The 2012 Oscar Nominees Before They Were Stars!

jessica chastain yearbook high school young 1995 photo

Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Who Am I?

Seth Poppel/Yearbook Library

Who Am I?

jessica chastain yearbook high school young 1995 red carpet golden globes 2011

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Jessica Chastain, Senior Yearbook Photo, 1995

If 2011 wasn’t the year of Jessica Chastain, we don’t know what will be. She starred seven movies, and received her first (of what we think will be many) Oscar nomination for her role as the flighty, but loveable Celia Foote in The Help.

george clooney oscar nominations freshman high school red carpet photo

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George Clooney, Freshman Yearbook Photo, 1976

George Clooney may be a goofball off screen (see above yearbook photo!), but on camera, he’s all business. His role in The Descendants is a career best, and has given him his fourth Oscar nomination for acting and sixth overall. He already won for Syriana six years ago, and he is heavily favored for the win this again this year. That is if his good friend Brad Pitt doesn’t grab it instead for Moneyball.

viola davis oscar nominations senior year high school red carpet photo

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Viola Davis, Senior Yearbook Photo, 1983

Viola Davis is a rock star these days. She gave two Oscar-worthy performances this year in The Help and in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, but it’s for the former that she’s nominated. She almost won a few years ago for her role in Doubt, but it’s a safe bet that Viola will beat out Meryl Streep (in The Iron Lady) this year to become only the second African American to win Best Actress.

kenneth branagh oscar nominations high season movie red carpet photo

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Kenneth Branagh in High Season, 1987

Actors playing actors usually are a hit for the Academy. Cate Blanchett won for playing Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator, and now Kenneth Branagh scores his fifth nomination (second for acting) for playing another Oscar winner—Laurence Olivier in My Week with Marilyn.

aaron sorkin oscar nominations red carpet photo

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Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing, 2002

Last year’s Best Adapted Screenplay winner for The Social Network, Aaron Sorkin is back again for his masterful adaptation of Moneyball. He’s best known, of course, for The West Wing, and we think he’s going to be taking home a second Oscar this year.

octavia spencer oscar nominations never been kissed movie golden globes photo

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Octavia Spencer in Never Been Kissed, 1999

Octavia Spencer has been flying under the radar for years now. You know you recognize her, but you’re not quite sure from what. It’s because she’s shown up on dozens of television shows and movies (like Never Been Kissed). In The Help as Minny, we see what she’s really capable of, and she will finally be rewarded for all her hard work when she wins the Oscar next month.

martin scorcese oscar nominations red carpet senior year high school photo

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Martin Scorsese, Senior Yearbook Photo, 1960

Martin Scorsese finally won an Oscar on his eighth try for directing The Departed. We’re glad to say he’s back once again for Hugo, one of the best movies of the year, and certainly the most magical. (Sorry, Harry Potter.) He already won a Golden Globe, so he’s a serious contender for the Oscar too.

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Jim Rash in Becker, 1999

This is probably our favorite nomination of the year. Jim Rash plays the dean on Community(!), but he’s also a talented screenwriter. He and his writing partner Nat Faxon worked with director Alexander Payne to write The Descendants, which is nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Winning seems like a good way to finally impress Jeff Winger!