2025 Oscars: Shocking First-Time Nominees You Won’t Believe!

by

These stars are gearing up for an extra special night.

There are 13 first-time nominees among the list of hopefuls at the 2025 Oscars.

Some individuals find that their nomination is a fitting introduction to the broader film industry. This includes rising stars like Monica Barbaro (from “A Complete Unknown”), Mikey Madison (from “Anora”), and Yura Borisov, all from “Anora”, as well as Ariana Grande, whose role as Glinda in “Wicked” represented her initial step into the realm of film acting.

For some individuals, it may be unexpected when they receive their first Oscar nomination in 2025.

The individuals who are now receiving Oscar recognition for careers that were already notable are Isabella Rossellini (Conclave), Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez), Demi Moore (The Substance), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice), and Guy Pearce (The Brutalist).

Veteran actors Isabella Rossellini, Zoe Saldaña, Demi Moore, Sebastian Stan, and Guy Pearce are now receiving Oscar awards as a culmination of their already impressive careers.

Or more informally:

Isabella Rossellini, Zoe Saldaña, Demi Moore, Sebastian Stan, and Guy Pearce have finally landed Oscars for their long-standing, impressive acting careers.

Additionally, debut nominees such as Kieran Culkin (from “A Real Pain”), who previously acted alongside Jeremy Strong (“The Apprentice”) in the series “Succession,” and now compete against each other in the category of Supporting Actor, are also on the list. This includes Karla Sofía Gascón from “Emilia Pérez” as well as Fernanda Torres from “I’m Still Here.

In her native Brazil, she is well-adored as a talented actress, but it was the film “I’m Still Here” that catapulted Fernanda to Hollywood stardom. Interestingly, this nomination for best actress is only the second time a Brazilian actress has been recognized in this category, and notably, the first nominee was none other than Fernanda Montenegro – who happens to be Fernanda’s mother.

As the Oscars approach, some nominees have previously claimed awards during this season. This might make them strong contenders, or near certainties, for victory at the Academy Awards.

Kieran, Demi, and Zoe each dominated their respective categories by winning the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards. Fernanda only won at the Golden Globes, but interestingly, she and Demi were nominated separately in different genres (Drama and Musical or Comedy) at the Golden Globes, whereas they are both nominated in the same Lead Actress category for the Academy Awards.

Or, even simpler:

Kieran, Demi, and Zoe each took home awards from the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and SAG Awards. Fernanda won at the Golden Globes too, but she and Demi were nominated separately in Drama and Musical or Comedy categories at the Golden Globes, while they’re up against each other in the Lead Actress category at the Oscars.

The Best Director category is equally captivating this year, featuring five first-time nominees: Sean Baker for “Anora”, Brady Corbet for “The Brutalist”, James Mangold for “A Complete Unknown”, Jacques Audiard for “Emilia Pérez”, and Coralie Fargeat for “The Substance”.

Before the Oscars take place on March 2nd, continue reading to discover more about each debutante nominated and their respective categories.

Monica, who is now 34 years old, wasn’t entirely unfamiliar prior to her role with Timothée Chalamet in the Bob Dylan biopic, as she had previously appeared in various projects. Some of these may have been familiar to you, such as the romantic comedy “At Midnight”, season one of “FUBAR” featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger, or her roles on “Chicago Justice”, “Chicago P.D.”, “UnREAL”, and “Stumptown”. This was not Monica’s first time being recognized by the Oscars, as she had received a Best Supporting Actress nomination this year.

Likely, you recognized her as Navy pilot Lieutenant Natasha “Phoenix” Trace in the film “Top Gun: Maverick,” with Tom Cruise, Glen Powell, and Miles Teller. Interestingly, when she received her nomination, it was her previous co-stars who were among the first to extend their congratulations.

The actress, who has been generating dating speculation with Andrew Garfield, shared with People that our group chat erupted with excitement. She mentioned they are incredibly supportive and enthusiastic about the news.

Ariana, who kick-started her journey on Broadway as a young talent, has been gracefully navigating the limelight since her days as a Nickelodeon actress in shows like Victorious and Sam & Cat. However, her career took an unexpected leap towards pop superstardom, earning an impressive 18 Grammy nominations and two wins.

