Oscar Debuts Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mary Poppins

Although Julie had acted in a TV movie and a television show, as well as doing voice work in "The Rose Of Baghdad" (1949), "Mary Poppins" (1964) was her first appearance in a feature film. Playing the title character of the magical nanny who comes to take care of the two Banks children, Julie was awarded the Oscar for Best Actress, and the role now remains one of her most famous - second, perhaps, only to her role as Maria in "The Sound Of Music" (1965).

Answer: Best Original Screenplay and Best Director

Both director Sam Mendes and writer Alan Ball made their debuts on "American Beauty", and were awarded Oscars for their efforts. Alan Ball went on to create the critically acclaimed series "Six Feet Under" (2002), and Sam Mendes went on to produce and direct a number of projects, including "Road To Perdition" (2002), and "Jarhead" (2005).

Kevin Spacey won the Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Lester Burnham in "Ameican Beauty", but he had previously won the same category for his role in "The Usual Suspects" (1996). The award for Best Picture was shared by Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks, both of whom had produced films in the past. The film also won the Oscar for Best Cinematography, which went to veteran film maker Conrad L Hall.

Answer: Terms of Endearment

James won the 1984 Oscars for Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay for his film "Terms of Endearment" (1983), which follows the lives and loves of mother and daughter, Aurora and Emma, over several years of their lives. Although he had worked as a producer and writer previously, this film was his directorial debut, and he won a Directing Oscar for it.

Answer: Best Original Screenplay

Julian Fellowes has worked as an actor, a writer, a director, and a producer, and has been assosciated with a number of well-known projects. In 2002, he won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for "Gosford Park", his debut writing effort for feature films.

Answer: Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks received the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for "The Producers" (1968). Although Mel had written for a number of television works, this was his feature film debut.

Answer: Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson was already an established actress by the time she began working on "Sense And Sensibility" (1995). She not only starred in the film, but made it her debut writing work, by adapting Jane Austen's famous novel.

Answer: Best Original Screenplay

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck picked up the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for this, their writing debut. Robin Williams won the award for best supporting actor, but he had long since been an established actor. The film was also nominated for: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Musical Score, Best Music for an Original Song, and Best Picture.

Answer: Ben Kingsley

Sir Ben Kingsley received the Best Actor Oscar for his work on "Gandhi" (1982). Although the film was released in 1982, he received his award at the 1983 ceremony. This remains one of his most famous and well-loved roles.

Answer: Sadie Burke

Mercedes McCambridge won the 1950 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sadie Burke in "All The King's Men" (1949) - a role which also netted her two Golden Globe awards. Mercedes was later nominated for an Oscar for her role in "Giant" (1956).

Answer: Best Director

"Dances With Wolves" won both the Best Director and the Best Picture Oscars, both of which went to Kevin Costner, who had acted as both director and producer of the film. The film was his directorial debut, whereas it was the second film he had produced, after "Revenge" (1990).

Answer: Cactus Flower

Goldie Hawn won the 1970 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Cactus Flower" (1969), in which she played a woman hoping for her lover to leave his wife and children, only to discover that they don't actually exist. She had previously appeared in a TV show, and also as an unnamed extra, but this was her first major role.

She was later nominated for the 1981 Best Actress award, for her role in "Private Benjamin" (1980).

Answer: Flora

Anna Paquin was just 11 years old when she made her debut as Flora McGrath in "The Piano". She made such an impression on the audience, that she was awarded the 1994 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Answer: Ordinary People

Robert Redford made his directorial debut with "Ordinary People" (1980), about the affect of a young man's death on his loved ones, and was awarded the 1981 Oscar for Best Director for his efforts. He later went on to direct a number of well-known films, including the aforementioned "Quiz Show" (1994), for which he was nominated once again as Best Director.

Answer: On The Waterfront

Eva Marie Saint is probably most recognizable for her role Edie Doyle in 1954's "On The Waterfront" - a role which saw her play the female lead opposite Marlon Brando. The film centres around an amateur fighter who witnesses a horrific crime, and must decide whether or not to testify. Her performance won her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1955.

Answer: Best Actress

Barbra Streisand was both an actress and a singer in "Funny Girl", but it was her debut acting which won her the 1969 Oscar. She had to share the award with Katharine Hepburn, who drew with her performance in "The Lion In Winter" (1968).