Guess the first roles of these Oscar-nominated actors

by Jaime Bender  |  Wednesday, February 15, 2017

by Jaime Bender
Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Natalie Portman, winner of the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for 'Black Swan', poses in the press room during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Everyone's got to start somewhere. You'll never guess the first roles of these 2017 Academy Award nominees.

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Denzel Washington in "Fences."
Photo: Paramount

Question 1 of 10 Score: 0

Denzel Washington, nominated this year for "Fences," debuted in 1981 in what little-known film?

Oscar-winning American actor Denzel Washington played the long-lost son of George Segal in "Carbon Copy," an obscure 1981 comedy. But that obscurity didn't seem to hurt Washington, who went on to have one of the most successful careers in Hollywood.

Photo: Paramount
Arrival screenshot
Photo: YouTube

Question 2 of 10 Score: 0

'Arrival' star Amy Adams made her debut in this dark comedy:

Years before her sci-fi film "Arrival" was nominated for Best Picture, American actress Amy Adams scored her first film credit in a small but memorable part in 1999's "Drop Dead Gorgeous."

Photo: YouTube
Natalie Portman Jackie
Photo: Jackie

Question 3 of 10 Score: 0

A 14-year-old Natalie Portman made her Hollywood debut in what film?

The Israeli-American actress starred opposite Jean Reno in "The Professional" in 1994. Now, she's in the running for an Academy Award for her performance in "Jackie." It would be her second Oscar (she won for "Black Swan" in 2011).

Photo: Jackie
Michelle Williams is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in "Manchester By the Sea."
Photo: Wikimedia/Gage Skidmore

Question 4 of 10 Score: 0

What teen-angsty TV series made "Brokeback Mountain" co-star Michelle Williams famous?

American actress Michelle Williams is nominated for a supporting actress Oscar for her role in "Manchester by the Sea." It's her second nomination in that category; in 2005 she was nominated for "Brokeback Mountain."

Photo: Wikimedia/Gage Skidmore
"Hacksaw Ridge" star Andrew Garfield.
Photo: Cross Creek Pictures

Question 5 of 10 Score: 0

What was 'Spider-Man' star Andrew Garfield's first film?

Andrew Garfield, born in Los Angeles and raised in England, made his feature-film debut in the 2007 war drama "Lions for Lambs." He's now nominated for "Hacksaw Ridge," another war movie.

Photo: Cross Creek Pictures
Octavia Spencer in "Hidden Figures"
Photo: Fox

Question 6 of 10 Score: 0

Twenty-one years before her Oscar nomination for 'Hidden Figures,' Octavia Spencer's first movie was:

Octavia Spencer landed her first acting role as a nurse in "A Time to Kill." The Alabama-born actress had been hired to work behind the scenes in casting, but director Joel Schumacher liked her so much, he asked her to audition.

Photo: Fox
Mahershala Ali, of "House of Cards" and "Luke Cage," is nominated for an Oscar for "Moonlight."
Photo: House of Cards

Question 7 of 10 Score: 0

'Moonlight' star Mahershala Ali got his start on what sci-fi TV series?

California-born Mahershala Ali is nominated for his supporting actor role in "Moonlight" in this year's Academy Awards. He's perhaps best known for his role in the Netflix series "House of Cards."

Photo: House of Cards
Actor Emma Stone, winner of the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role award for 'La La Land', backstage with award during The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for TNT

Question 8 of 10 Score: 0

Before her scene-stealing role as Mia in 'La La Land,' Emma Stone had her first film role in:

Emma Stone has brought her wit and charm to more than 23 films – an impressive resume for the 28-year-old Arizona native. Her singing chops have also earned her praise and helped her land the lead role in "La La Land" opposite Ryan Gosling.

Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for TNT
Actor Dev Patel stars in "Lion."
Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company/Netflix

Question 9 of 10 Score: 0

Dev Patel got his start in what British TV series?

British actor Dev Patel landed the role in "Skins" in 2007 with no prior professional acting experience. Now, he's up for an Oscar for his role in the international drama "Lion."

Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company/Netflix
Meryl Streep attended the Oscars in a two-tone off-the-shoulder Lanvin gown that's actually one piece.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Question 10 of 10 Score: 0

Which film marked Meryl Streep's Hollywood breakthrough?

The 1977 drama "Julia" was Hollywood treasure Meryl Streep's feature film debut. The New Jersey-born actress is now up for her 16th Oscar nomination for "Florence Foster Jenkins."

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Natalie Portman, winner of the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for 'Black Swan', poses in the press room during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images