However, she always held onto her initial passion – musical theater. This was why, upon learning that Wicked was being transformed for the silver screen, she felt compelled to participate. Consequently, she dedicated herself to making it happen.

She shared with W Magazine that she expressed a strong desire to try out for the movie. She said, “I would often ask my team to keep me updated and say, ‘Is this actually happening? If it is, I’ll drop almost anything and start training and vocal lessons right away.’ I wanted to train my voice to sing operatic parts and attend acting classes so that all my skills would be ready when needed for a smooth transition back into acting. My main goal was to earn the role legitimately.

At the age of 59, she created a milestone by being nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress category, making her the second Brazilian actress to achieve this honor. Notably, she is following the path set by her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, who was nominated in the same category back in 1998 for her role in Walter Salles’ Central Station.

At this year’s award ceremonies, Fernanda has broken new ground by becoming the first Brazilian, Latin-American, and Portuguese-speaking actor to receive a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Motion Picture. During the event, she graciously dedicated her win to her mother.

25 years ago, she was present here, she stated. This serves as a testament that art has the power to persist throughout life, even during challenging times such as this compelling tale.

Initially, the actress from Los Angeles started out with minor roles, but her career took off significantly when she landed the role of Max Fox on the TV series “Better Things” in 2016. Subsequently, she appeared in movies like “Monster,” “Nostalgia,” “Scream,” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” portraying Susan “Sadie” Atkins, a member of the Manson family.

In the film titled “Anora“, Mikey portrays the main character, a sex worker who develops feelings for the son of a Russian tycoon. This role was specifically crafted by director Sean Baker following his impression of her performance in “Scream“.

She informed W Magazine that he had recently watched her in a horror movie. He attended the opening weekend and contacted her the following day. I was already familiar with his work, particularly The Florida Project and Tangerine, which I hold dear. We arranged a meeting, shared coffee, and he proposed a concept for a film at that time involving Russian mobsters. He asked if I would be interested in it, to which I agreed.

At last, the oldest son is basking in the limelight at the Academy Awards. Although Jeremy has been a force to reckon with in Tinseltown lately and an exemplary actor using the method approach, it was his depiction of the actual attorney Roy Cohn that earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Following his nomination, the Succession alum spoke to how the nod fulfilled a lifelong dream.

He once recounted, “In 1993, I spent the night huddled on chilly metal benches outside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. It was the Academy Awards’ 65th ceremony, and I was there with my father. The anticipation of being near the glamorous world of actors and actresses kept me awake all night. That sense of awe and excitement has never left me. It returns each time I step onto a set, drive onto a lot, or start rehearsals.

After being excluded from some popular award season events like the “Actors on Actors” series by Variety, Sebastian found himself a topic that seemed everyone was avoiding discussing.

Initially, when the Academy Award nominations were announced, the 42-year-old actor, who has appeared in films like Marvel, Pam & Tommy, Gossip Girl, and I, Tonya, discovered that he was listed amongst the nominees for Best Actor.

In conversation with The New York Times, Sebastian shared about his experience depicting the president, “Our movie delved into the transformation process, where a person seemingly turns to stone, losing their human qualities.

Zoe has made a significant impact during this awards season. Although she’s been an integral part of successful franchises like Avatar and Guardians of the Galaxy, it was only with the release of Emilia Pérez that Zoe truly received the recognition she deserved, and quite extensively so.

Before the Oscars take place, Zoe has previously been awarded a BAFTA, Critic’s Choice Award, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award. This puts her in strong contention for the Best Supporting Actress category.

Regardless of the debates surrounding the film and its cast members, Zoe acknowledged during her Critic’s Choice Award acceptance speech, “I will hear your voices tonight and I will accept this award with pride…It’s remarkable to think that Emilia Pérez has managed to be a small movie that punches above its weight and touches so many people, making it a truly memorable experience.

Reflecting on my journey, I’ve often felt that my contributions to Hollywood have been underestimated over the years. Despite an extensive portfolio of roles in blockbuster movies like Memento, The Hurt Locker, and Iron Man, it wasn’t until The Brutalist that I finally received significant film recognition as an actor from Australia.

