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The Early Roles Played By This Year's Oscar Nominees And Winners
Before Bradley Cooper was playing a mental outpatient in "Silver Linings Playbook" ...
![The Early Roles Played By This Year's Oscar Nominees And Winners](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-21321393%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-743777%2Fbefore-bradley-cooper-was-playing-a-mental-outpatient-in-silver-linings-playbook-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
... his first role was on a season 2 episode of "Sex in the City" at 24.
![... his first role was on a season 2 episode of "Sex in the City" at 24.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321394,width-700,height-525,imgsize-17701/-his-first-role-was-on-a-season-2-episode-of-sex-in-the-city-at-24-.jpg)
Before Jessica Chastain was hunting down Osama bin Laden in "Zero Dark Thirty" ...
![Before Jessica Chastain was hunting down Osama bin Laden in "Zero Dark Thirty" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321395,width-700,height-525,imgsize-3009438/before-jessica-chastain-was-hunting-down-osama-bin-laden-in-zero-dark-thirty-.jpg)
... she was hanging with vampires in a 2005 TV movie adaptation of "Dark Shadows."
![... she was hanging with vampires in a 2005 TV movie adaptation of "Dark Shadows."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321396,width-700,height-525,imgsize-63235/-she-was-hanging-with-vampires-in-a-2005-tv-movie-adaptation-of-dark-shadows-.jpg)
Before Denzel Washington won two Oscars and received a third nomination for "Flight" ...
![Before Denzel Washington won two Oscars and received a third nomination for "Flight" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321398,width-700,height-525,imgsize-25217/before-denzel-washington-won-two-oscars-and-received-a-third-nomination-for-flight-.jpg)
... he performed in a series of "Fruit of the Looms "commercials in the late '70s.
![... he performed in a series of "Fruit of the Looms "commercials in the late](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321400,width-700,height-525,imgsize-291990/-he-performed-in-a-series-of-fruit-of-the-looms-commercials-in-the-late-70s-.jpg)
At 66, Sally Field may have played the first lady in "Lincoln" ...
![At 66, Sally Field may have played the first lady in "Lincoln" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321402,width-700,height-525,imgsize-98300/at-66-sally-field-may-have-played-the-first-lady-in-lincoln-.jpg)
... but 40 years earlier she starred as a surfer on short-lived TV series "Gidget" in 1962.
![... but 40 years earlier she starred as a surfer on short-lived TV series "Gidget" in 1962.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321403,width-700,height-525,imgsize-205539/-but-40-years-earlier-she-starred-as-a-surfer-on-short-lived-tv-series-gidget-in-1962-.jpg)
Before Alan Arkin was making a fake movie in "Argo" ...
![Before Alan Arkin was making a fake movie in "Argo" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321404,width-700,height-525,imgsize-98849/before-alan-arkin-was-making-a-fake-movie-in-argo-.jpg)
A 19-year-old Arkin co-wrote the famous "The Banana Boat Song" which he performed on screen in 1957's musical "Calypso Heat Wave" with his band The Tarriers.
![A 19-year-old Arkin co-wrote the famous "The Banana Boat Song" which he performed on screen in 1957](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321405,width-700,height-525,imgsize-160859/a-19-year-old-arkin-co-wrote-the-famous-the-banana-boat-song-which-he-performed-on-screen-in-1957s-musical-calypso-heat-wave-with-his-band-the-tarriers-.jpg)
Before Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress for "Silver Linings Playbook" ...
![Before Jennifer Lawrence won Best Actress for "Silver Linings Playbook" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321410,width-700,height-525,imgsize-71306/before-jennifer-lawrence-won-best-actress-for-silver-linings-playbook-.jpg)
... At 14, she starred in promos for MTV's "My Sweet 16."
![... At 14, she starred in promos for MTV](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321411,width-700,height-525,imgsize-164647/-at-14-she-starred-in-promos-for-mtvs-my-sweet-16-.jpg)
Where did 45-year-old "The Master" star Philip Seymour Hoffman get his start?
