Everybody doesn’t crash-land into Hollywood on fire. Sometimes it takes a little nurturing and experience to get into the coveted winner’s circle of Academy Award winners. The Internet is currently enamored with Matthew McConaughey’s audition tape for 1993’s cult classic, Dazed and Confused. While the A-lister would go on to bigger and badder roles, the quick clip still showed his promise as an actor.
Dazed and Confused actually wasn’t McConaughey’s screen debut (he played the background in 1993’s My Boyfriend’s Back; garbage) but check out the first movies from Oscar winners in the gallery below to see how far they evolved in their career.
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Photo: Dave Bedrosian/Future Image/WENN.com, YouTube
Robert De Niro in Three Rooms in Manhattan (1965)
The future ragin’ bull played the background in this obscure French film.
Al Pacino in Me, Natalie (1969)
Pacino got to nestle up to Patty Duke before he mastered a career of gangsta sh*t.
Angelina Jolie in Lookin’ to Get Out (1982)
Mrs. Brad Pitt has been doing this since she still played with Barbie dolls.
Jack Nicholson in The Cry Baby Killer (1958)
Jack came into show business with a few screws loose and it worked out pretty good for him.
Halle Berry in Jungle Fever (1991)
Spike Lee cast the prettiest crack head the world has ever known. Started from the bottom, now she’s here.
Denzel Washington in Death Wish (1974)
When your claim to fame is getting bucked by Charles Bronson, you know you’re on the right track to success.
Marlon Brando in The Men (1950)
The O.G. Godfather got his stride starring in one of the countless black and white war movies.
Charlize Theron in Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (1995)
The South African beauty got real familiar with “monsters” on her first movie role.
Photo: 20th Century Fox
Jamie Foxx in Toys (1992)
Although the flick sucked, Jamie got some great experience acting alongside Robin Williams, Joan Cusack and his future arch nemesis, LL Cool J.
Natalie Portman in Léon: The Professional (1994)
Portman actually has a pretty impressive filmography and it all started with being the world’s cutest accessory to murder.
Christian Bale in Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986)
Before he was Batman or an underweight boxer, Bale was a child actor with loads of talent.
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Cuba Gooding, Jr. in Coming to America (1988)
The future Jerry Maguire star got to sat in on the funniest barbershop session ever to begin his career.
Photo: Allied Artists
Morgan Freeman in The Pawnbroker (1964)
When you come out the womb as a veteran, only way you can go is up.
Photo:
Sandra Bullock in Hangmen (1987)
Bullock’s first film left much room for improvement. Obviously she took advantage.
Meryl Streep in Julia (1977)
It’s ironic that Streep was nominated for an Oscar later down the line for portraying Julia Childs.
Sidney Poitier in Sepia Cinderella (1947)
The great Sidney Poitier started out his career as extra. Then he became the first Black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor.
