The 10 Greatest Acting Debuts of the ’90s

The ’90s was full of acid-washed jeans, colorful jumpsuits, slap bracelets, and more. It was also a great time for film making some really great movies while introducing us to some of the biggest names currently working in Hollywood. 10 Acting Debuts stand out among the crop, with these actors either starring in an iconic movie in their first outing or going on to have really great careers. In the care of full disclosure, some of the shows on this list mark the actor’s first “major” appearance and not necessarily his first screen role.

10 Amy Adams – Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

Before being nominated six times for an Academy Award, Amy Adams She was Leslie Miller in the 1999 satire Drop dead is awesome. The film follows a documentary crew as they cover a beauty pageant in small-town Minnesota. The film features hilarious performances from Allison Janney and Denise Richards, while introducing and showcasing the acting talents of newcomer Amy Adams.

9 Reese Witherspoon – The Man in the Moon (1991)

Not to be confused with Andy Kaufman’s Jim Carrey-led biopic, man in the moon It is an upcoming movie from the year 1991 that first appears in Reese Witherspoon as Dani Trant, a 14-year-old girl living in Louisiana. The film received universal critical acclaim for the performances of its co-stars, including as 15-year-old Witherspoon in her first-ever role.

8 Kirsten Dunst – Interview with the Vampire (1994)

After starring in a few roles in smaller films in the early 1990s, Interview with the vampire It marked the mainstream appearance of Kirsten Dunst, starring alongside the likes of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt who play the vampire parents who raise her character Claudia. Dunst would go on to have a fruitful career over the next two decades.

Related: Explaining the End of Interview with the Vampire

7 Lindsay Lohan – The Parent Trap (1998)

Say what you will about the odd career path Lindsey Lohan Later in life, she was able to play two separate characters in 1998 parental trap is a testament to her youthful acting talents at that time. He played Hallie Parker and Annie James, two sisters who are divorced and run into each other at summer camp. Lohan’s comedic timing and not-so-terrible British accent help make the actor’s debut a memorable one.

6 Edward Norton – Primal Fear (1996)

Winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in your first performance is definitely a great way to jump-start your career. This is exactly what Edward Norton With his role as Aaron Stampler in Primal fear. Working alongside famous actor Richard Gere, Norton got down to business and hasn’t looked back since.

5 Jason Schwartzman – Rushmore (1998)

From one Wes Anderson alumnus to another, Jason Schwartzman He knocks it out of the park as eccentric scholarship student Max Fisher in Anderson’s second directorial project, Rushmore. Showcasing both acting and comedic talent alongside the likes of Bill Murray, Schwartzman will continue to be a staple in Wes Anderson’s projects going forward.

4 Kate Winslet – Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Before Peter Jackson ventured off to Middle-earth and Kate Winslet She boarded the Titanic, and the wisecracking director Winslet appeared in her first role in the Heavenly creatures. It tells the tale of a high-profile murder case in New Zealand from the 1950s, Heavenly creatures Showcasing the talents of both Winslet and Jackson, who would go on to star in some of Hollywood’s most terrifying projects.

Related: Here are 6 great Kiwi movies

3 Leonardo DiCaprio – What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

while What to eat gilbert grapes Technically speaking Leonardo DiCaprioThe third feature film, but it marks his most iconic performance at the time. This complex and important portrayal of the family is amplified by performances like DiCaprio’s in the film. Playing the mentally challenged Arnie Grape, younger brother of Johnny Depp’s Gilbert Grape, DiCaprio received universal acclaim and was just a glimpse into the career the young actor would pursue.

2 Ralph Fiennes – Schindler’s List (1993)

An acclaimed stage actor before jumping into feature films, Ralph Fiennes He will play Nazi leader Amon Goth in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 drama, Schindler’s List. As the truly villainous and brilliant Goth, this marks Fiennes’ first major acting role and earns him an Academy Award nomination. Fiennes would go on to receive another Academy Award nomination just three years later for his role in English patientHe will appear in his most well-known role as Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter franchise.

1 Jim Carrey – Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

while Jim Carrey He was well known throughout the 1980s and early 1990s for his professional career and appearances on the hit comedy show in living colour, as well as a handful of small movie roles. 1994 really marked the “debut” of the Curry fans know and love. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective It’s going to start a great year for the actor as he gets to star in some of the biggest and best comedies of all time in ’94, Dumb and dumber And the mask.