people who won Oscars for their first films

People who won Oscars for their first films

In addition to an awesome amount of skill, winning an Academy Award takes a combination of both favorable timing and a little bit of luck. When an accomplished actor such as Leonardo DiCaprio takes a longer-than-expected amount of time to win his first (25 years, in Leo’s case), fans react with shock. Then consider others — such as Tom Cruise and Glenn Close — who have still never won.

On the other hand, some actors, directors and screenwriters get lucky right out of the gate: first movie, first Oscar. Although this is an exclusive group, it contains a few folks who might surprise you. Here are people who won Oscars for their first films.

Gale Sondergaard – Best Supporting Actress (1937)

The 9th Academy Awards were the first to offer the category of Best Supporting Actress, and it was the first and only time Gale Sondergaard won an Oscar. This win was especially unique, however, because Sondergaard’s role in 1936’s “Anthony Adverse” was her very first film role. Sondergaard went on to have a film and TV career that spanned almost 50 years (although she didn’t act for 20 years after her husband appeared on the House Un-American Activities Committee’s infamous “Hollywood Ten” list), landing another Academy Award nomination in 1946 for “Anna and the King of Siam.”

Katina Paxinou – Best Supporting Actress (1944)

After co-founding the National Theatre of Greece in 1932, Katina Paxinou fled the country at the outbreak of World War II and eventually ended up in the United States. Her very first film appearance, playing the role of Pilar alongside Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman in “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1944. After only a few more films, Paxinou returned to Greece in 1955.

Harold Russell – Best Supporting Actor (1947)

Former soldier Harold Russell owns numerous interesting distinctions. He won an Oscar for his very first film, 1946’s “The Best Years of Our Lives.” He was the first non-professional actor to ever win an Academy Award for acting. He was the only person to win two Oscars for the same role (the Academy also gave him an honorary award for “bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans.” And he’s the only performer to ever sell his Oscar statue at auction. Russell also took a 34-year break from acting between his first and second films, lost both his hands during a 1944 military explosion, and used two hooks in their stead. This of course raises the question: How has his story not been made into a movie?!

Eva Marie Saint – Best Supporting Actress (1955)

After starting her career as an NBC page, Eva Marie Saint eventually found her way on screen and earned two Emmy nominations before appearing in her first film, Elia Kazan’s “On the Waterfront,” at age 30. Saint’s portrayal of Edie alongside Marlon Brando earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, and all in all, the film won eight honors at the 1955 award show.

Delbert Mann – Best Director (1956)

Delbert Mann began his career as a TV show director, but after only a handful of credits he transitioned into film. Experience apparently didn’t matter much to Mann, as his directorial film debut, the 1955 romantic drama “Marty,” won four Academy Awards. In addition to a Best Director nod, “Marty” also picked up honors for Best Picture, Best Actor (Ernest Borgnine) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Mark Boal – Best Original Screenplay (2010)

Mark Boal was initially a journalist by trade, and a 2003 article of his that was published in Playboy inspired writer/director Paul Haggis to adapt it into a screenplay, which eventually became “In the Valley of Elah.” Fueled by this success and his experiences embedded with soldiers in Iraq, Boal later penned the original screenplay for the 2009 film “The Hurt Locker.” Not only did he win an Oscar for his writing, but the movie also won Best Picture. Boal also went on to write the script for the Oscar-nominated film “Zero Dark Thirty.”