14 Actors Who Stole International Attention for Their Film or TV Debuts

All of us know that careers are personalized journeys. Some take years to build, while others achieve success quickly. And it is also the case in Hollywood.
Success in acting is like in any career else, does not come easily. And, in the Entertainment industry, "overnight success" stories are always the most compelling. Some actors spend years honing their skills before landing a memorable role, while others became overnight celebrities. They are talented and, sometimes, lucky enough to make it big with their first roles, earning an Oscar nomination or, in some cases, an Oscar win. There are many actors stole attention for debuts.
However, many of them have never surpassed their debut roles. For example, Lupita Nyong'o won an Oscar for her first role after graduating from drama school in "12 Years A Slave," and Leonardo DiCaprio, who played Josh in "Critters 3," had a memorable scene in which he watched the critters kill his stepfather. The images of their characters stayed with viewers from the first time they saw them.
We've compiled a list of actors who achieved success in their first roles to show that with the right circumstances, your talent can always shine through. These actors who stole international attention might be found here.

#1 Alan Rickman

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Alan Rickman, model sophie turner Source: © Photo By John Barrett/PHOTOlink.net/Everett Collection/East News, © Die Hard/Twentieth Century Fox

Alan Rickman had a background in theater and television before landing his first movie role. In Die Hard, he played the memorable villain Hans Gruber opposite, Bruce Willis. Though he has played many memorable roles since, including Snape in the Harry Potter series, many people remember him for his debut film.

#2 Anna Paquin

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Anna Paquin, model sophie turner Source: © Invision/Invision/East News, © Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection/East News

The New Zealand-born actress was cast in Jane Campion's film The Piano when she was nine years old. It was her first acting role. She was the second-youngest Oscar winner in history when she won Best Supporting Actress for the role at the age of 11. She has since appeared in many films and television shows, including a starring role in HBO's drama True Blood.

#3 Barbra Streisand

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Barbra Streisand, model sophie turner Source: © imago/PicturePerfect/EAST NEWS, © Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection/Everett Collection/East News

Barbra Streisand first appeared on Broadway in the production of funny Girl, and then in the film version in 1967. The beloved film, a biopic of actress Fanny Brice, catapulted Streisand to the top of Hollywood's elite. Her larger-than-life character and performance have fascinated audiences for generations. Her debut wowed audiences and critics alike, and she even shared the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actress with Katharine Hepburn.

#4 Cameron Diaz

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Cameron Diaz Source: © Sean Gallup/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, © The Mask/New line Cinema

Cameron Diaz co-starred in The Mask with Jim Carrey in 1994. Diaz was modeling at the time of her casting, but after eight auditions, the director and studio were convinced she was the right fit for the part. Diaz rose to fame after the film.

#5 Edward Norton

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Edward Norton, model sophie turner Source: © PacificCoastNews/EAST NEWS, © Primal Pear/Paramount Pictures

Primal Fear was Edward Norton's first film role. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor after beating out 2,000 other actors for the role. He has since appeared in many movies and has been nominated for three Academy Awards. His debut was undeniably successful.

#6 Emma Watson

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Emma Watson, model sophie turner Source: © Invision/Invision/East News, © Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone/Warner Bros Pictures

Emma Watson, who had previously only performed in school plays, landed the starring role of Hermione in the Harry Potter series after 8 auditions. The first film catapulted Watson to stardom as the highest-grossing film of 2001, earning her critical acclaim. She received a Young Artist Award for her performance and went on to star in the remaining Harry Potter films, as well as numerous other films.

#7 Hailee Steinfeld

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Hailee Steinfeld, model sophie turner Source: © Invision/Invision/East News, © True Grit/Paramount Pictures

Hailee Steinfeld made her movie debut at the age of 13 in the lead role of Mattie Ross in True Grit. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the role. She has continued to play in many movies since then, but True Grit is without a doubt one of her biggest successes.

#8 HoYeon Jung

Actors Who Stole International Attention, HoYeon Jung, model sophie turner Source: © hoooooyeony/Instagram, © Squid Game/Siren Pictures

HoYeon Jung starred in Squid Game, a popular Korean Netflix series that was Netflix's most-watched series ever. Her acting debut was in the series. She has become the most followed Korean actress on Instagram since the show's debut and has signed with major US agency CAA for future acting work.

#9 Jennifer Hudson

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Jennifer Hudson, model sophie turner Source: © AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN / MEGA/Mega Agency/East News, © Dreamgirls/Paramount Pictures

Jennifer Hudson competed on American Idol in 2004 but did not win. However, in 2006, she starred as Effie in the film Dreamgirls, which earned her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and numerous other accolades. She was the youngest African-American to win an Oscar in a competitive acting category. Her subsequent rise in the music and acting industries was meteoric.

#10 Lupita Nyong’o

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Lupita Nyong’o, model sophie turner Source: © DDNY/Broadimage/EAST NEWS, © 12 Years A Slave/New Regency Productions

Lupita Nyong'o began acting as a teen in Kenya. She moved to the United States to pursue her master's degree in acting at Yale University, which she completed in 2012. Despite her training, her first role was a surprise.
Just a few weeks before graduating, she landed her first role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave. She won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.

#11 Maisie Williams

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Maisie Williams, model sophie turner Source: © Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/East News, © Game of Thrones/HBO

Maisie Williams played Arya Stark on Game of Thrones when she was 12 years old. Her character was a fan favorite and one of the show's central protagonists throughout its run. She received critical acclaim and awards for her performance in the show, which is arguably her most well-known role.

#12 Mark Hamill

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Mark Hamill, model sophie turner Source: © River / MEGA/EAST NEWS, © Star Wars/Lucasfilm

Mark Hamill was cast as the lead in Star Wars, and it was a huge, unexpected success. He returned for the two sequels as well as Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. The fact that he has remained in this role for decades demonstrates the enormous impact he had, and for many people, he will always be known as the beloved Luke Skywalker.

#13 Rachel Zegler

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Rachel Zegler, model sophie turner Source: © Invision/Invision/East News, © West Side Story/20th Century Studios

Rachel Zeger was one of 30,000 actresses who applied for the role of Maria in Steven Spielberg's remake of West Side Story. After months of auditions, Zegler, a high school student at the time, won the role and went on to become a success, even winning a Golden Globe for Best Actress. After filming, she signed with the powerful agency ICM Partners and will soon play the title role in Disney's live-action Snow White.

#14 Sophie Turner

Actors Who Stole International Attention, Sophie Turner, model sophie turner Source: © Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images, © Game of Thrones/HBO

Sophie Turner auditioned for the role of Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones while still in high school. It was her first role in front of the camera, and it earned her worldwide fame and critical praise. She has since appeared in numerous other films, including the X-Men franchise as Dark Phoenix.