![Where did 45-year-old "The Master" star Philip Seymour Hoffman get his start?](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321412,width-700,height-525,imgsize-27350/where-did-45-year-old-the-master-star-philip-seymour-hoffman-get-his-start.jpg)
Hoffman appeared on an episode of "Law & Order" in '91 at age 24.
![Hoffman appeared on an episode of "Law & Order" in](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321415,width-700,height-525,imgsize-28933/hoffman-appeared-on-an-episode-of-law-order-in-91-at-age-24-.jpg)
Before Naomi Watts received her second nomination in almost ten years for "The Impossible" ...
![Before Naomi Watts received her second nomination in almost ten years for "The Impossible" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321416,width-700,height-525,imgsize-67778/before-naomi-watts-received-her-second-nomination-in-almost-ten-years-for-the-impossible-.jpg)
She starred in commercials throughout the '80s including one for Tampax and another where she turned down a date with Tom Cruise.
![She starred in commercials throughout the](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321417,width-700,height-525,imgsize-358811/she-starred-in-commercials-throughout-the-80s-including-one-for-tampax-and-another-where-she-turned-down-a-date-with-tom-cruise-.jpg)
While the 66-year-old actor is now looking for his second Oscar win in "Lincoln" ...
![While the 66-year-old actor is now looking for his second Oscar win in "Lincoln" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321418,width-700,height-525,imgsize-22937/while-the-66-year-old-actor-is-now-looking-for-his-second-oscar-win-in-lincoln-.jpg)
At 24, he was a college student in his first film, "Love Story."
![At 24, he was a college student in his first film, "Love Story."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321419,width-700,height-525,imgsize-18966/at-24-he-was-a-college-student-in-his-first-film-love-story-.jpg)
Best Supporting Actress winner Anne Hathaway had Disney roots before she played a tuberculosis-ridden prostitute in "Les Misérables."
![Best Supporting Actress winner Anne Hathaway had Disney roots before she played a tuberculosis-ridden prostitute in "Les Misérables."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321420,width-700,height-525,imgsize-44955/best-supporting-actress-winner-anne-hathaway-had-disney-roots-before-she-played-a-tuberculosis-ridden-prostitute-in-les-misrables-.jpg)
Before she was a princess, Anne Hathaway's first role at 19 was for Disney's "The Other Side of Heaven."
![Before she was a princess, Anne Hathaway](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321421,width-700,height-525,imgsize-69263/before-she-was-a-princess-anne-hathaways-first-role-at-19-was-for-disneys-the-other-side-of-heaven-.jpg)
Before Robert De Niro received his third Oscar nomination for "Silver Linings Playbook" ...
![Before Robert De Niro received his third Oscar nomination for "Silver Linings Playbook" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321422,width-700,height-525,imgsize-90947/before-robert-de-niro-received-his-third-oscar-nomination-for-silver-linings-playbook-.jpg)
the first film he shot was 1969's "The Wedding Party."
![the first film he shot was 1969](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321423,width-700,height-525,imgsize-14941/the-first-film-he-shot-was-1969s-the-wedding-party-.jpg)
"Lincoln" winner Daniel Day-Lewis became the first male to win three Best Actor awards by age 55 ...
!["Lincoln" winner Daniel Day-Lewis became the first male to win three Best Actor awards by age 55 ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321424,width-700,height-525,imgsize-52402/lincoln-winner-daniel-day-lewis-became-the-first-male-to-win-three-best-actor-awards-by-age-55-.jpg)
That's a far-cry from his first role as a vandal in 1971's "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
![That](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321425,width-700,height-525,imgsize-172067/thats-a-far-cry-from-his-first-role-as-a-vandal-in-1971s-sunday-bloody-sunday-.jpg)
Before Helen Hunt was a sex therapist in "The Sessions" ...
