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!

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#Film #Debuts #acting #actors

[cl]

Alan Rickman should have been WAY higher on this list.

[trinaq]

Edward Norton was so chilling in "Primal Fear", that you'd be surprised in learning that this was his first onscreen acting role. He had me captivated from start to finish.

[AquaBlue]

Yes, thanks for including Natalie Portman because she's incredible in Léon: The Professional, and will always stay in my mind because of that.

[stevegallo]

Kirsten Dunst deserves at least an honorable mention for Interview with the Vampire!

[wisteria]

Alan Rickman, what a talent! I miss him!

[bravehome]

Some great choices!

My favs you didn't mention (in no particular order):
1. James Dean (East of Eden)
2. Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People)
3. Angela Lansbury (Gaslight)
4. Frances McDormand (Blood Simple)
5. Sigourney Weaver (Alien)
6. Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple)

[trinaq]

Gabourey Sidibe was phenomenal as Precious, her performance conveyed so much hurt and pain from her facial expressions alone. I always thought that she deserved the Oscar that year, no shade to Sandra Bullock.

[skarpsk]

Lupita Nyong’o in 12 Years a Slave will forever be one of the greatest movie debuts ever!!

[tearose]

I can’t believe you could show Kate Winslet’s debut in Heavenly Creatures and not even mention Melanie Lynskey. The movie was also her debut and she was amazing!

[kimberlywiederhold]

The ending of Primal Fear is the most jaw dropping twist in a movie surpassed only by the ending of The Sixth Sense.

[joannemckinley]

Both Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey were incredible in "Heavenly Creatures." It was the film debut for both of them.
Alan Rickman was fantastic as Hans Gruber. His voice is so mellifluous and rich.

[metzkerj]

Consider Bette Davis in "Of Human Bondage, " "Angela Lansbury" in "Gaslight" and Whoopi Goldberg in "The Color Purple."

[kaseykat]

Alan Rickman was the best villain ever and he always played a bad guy. He was amazing.

[Daniel_L_Chamberlain]

As soon as I saw this video I immediately thought of Anna Paquin for her work in the film The Piano. Has to be number 1 since she won an oscar and the second youngest in history. Anya Taylor Joy for her work in The Witch has to be here too. My shout-out goes to the girl who played Lyra in the Golden Compass. Say what you want about that Film but I never would've guessed that was her first film role. I thought she did well personally but that's just my opinion

[Walguy]

Two notable omissions are Goldie Hawn, who won an Oscar for her film debut in Cactus Flower, and Dakota Fanning's acclaimed performance in I Am Sam, for which she won a SAG award.

[OscarMPG]

What about Christian Bale in Empire Of The Sun?

[buffylow]

Love Alan Rickman in Die Hard he was the perfect villain! Hans Gruber! Loved Natalie Portman in The Professional but Jean Reno was awesome too! Also Tatum O’Neal with her dad Ryan O’Neal in Paper Moon! And Cameron Diaz in The Mask! ❤️💕😎🎶😘😍

[Demaad]

When True Grit came out, I was the same age as Hailee Steinfeld in that movie. So seeing her more popular as we both grew up over the years, it’s what made her my top celebrity crush

[CMinorOp]

No Timothy Hutton for “Ordinary People”???😬
That hurts my heart.

[alyhuffhines]

I agree on Edward Norton. His debut as Aaron/Roy in Primal Fear was impressive!