Here's What The 2023 Academy Award Nominees Looked Like In Their First Roles Vs. Now

BuzzFeed
·3 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

1.Austin Butler

Above, a closeup of Austin in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide; below him in Elvis

Then: He was an extra on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide (2005–2007).

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in Elvis (2022).

Nickelodeon / Warner Bros. / Everett

2.Michelle Yeoh

Above, a closeup of her in The Owl vs Bombo; below, her with a third googly eye in Everything Everywhere All At Once

Then: She played Miss Yeung in The Owl vs Bombo (1984).

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).

D&B Films / A24 / Everett

3.Angela Bassett

Above, a closeup of her in The Cosby Show; below, a closeup of her speech in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Then: She played Mrs. Mitchell on an episode of The Cosby Show (1985).

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

NBC / Disney / Everett

4.Jamie Lee Curtis

Above, a closeup of her in Halloween, below, a closeup of her as the mean tax lady in Everything Everywhere All At Once

Then: She played Laurie Strode in Halloween (1978).

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).

Compass International Pictures / A24 / Everett

5.Ke Huy Quan

Above, a closeup of Ke Huy Quan and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom; below, a closeup of him as the husband of Michelle Yeoh's character in Everything Everywhere All At Once

Then: He played Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).

Paramount / A24 / Everett

6.Brendan Fraser

Above, a closeup of Brendan in Dogfight; below, a closeup of his character in The Whale

Then: He played Sailor No. 1 in Dogfight (1991).

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Whale (2022).

Warner Bros. / A24 / Everett

7.Colin Farrell

Above, a closeup of Colin in Frankie Starlight; below, a closeup of him looking confused by his former friend in The Banshees of Inisherin

Then: He played Young Man in Cinema No. 2 in Frankie Starlight (1995).

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022).

Fine Line Features / Searchlight Pictures / Everett

8.Barry Keoghan

Above, a closeup of a young Barry in Stalker; below, a closeup of him with bruises in The Banshees of Inisherin

Then: He played Tommy in Stalker (2012).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022).

Stalker Films / Searchlight Pictures / Everett

9.Ana de Armas

Above, a closeup of Ana with messy hair in Una rosa de Francia; below, a closeup of her as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde

Then: She played Marie in Una rosa de Francia (2006).

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in Blonde (2022).

Alta Classics / Netflix / Everett

10.Michelle Williams

Above, a closeup of Michelle as a preteen in Baywatch; below, a closeup of her as the mom in The Fabelmans

Then: She played Bridget in an episode of Baywatch (1993).

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in The Fabelmans (2022).

NBC / Universal / Everett

11.Hong Chau

Above, a closeup of Hong looking earnest in How I Met Your Mother; below, a closeup of her as Brendan Fraser's nurse friend in The Whale

Then: She played Cook Pu in an episode of How I Met Your Mother (2010).

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Whale (2022).

CBS / A24 / Everett

12.Judd Hirsch

Above, a closeup of Judd in The Law; below, a closeup of him as the great-uncle in The Fablemans

Then: He played Murray Stone in The Law (1974).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Fabelmans (2022).

NBC / Universal / Everett

13.Bill Nighy

Above, a closeup of a younger Bill in Softly, Softly: Taskforce; below, a closeup of an older him in Living

Then: He played Albert Blake on an episode of Softly, Softly: Taskforce (1976).

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in Living (2022).

BBC1 / Sony Pictures Classics / Everett

14.Brendan Gleeson

Above, a closeup of Brendan in a police outfit for Into the West; below, a closeup of an older him in The Banshees of Inisherin

Then: He played Inspector Bolger in Into the West (1992).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022).

Entertainment Film Distributors / Searchlight Pictures / Everett

15.Cate Blanchett

Above, a closeup of Cate with curly blonde hair in Heartland; below, a closeup of her with straight blonde hair in Tár

Then: She played Elizabeth Ashton on Heartland (1994).

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in Tár (2022).

ABC / Focus Features / Everett

16.Andrea Riseborough

Above, a closeup of Andrea in Party Animals; below a closeup of her smiling in To Leslie. Her nomination for this role has caused controversy

Then: She played Kirsty in Party Animals (2007).

Now: She's nominated for Best Actress for her role in To Leslie (2022).

BBC Two / Momentum Pictures / Everett

17.Paul Mescal

Above, a closeup of Paul in Normal People; below, a closeup of him as the dad in Aftersun

Then: He played Connell Waldron in Normal People (2020).

Now: He's nominated for Best Actor for his role in Aftersun (2022).

Hulu / A24 / Everett

18.Brian Tyree Henry

Above, a closeup of Brian in a military uniform on The Good Wife; below, a closeup of him in Causeway

Then: He played Randall Simmons in an episode of The Good Wife (2010).

Now: He's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Causeway (2022).

CBS / Apple TV+ / Everett

19.Kerry Condon

Above, a closeup of Kerry in Rome; below, a closeup of her in The Banshees of Inisherin

Then: She played Octavia of the Julii in Rome (2005–2007).

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022).

HBO / Searchlight Pictures / Everett

20.And finally, Stephanie Hsu

Above, a closeup of Stephanie holding a mirror upside down in Girl Code; below, a closeup of her in a pink wig and bejeweled makeup in Everything Everywhere All At Once

Then: She played herself on Girl Code (2013–2015).

Now: She's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).

MTV / A24 / Everett