The Oscars style transformations of some of our favourite red carpet stars
It seems inconceivable to think of some of our most seasoned celebrities' first Oscars ceremony.
We can hardly believe that Kate Winslet's first spin on the carpet was over twenty years ago in 1996 and Drew Barrymore's, when she was just eight-years-old in 1983.
But what about the dresses (and suits) our favourite actors and actresses wore to carry them out? From Leonardo DiCaprio's slightly-too-big tux and Renée Zellweger's questionable gown, all the way through to your 2017 Academy Awards nominees' first time looks (you need to see Nicole Kidman's).
Pre-stylists and years of red carpet experience, it was a whole different ball game for these lot...
Rex FeaturesCharlize Theron - 2000
A '90s Charlize Theron stunned in tangerine-hued Vera Wang at her first Oscars.
Charlize Theron - 2019
Debuting a blunt brunette bob, Charlize slayed the red carpet this year as she stepped out in a powder blue gown with open back.
Getty ImagesAngelina Jolie - 1986
Recognise this little lady? Technically, Angelina Jolie's first Oscars came when she was 10-years-old and attending with her father, Jon Voight, in 1986. We don't really have any words for her dress-cum-doily-cum-Christmas tree decoration.
Getty ImagesAngelina Jolie - 2000
And then there was Ange's first appearance as a nominee, for her supporting actress role in Girl, Interrupted (1999). In 2000, a grown-up Angelina's look was far more '90s gothic.
Getty ImagesJennifer Lopez - 1997
This is the kind of retro Oscars photo we live for. A 28-year-old Jennifer Lopez, who was juggling a super successful music career and a promising acting career, attended the 1997 Oscars in a sparkly Badgley Mischka gown.
Getty ImagesJennifer Lopez - 2015
Still a fan of the sparkle, Lopez attended the 2015 Oscars in princess-worthy Elie Saab.
Getty ImagesAnne Hathaway - 2007
With Princess Diaries far behind her and The Devil Wears Prada still buzzing, Anne Hathaway made her Oscars debut in lace Valentino with bow details. Picked up a few style tips from Miranda Priestly, Anne?
Getty ImagesAnne Hathaway - 2014
At the 2014 Oscars, Anne looked far more comfortable in her own style, this time opting for an embellished Gucci dress.
Getty ImagesRenée Zellweger - 1999
In 1999 - pre-Bridget Jones's Diary and Me, Myself and Irene - a sprightly Renée Zellweger attended her first Oscars, wearing a purple satin gown with gold embellishments. The gown hit nearly every 'worst dressed' list at the time, but we think Renée looks lovely.
Getty ImagesRenée Zellweger - 2013
Wow. By 2013, Renée had been long-unacquainted with the worst dressed list, and her gold Carolina Herrera gown was there to prove it.
Getty ImagesKate Winslet - 1996
Kate Winslet was all smiles for her first spin on the Oscars red carpet, having being nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Sense and Sensibility (1995). For the occasion, she wore a bubblegum pink Vivienne Westwood gown.
Getty ImagesKate Winslet - 2016
Twenty years, one sinking ship and a ton of Oscar nominations later, Kate Winslet entered the 2016 Oscars red carpet like a pro wearing an iridescent, black Ralph Lauren gown.
Getty ImagesReese Witherspoon - 2002
We couldn't love this photo of the delightful Reese Witherspoon more if we tried! Fresh out of Legally Blonde hysteria, Reese was a vision in gothic Valentino.
Getty ImagesReese Witherspoon - 2016
Now a seasoned Academy Award-goer, Reese went regal in purple Oscar de la Renta at the 2016 ceremony. QUEEN.
Getty ImagesCameron Diaz - 1998
The year before had seen her star in My Best Friend's Wedding and A Life Less Ordinary, so by the time the 1998 Oscars arrived, Cameron Diaz was a buzzing name on the Hollywood circuit. For the night, Cameron left her gown at home and opted for a sheer top with bodice and a long skirt. '90s cool at its best.
Getty ImagesCameron Diaz - 2012
By 2012, Cam was a red carpet veteran and her fluttery Gucci gown proved it.
Rex FeaturesSaoirse Ronan - 2008
In 2008, a budding Saoirse Ronan took a turn on the Oscars red carpet in a less than flattering green gown. The young actress was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Atonement.
Getty ImagesSaoirse Ronan - 2016
That's more like it! Flash forward eight years, and Saoirse refined her red carpet style while sticking to green in a sequinned Calvin Klein dress. The actress was nominated for Best Actress at the 2016 awards for Brooklyn but missed out.
Getty ImagesDakota Johnson (with Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas) - 2000
Who knew? Dakota Johnson was already a name on the Oscars guest list at just 11-years-old. The adorable star attended the 2000 Oscars with co-stars Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas for her first big role as Sondra in Crazy in Alabama, wearing a lilac, satin dress.
Getty ImagesDakota Johnson - 2015
Flash forward fifteen years and Dakota Johnson was back on the red-carpet, this time in crimson Saint Laurent. Girl grew up!
Getty ImagesJennifer Lawrence - 2011
By 2011, Jennifer Lawrence had starred in her first blockbuster-scale film, X-Men: First Class, so what followed was her first whirl on the Oscars red carpet. Simple yet stunning, J-Law's red Calvin Klein dress cemented her as a Hollywood bombshell in-the-making.