Moreover, Guy’s performance as an envious adversary to Adrien Brody’s character, László Toth, has been recognized in the Best Supporting Actor category at the Oscars, making it eligible for this prestigious award after previous nominations at the BAFTAs and Golden Globes.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I’d say this individual has an uncanny ability to identify excellence. However, he himself lacks that greatness and is fiercely driven to experience it, whether through acquiring possessions, asserting dominance over others, captivating crowds, or disarming people in a somewhat erratic manner. It’s all about striving for the aura of greatness, if not the substance itself.

Demi, who is 62 years old, has broken the norm by frequently being acknowledged in horror films during award seasons. This season alone, she’s garnered an impressive five nominations from the leading associations, positioning herself to carry several awards into the Oscars, including a Best Actress nomination. She already holds the Critic’s Choice Award, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award, adding more accolades to her collection.

Demi’s career, which started in 1980 with a role on “General Hospital”, is now receiving a significant level of recognition. This acknowledgment is particularly fitting for Demi, who played the Ghost character, as it serves as validation at an opportune moment.

At a time when I was feeling down,” she said during her Golden Globe acceptance speech, “a remarkable, daring, brave, unconventional script titled ‘The Substance‘ landed on my desk. The universe seemed to be saying, ‘You’re not finished yet.’

For over four decades, Kieran’s career in Hollywood has been flourishing, even before he garnered critical acclaim for his performance in “A Real Pain“. Starting with his debut acting gig alongside his brother Macaulay Culkin in the 1990 film “Home Alone“, Kieran has accumulated a wide variety of roles on both television and the big screen. Among these, his portrayal of Roman Roy on the popular series “Succession” stands out as one of his most notable performances.

At that point, he had been nominated numerous times as well, yet prior to the release of “A Real Pain”, he had never received an Academy Award. His profound portrayal in the movie showcases a character living both life’s greatest peaks and deepest valleys, and it has already earned him a BAFTA, a Critics’ Choice Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award.

The widely recognized Italian actress, despite being a consistent screen presence for decades, may catch you off guard on this list. Her 72 years of illustrious acting career, which encompasses roles in films like “Velvet Blues” and “Death Becomes Her,” as well as TV’s “Crime of the Century,” is noteworthy. However, it’s her significant role in the political-drama “Conclave” that has led to her receiving her inaugural Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Isabella is experiencing a full-circle moment, as her mother, Ingrid Berman, who had an illustrious career and won three Oscars, is now the source of her own emotions. During an interview with the New York Times about her nomination, Isabella shared that she was taken aback by her tears but deeply moved – she believes it was for the legacy, as she thinks her mother would have been incredibly joyful.

Despite Yura being recognized internationally for his first significant performance at the age of 32, which earned him a Golden Globe and BAFTA nomination, he was already a well-known figure in his native country, Russia.

Following his first acting appearance in the 2011 film “Elena,” Yura was honored with a Golden Eagle Award for his portrayal in the 2020 biopic “Mikhail Kalashnikov” about the AK-47.

In the role of the mostly quiet yet consistently present character Igor in the movie “Anora“, Yura aimed to deliver a complex performance. As he explained to NPR, his goal was to portray a character who could appear brutal on the outside, but harbored a gentle and kind heart within. He believes that beneath our tough exteriors, we are all fragile and sensitive, and that’s perfectly okay.

Karla’s nomination represented a significant milestone – it was the first time an openly transgender actor or actress had been nominated for an Oscar. However, what initially seemed like a promising awards season for the 52-year-old quickly turned sour following a series of controversies. Among these were several old tweets that contained racially insensitive and Islamophobic themes.

Following the backlash, Karla apologized for the hurt her past comments may have caused.

She admitted on NBC News (through a representative from Netflix) that she wanted to express her understanding of the discussions concerning her previous social media posts, which unintentionally caused distress. Being part of a marginalized community herself, she empathizes with this pain and sincerely apologizes to those affected. Throughout her life, she has been dedicated to creating a more equitable world and remains hopeful that goodness will prevail over adversity.

Read More

2025-03-02 08:18