Top 20 Greatest Acting Debuts in Movies

These actors turned in career-defining performances on their first try! For this list, we’ll be looking at the best debut performances in movie history. Our countdown includes Alan Rickman, Orson Welles, Natalie Portman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Oprah Winfrey, and more! What do you think is the best debut performance of all time? Let us know in the comments below!

Watch more great movies videos here:

Have Your Idea Become A Video!

Subscribe for more great content!

Visit WatchMojo Club for Great Deals!

Your trusted authority for Top 10 lists, reviews, tips and tricks, biographies, origins, and entertainment news on Film, TV, Video Games, Comics, Celeb, Music and Superheroes.

#Film
#Debuts
#CitizenKane

[WatchMojo]

What do you think is the best debut performance of all time? And let us kn ow what other videos you'd like to see on the channel!

[justapeacefulmanwhosbornin]

Alan Rickman was a decent human being, and may he rest in peace.
'Die Hard' is still one of the best action movies ever made.

[kidpeligro]

Orson Wells acting debut was on a movie he wrote, produced and directed. The same movie that received record Oscar nomination and considered one of the greatest films in human history. Damn, that's a hell of a way to introduce yourself.

[michellemiddlebrooks]

You left Lupita N’yongo out; 12 Years A Slave was her first film and she won an Oscar for it.

[jemz]

I was a kid when I saw Alan Rickman in Die Hard & even though he was the bad guy I felt there was still something appealing & captivating about his character

[davidcottone]

Alan Rickman deserves higher he always will be Hans best villian

[Neorott]

Kirsten Dunst - Interview With The Vampire at 12yrs old, which won her a Golden Globe.

[nicolethomas]

Edward Norton In Primal Fear was just amazing

[bandgeek]

Everyone always forgets Justin Henry, who played the son in Kramer vs Kramer. Even though he didn't win, he remains the youngest Oscar nominee at age 8.

[TheDealMaster]

Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber was legendary. That's a career defining role. And of course Edward Norton in Primal Fear. What a debut!

[tamelaculp]

Marlee Matlin's made her film AND acting debut in "Children of A Lesser God." opposite the late William Hurt. In 1986 she won the Best Actress Oscar at age 21. She's still the youngest Best Actress Winner.

[ArchieBC]

I would put Natalie Portman as #1 due to her age. Wells is the obvious and safe choice, but at 11 years old Portman’s performance affected me more profoundly than most films I’ve ever seen.

[joeproton]

Amatuer actor in his film debut won Best Supporting Actor: Dr Haing S Ngor for the Killing Fields

[emilyhilyard]

Melanie Lynskey is such an underrated actor. She's deserved of just as many accolades as Winslet imo

[keiyangoshin]

I remember Natalie Portman and Anna Paquin. It was my first time seeing young teenagers in such a dark and tragic movies. It was hard to forget and painful to watch. It always disturbs me to see children in suffering and pain. I guess that’s as it should be.

[madknight]

You forgot Lou Diamond Phillips in La Bamba. Man did such an amazing job that when preparing to film the final scene where he gets on the plane the actual sister Connie broke down crying to him and helped give her closure, the movie gave Ritchies mother another reason to hold on despite having terminal cancer and was able to have some closure for her sons death as well, and finally he brought the amazing music to people to enjoy.

[HeronCoyote]

The scene of Scout first seeing Boo, and the subtle smiles of recognition on both of them, I’m in tears. Probably my favorite movie of all time. One case in which the movie is as good as the book, thanks to Mr. Foote. And that score by Elmer Bernstein…all add up to a beautifully crafted film.

[amandaredd]

The Color Purple is such a devastatingly beautiful, strong, and emotional movie

[rlkinnard]

Timothy Hutton and Patty Duke both won Oscars for their first performance on film.

[deborahblackvideoediting]

I would loved to have seen Glenn Close and Dev Patel on this list. Glenn for The World According to Garp, for which she received an Oscar nomination. And Dev for Slumdog Millionaire, which was a massive box-office success. And while I'm at it, I'll throw in Ricky Schroder for The Champ. I believe he was 8 or 9 at the time and won a Golden Globe for his performance. He was absolutely devastating in that final scene.