20 Photos of the 2020 Oscar Nominees at Their Very First Academy Awards

Zellweger is nominated this year for Best Actress after taking on the role of Judy Garland in Judy. Her first Academy Awards appearance was in 1999.

Renée Zellweger

Zellweger is nominated this year for Best Actress after taking on the role of Judy Garland in Judy. Her first Academy Awards appearance was in 1999.
Johansson is nominated for Best Actress in both a leading and supporting role, for her work on Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit, respectively. Her first Oscar dress made everyone green with envy in 2004. - Carlo Allegri/Getty

Scarlett Johansson

Johansson is nominated for Best Actress in both a leading and supporting role, for her work on Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit, respectively. Her first Oscar dress made everyone green with envy in 2004. Carlo Allegri/Getty
Theron, who's nominated for Best Actress for playing Megyn Kelly in Bombshell, made her Academy Awards debut in 2000, wearing a backless orange gown. - KMazur/WireImage

Charlize Theron 

Theron, who's nominated for Best Actress for playing Megyn Kelly in Bombshell, made her Academy Awards debut in 2000, wearing a backless orange gown. KMazur/WireImage
Robbie, nominated this year for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Bombshell, made her debut at the Oscars after her breakout role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street in 2013. - FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty

Margot Robbie 

Robbie, nominated this year for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Bombshell, made her debut at the Oscars after her breakout role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street in 2013. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty
Dern was nominated in 1996 for her role in Rambling Rose and attended her first Oscars with actor Vincent Spano. This year, she is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Marriage Story. - Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty

Laura Dern

Dern was nominated in 1996 for her role in Rambling Rose and attended her first Oscars with actor Vincent Spano. This year, she is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Marriage Story. Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty
Then just 14 years old, Ronan — who's nominated this year for Best Actress for her role as Jo March in Little Women — made her debut at the 2008 Oscars. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her part in Atonement.

Saoirse Ronan

Then just 14 years old, Ronan — who's nominated this year for Best Actress for her role as Jo March in Little Women — made her debut at the 2008 Oscars. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her part in Atonement.
Nominated for Best Actress this year for playing the titular role of Harriet Tubman in Harriet, the talented actress made her debut just last year, at the 2019 Academy Awards. - Frazer Harrison/Getty

Cynthia Erivo 

Nominated for Best Actress this year for playing the titular role of Harriet Tubman in Harriet, the talented actress made her debut just last year, at the 2019 Academy Awards. Frazer Harrison/Getty
Bates won for her role in Misery and posed with Daniel Day-Lewis at the 1991 awards. She is nominated for Best Supporting Actress this year for her role in Richard Jewell. - Kevin Winter/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty

Kathy Bates

Bates won for her role in Misery and posed with Daniel Day-Lewis at the 1991 awards. She is nominated for Best Supporting Actress this year for her role in Richard Jewell. Kevin Winter/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty
Pitt, nominated this year for Best Supporting Actor for his part in Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood, hit his first Oscars red carpet with then-girlfriend Juliette Lewis, in 1992. - Time Life Pictures/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty

Brad Pitt

Pitt, nominated this year for Best Supporting Actor for his part in Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood, hit his first Oscars red carpet with then-girlfriend Juliette Lewis, in 1992. Time Life Pictures/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty
Hanks and Rita Wilson would marry one year after their debut at the 1987 Academy Awards. This year, Hanks is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. - Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Tom Hanks

Hanks and Rita Wilson would marry one year after their debut at the 1987 Academy Awards. This year, Hanks is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
There aren't any original photos of Pesci, who was first nominated for an award in 1981 for his role in Raging Bull, but in 1991, the actor won for his performance in Goodfellas. His acceptance speech was notoriously short at the 1991 awards. He simply said, "It's my privilege. Thank you." He'll be back this year to compete for Best Supporting Actor for The Irishman.

Joe Pesci

There aren't any original photos of Pesci, who was first nominated for an award in 1981 for his role in Raging Bull, but in 1991, the actor won for his performance in Goodfellas. His acceptance speech was notoriously short at the 1991 awards. He simply said, "It's my privilege. Thank you." He'll be back this year to compete for Best Supporting Actor for The Irishman.
Cooper, who's nominated this year for producing Joker, attended his first Oscars in 2010. - Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Bradley Cooper

Cooper, who's nominated this year for producing Joker, attended his first Oscars in 2010. Kevork Djansezian/Getty
In 1994, a young DiCaprio was nominated for his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. This year, he's up for Best Actor for his role as Rick Dalton in Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood. - Barry King/WireImage

Leonardo DiCaprio 

In 1994, a young DiCaprio was nominated for his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. This year, he's up for Best Actor for his role as Rick Dalton in Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood. Barry King/WireImage
Phoenix, who's nominated this year for Best Actor for Joker, brought his mom to the awards in 2001. - Vinnie Zuffante/Getty

Joaquin Phoenix

Phoenix, who's nominated this year for Best Actor for Joker, brought his mom to the awards in 2001. Vinnie Zuffante/Getty
The Best Actor nominee attended his very first Oscars just last year, in 2019. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman.

Adam Driver 

The Best Actor nominee attended his very first Oscars just last year, in 2019. He was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his work in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman.
Hopkins presented an award at the 1976 Academy Awards ceremony. He wouldn't be nominated until 1992, when he won for his portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs. This year, he's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Two Popes. - Walt Disney Television via Getty

Anthony Hopkins 

Hopkins presented an award at the 1976 Academy Awards ceremony. He wouldn't be nominated until 1992, when he won for his portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs. This year, he's nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Two Popes. Walt Disney Television via Getty
In 1974, a young Pacino was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather. He's nominated this year for his role in The Irishman. - Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Al Pacino

In 1974, a young Pacino was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Michael Corleone in The Godfather. He's nominated this year for his role in The Irishman. Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
The actor is nominated for Best Actor this year for his role in Pain and Glory. The first-time nominee attended the awards in 1992 with his first wife, Ana Leza. - Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty

Antonio Banderas

The actor is nominated for Best Actor this year for his role in Pain and Glory. The first-time nominee attended the awards in 1992 with his first wife, Ana Leza. Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty
Tarantino is nominated this year for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay for Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood. His first Academy Awards was an eventful one: He took home the prize (alongside Roger Avery) for Best Original Screenplay for Pulp Fiction. - DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images

Quentin Tarantino

Tarantino is nominated this year for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay for Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood. His first Academy Awards was an eventful one: He took home the prize (alongside Roger Avery) for Best Original Screenplay for Pulp Fiction. DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images
Gerwig, whose film Little Women is up for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture, made her debut at the Oscars in 2018, when she was nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for her film, Lady Bird. - Frazer Harrison/Getty

Greta Gerwig 

Gerwig, whose film Little Women is up for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture, made her debut at the Oscars in 2018, when she was nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for her film, Lady Bird. Frazer Harrison/Getty

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