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(#7) Flora McGrath
Anna Paquin, The Piano
Anna Paquin was only 11 years old when she won an Oscar for her movie debut role as Flora in The Piano. Not a bad start for the actress, who would eventually become über-famous playing heroine Sookie Stackhouse on the popular HBO vampire drama True Blood.
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(#22) Leslie Miller
Amy Adams, Drop Dead Gorgeous
The five-time Oscar nominee got her silver screen start in 1999's Drop Dead Gorgeous, a black comedy, shot in mockumentary format, about a small town beauty pageant whose contestants literally begin to drop dead. You probably know Adams from her more acclaimed work in The Master, Junebug, and American Hustle.
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(#26) Lanisha Brown
Kerry Washington, Our Song
The Scandal actress was 22 years old when she made her silver screen debut as 15 year old Lanisha Brown. Our Song was about a group of girls in a marching band who quickly needed to figure out a new plan after their high school had to be closed down for asbestos removal.
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(#13) Hermia
Helen Mirren, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare sure isn't a bad place to start your film career! Mirren played Hermia in the 1968 film adaptation of the classic Shakespeare comedy, directed by Peter Hall. Of course, Mirren would go on to be everyone's favorite dame and won an Oscar in 2007 for her performance as Queen Elizabeth in The Queen.
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(#10) Effie White
Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls
Just imagine that you’re a singer by trade, do well in a reality show singing competition, and then earn the role of a lifetime. Now just think how great it would be if you won an Academy Award for your big screen debut. Sound too good to be true? The dream became a reality for Jennifer Hudson in 2006 for her portrayal of Effie White in the movie musical Dreamgirls. Check out the video of Hudson singing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going."
There is little doubt that her show-stopping performance of that song is what put her over the edge with the Academy.
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(#23) Ruby
Rosario Dawson, Kids
Rosario Dawson was thrown right into the fire for her first big screen role in 1995. She played Ruby in Kids, an independent film that is widely considered one of the most controversial and disturbing films of the past 50 years.
The actress has gone on to do some excellent work in films like 25th Hour, Rent, and Sin City.
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About This Tool
Who is your favorite actress? And which movie is the most impressive in your mind? There is nothing more perfect than your favorite actress played the best first role. Every star has their big break, and they all have to start somewhere. From TV shows, films to blockbuster franchises, a number of today's biggest actors and actresses are brilliant in their very first movie roles, that's so lucky.
This page displays 28 entries, including the best first roles played by your favorite actresses, such as the famous roles Lucy Diamond Dawson, Mathilda, Hermione Granger, and more, all of which are classic characters in the history of the movie.
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