![Before Helen Hunt was a sex therapist in "The Sessions" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321427,width-700,height-525,imgsize-17879/before-helen-hunt-was-a-sex-therapist-in-the-sessions-.jpg)
... the Oscar winner was a child actress appearing on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Swiss Family Robinson."
![... the Oscar winner was a child actress appearing on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Swiss Family Robinson."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321428,width-700,height-525,imgsize-13286/-the-oscar-winner-was-a-child-actress-appearing-on-the-mary-tyler-moore-show-and-the-swiss-family-robinson-.jpg)
Christoph Waltz is seeking his second Oscar for a bounty hunter in "Inglorious Basterds" now ...
![Christoph Waltz is seeking his second Oscar for a bounty hunter in "Inglorious Basterds" now ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321429,width-700,height-525,imgsize-40633/christoph-waltz-is-seeking-his-second-oscar-for-a-bounty-hunter-in-inglorious-basterds-now-.jpg)
But, in the '80s, the German actor starred in a number of television shows and films. One of his first, was TV movie "Feuer!" at age 23.
![But, in the](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321430,width-700,height-525,imgsize-10695/but-in-the-80s-the-german-actor-starred-in-a-number-of-television-shows-and-films-one-of-his-first-was-tv-movie-feuer-at-age-23-.jpg)
Here's a clip from the film.
Before Amy Adams received her fourth Oscar nomination for "The Master" ...
![Before Amy Adams received her fourth Oscar nomination for "The Master" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321431,width-700,height-525,imgsize-13509/before-amy-adams-received-her-fourth-oscar-nomination-for-the-master-.jpg)
... she was in 1999 comedy "Drop Dead Gorgeous" with Denise Richards and Kirsten Dunst.
![... she was in 1999 comedy "Drop Dead Gorgeous" with Denise Richards and Kirsten Dunst.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321432,width-700,height-525,imgsize-203585/-she-was-in-1999-comedy-drop-dead-gorgeous-with-denise-richards-and-kirsten-dunst-.jpg)
Hugh Jackman wasn't always Wolverine and singing on screen in "Les Misérables" ...
![Hugh Jackman wasn](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321433,width-700,height-525,imgsize-20737/hugh-jackman-wasnt-always-wolverine-and-singing-on-screen-in-les-misrables-.jpg)
At 27-years-old, his first role was as an inmate in ABC's 10-part drama series "Correlli." It was cancelled after the first season.
![At 27-years-old, his first role was as an inmate in ABC](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321434,width-700,height-525,imgsize-205022/at-27-years-old-his-first-role-was-as-an-inmate-in-abcs-10-part-drama-series-correlli-it-was-cancelled-after-the-first-season-.jpg)
Before Jacki Weaver played Bradley Cooper's mom in "Silver Linings Playbook" ...
![Before Jacki Weaver played Bradley Cooper](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321435,width-700,height-525,imgsize-25121/before-jacki-weaver-played-bradley-coopers-mom-in-silver-linings-playbook-.jpg)
... her first film role was at 24 in "Stork."
![... her first film role was at 24 in "Stork."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321436,width-700,height-525,imgsize-185528/-her-first-film-role-was-at-24-in-stork-.jpg)
Before Joaquin Phoenix made his comeback to the big screen in "The Master" ...
![Before Joaquin Phoenix made his comeback to the big screen in "The Master" ...](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321437,width-700,height-525,imgsize-60404/before-joaquin-phoenix-made-his-comeback-to-the-big-screen-in-the-master-.jpg)
... he appeared alongside late brother River in television shows including "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at age 8.
![... he appeared alongside late brother River in television shows including "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at age 8.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321438,width-700,height-525,imgsize-350924/-he-appeared-alongside-late-brother-river-in-television-shows-including-seven-brides-for-seven-brothers-at-age-8-.jpg)
Now, that you're caught up with the Oscar nominees ...
![Now, that you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-21321439,width-700,height-525,imgsize-251155/now-that-youre-caught-up-with-the-oscar-nominees-.jpg)
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