clinch the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Raw, vulnerable, and moving talent and recommendation of her potential as one of Hollywood's most compelling actresses. She has since continued to shine, thus cementing her status as a force to be reckoned with in the film industry.
5. Edward Norton – Primal Fear (1996)

Primal Fear is an Edward Norton breakthrough as Aaron Stampler. The shy altar boy who turns out to be the murderer was both chilling and complex in the performance. His twist at the film's climax shocked audiences, making it one of the defining moments of his career. The exceptional performance from a newcomer in Hollywood earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Norton's ability to portray such a multifaceted character with stunning subtlety set the tone for the remainder of his career within Hollywood.
6. Jennifer Hudson – Dreamgirls (2006)

Jennifer Hudson, in Dreamgirls, marked her debut with an instant game-changer. She portrayed Effie White, a woman who has to face fame, heartbreak, and personal growth. The incredible vocal talent and emotional depth she portrayed through the character left the audience spellbound. Her unforgettable rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" became an iconic moment in film history, and she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her performance was the start of a career rich in critical success and major achievement both as an actress and musician.
7. Barbra Streisand – Funny Girl (1968)

Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl was a debut performance and one that, really, nothing less than spectacular it could be. Her Fanny Brice is a comedian rising to stardom amidst personal turmoil but with a perfect harmony of humor, heart, and vulnerability. The knockout singing voice and magnetic presence of Streisand earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress and catapulted her overnight to stardom. The part she was given in Funny Girl cemented her as a powerhouse talent, but it set the stage for a career that would span music, theater, and film.
8. Anna Paquin – The Piano (1993)

Anna Paquin was stunning in The Piano as Flora McGrath. Her age at that time was only 11 years. Paquin portrayed depth in emotions with her acting and was playing a mute child caught between the tension of a complex adult world. This earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the second youngest to have ever received this award. Paquin's talent was undeniable right from the beginning, and this role opened up an illustrious career in film and television.
9. Eddie Murphy - 48 Hrs. (1982)

Eddie Murphy's detonation in the explosive 48 Hrs. presented his natural sense of comedy with undeniable star quality. As Reggie Hammond, a wisecracking convict paired with the gruffness of Nick Nolte's cop, Murphy performs replete with both humor and charm infused with grittiness. Balancing quick-witted one-liners through the film with its tense action, he set the tone high for the genre of buddy cops. At just 21, he stole every scene going, cementing himself as one of Hollywood's potential icons.
10. Audrey Hepburn – Roman Holiday (1953)

Audrey Hepburn was the breath of fresh air that Hollywood needed when she appeared in Roman Holiday. Playing the role of Princess Ann, a royal who leaves her duties to enjoy one day of freedom in Rome, Audrey Hepburn showed charm, elegance, and an infectious sense of joy. Her performance won her an Academy Award for Best Actress, and her natural beauty, grace, and comedic timing instantly made her an icon. The star continued rising and she still is one of the most enduringly admired actresses from Hollywood to date.
11. Alan Rickman – Die Hard (1988)

Alan Rickman made his villainous debut as Hans Gruber to this day as arguably one of the most iconic performances in cinema. The British actor, with such a unique voice and presence that draws you, transformed Gruber from a bog-standard villain to a charismatic complex antagonist. Rickman took the role by masterclass by being subtle in presenting a calm and calculating mastermind with an air of menace always lurking beneath.
12. Paul Hogan - Crocodile Dundee (1986)

Paul Hogan burst onto the silver screen as the iconic Mick "Crocodile" Dundee in Crocodile Dundee, a role that catapulted the Australian actor overnight into international superstardom. Hogan, a co-writer of the film as well, delivered humor, charm, and rough-around-the-edges appeal with a certain carefree swagger in the character's portrayal, truly bringing the Australian outback to life. The film grossed so well that he even won a Golden Globe for Best Actor and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Screenplay.
13. Cameron Diaz - The Mask (1994)

Cameron Diaz made an entrance into Hollywood in The Mask in the most memorable way. Fresh off the plow with zero acting experience, she stunned everyone playing Tina Carlyle as if born into elegance and charm. Her big entrance, belting "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You," is still imprinted on anyone's memory to this day as it paired nicely with Jim Carrey's eccentric performance. The film made over $350 million at the box office, so this marked Diaz's entrance into superstardom almost overnight.
14. Tatum O’Neal – Paper Moon (1973)

At 10, Tatum O'Neal gave an amazing performance in Paper Moon, acting as Addie Loggins, a young girl who joins forces with a con artist. Witty and anti-conformist portrayal won her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 10, which set a record for being the youngest winner at that time. O'Neal is sharp in comic timing and in emotional depth that brought the character to life, with her debut as one of the most memorable debuts in Hollywood history.
15. Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Dev Patel's entry into the acting world with Slumdog Millionaire was like a thunderous storm that set him on a path to fame worldwide. By playing Jamal Malik, a Mumbai slum young man who participates in a game-changing show, Patel performed with heart, hope, and vulnerability. His portrayal of the journey of love, loss, and destiny while playing Jamal was simply powerful and poignant. Patel's performance earned him numerous accolades and opened doors for his continued success in both film and television.
16. Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins (1964)

Julie Andrews gave up a Hollywood legend impression as the nearly perfect nanny from Mary Poppins. Radiating charm, Andrews had impeccable comic timing and possessed a stunning singing voice. Because of these great qualities, the actress won the award for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. As the nanny took on the children while bringing them "A Spoonful of Sugar" to have "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," she blended perfect whimsy and emotional depth.
17. Frances McDormand - Blood Simple (1984)

Frances McDormand's first film would be in the Coen Brothers' Blood Simple. Her part was Abby, one of the main women caught up in a deadly love triangle. McDormand demonstrated remarkable depth and subtlety in that role, instantly proving herself to be able to convey complex emotions realistically. Her portrayal of a woman trapped in a violent scheme helped set the tone for a career filled with bold, dynamic roles. Blood Simple was the beginning of McDormand's spectacular career and even started her mythological career in collaboration with the Coens.
18. Marlon Brando – The Men (1950)

Marlon Brando's introduction to the big screen in The Men was very promising. Portraying a paraplegic war veteran, Brando's performance, raw and unrefined as it was, was revolutionary in Hollywood at that time and set the course for his iconic career. It was a different performance altogether because it had elements of realism and vulnerability, and he was unlike most of the acting standards of that era. Brando's ability to bring depth and nuance to his characters has been established throughout the history of cinema to make him one of its most influential actors.
19. Quvenzhané Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Just 9 years old, Quvenzhané Wallis, gave a standout performance as the young Hushpuppy navigating life in the forgotten bayou community in Beasts of the Southern Wild. Despite her youth, Wallis infused strength and wisdom into this character that at times seemed tough but at the same time weak. This role was rewarded with an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, at that time being the youngest to receive the nomination in the history of the academy.

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