Getty ImagesJennifer Lawrence - 2016
Five years and three Hunger Games instalments later, Jennifer had become a pro at this Oscars lark. For the 2016 ceremony, she wore a gothic Dior gown.
Rex FeaturesLeonardo DiCaprio - 1994
Ah, Leo. The young actor was brought to international attention in 1993 for his role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, so naturally, was invited along to the 1994 Oscars. Wearing a slightly too-big suit, little did Leonardo DiCaprio know it would be his first Oscars ceremony of MANY...
Getty ImagesLeonardo DiCaprio (with Kate Winslet) - 2016
After 22 years and a stream of near-wins (dubbed Leonardo DiCaprio's Oscars' Curse), Leo finally took home his gong for his lead role in The Revenant - and he looked extremely suave doing so.
Getty ImagesAngelina Jolie - 2014
Wow. For her most recent ceremony in 2014, Angelina had really found her style groove, wearing a sparkly Elie Saab Haute Couture gown.
Getty ImagesGwyneth Paltrow - 1994
Just starting out, a fresh-faced Gwyneth Paltrow had just starred in her first feature film in Flesh and Bone (1993) alongside James Caan, when she attended the 1994 Oscars. The soon-to-be huge Hollywood star wore a silver Calvin Klein slip dress to see the evening out.
Getty ImagesGwyneth Paltrow - 2015
Seventeen years and one very teary Best Actress speech later, Gwyneth Paltrow went pretty in pink for the 2015 Oscars. The blushed Russo and Russo dress was reminiscent of her winning Oscar night in 1998.
Getty ImagesHalle Berry - 1996
In 1996, Halle Berry had started to gain recognition in Hollywood after playing a serious role as an ex-drug addict in Losing Isaiah (1995). The attention bought her a ticket to the Oscars and for the occasion, Halle opted for lilac satin and velvet number.
Getty ImagesHalle Berry - 2013
For her latest appearance in 2013, Halle was a seasoned pro on the Academy Awards red carpet. She wore a futuristic striped Versace dress and Jimmy Choo shoes.
Rex FeaturesDrew Barrymore - 1983
Utterly adorable. Like Dakota and Angelina, Drew Barrymore grew up on the red carpet, first gracing the Academy Awards in 1983 after her role Gertie in E.T. The eight-year-old wore a puffy pink dress and white, fur stole.
Getty ImagesDrew Barrymore - 2005
It's been a while since we've seen Drew at the Oscars, but for her latest appearance in 2005, the actress wore a long black gown to match her new dark 'do.
Getty ImagesJulia Roberts - 1990
In 1990, Julia Roberts proved her pretty woman credentials when she attended the Oscars after recieving her first nomination for her role in Steel Magnolias (1989). Dressed in a backless taupe dress, Roberts arrived with her date for the evening, Kiefer Sutherland.
PA PhotosJulia Roberts - 2014
Nearly 25 years on from her debut, Julia Roberts looked lovely in a lace Givenchy Couture gown at the 2014 Oscars.
Rex FeaturesJennifer Aniston - 2006
After making her move from the small screen to the silver screen - circa 2003 - Jennifer Aniston was making a name for herself as a serious film actress. Though she was never nominated for an Academy Award, Jennifer was a firm fixture on the guest list, making her first Oscars appearance in 2006.
Getty ImagesJennifer Aniston - 2015
In 2015, Jen-An faced somewhat of an Oscars nomination snub after her critically-acclaimed role in Cake (2014). Nevertheless, Jennifer Aniston showed up and stunned in champagne-coloured Versace.
Getty ImagesCate Blanchett - 1999
The year was 1999 andCate Blanchett had quickly become a household name in Hollywood after her first high-profile international role as Queen Elizabeth I in the critically acclaimed Elizabeth (1998). The film earned her the Best Actress award at the 1999 Academy Awards. For her big night, she wore a custom John Galliano gown.
Getty ImagesCate Blanchett - 2016
At the latest ceremony, Cate wore a playful, flower-adorned gown by Armani Prive. The seafoam hue is divine on her.
Getty ImagesBrad Pitt - 1992
In 1992, Brad Pitt took his then girlfriend, Too Young To Die? co-star Juliette Lewis, to the Oscars with him. What a date!
Getty ImagesBrad Pitt - 2014
In 2014, Brad Pitt and co scooped the Best Picture award for 12 Years A Slave, and Mr Pitt was still looking dapper in a suit.
Getty ImagesKate Hudson - 2001
Oh, Kate Hudson - you beauty! In 2000, Kate made her breakthrough in Almost Famous and was consequently nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars the following year. The ceremony not only acted as her first Academy Awards, but her first red carpet ever. For the occasion, Kate wore a blue Stella McCartney gown and a matching cape.
Getty ImagesJulianne Moore - 1998
The '90s saw Julianne Moore rise to prominence with multiple Hollywood film roles, but her first Academy Award nomination came for the critically acclaimed Boogie Nights (1997) where she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. For the night, Julianne decided on this cream design.
Getty ImagesJulianne Moore - 2016
Is it possible that Julianne has improved with age? We think so, if her latest Oscars appearance in Chanel is anything to go by.
Getty ImagesNicole Kidman (with Tom Cruise) - 1991
Now there's a throwback. They were the golden couple of the '90s, so it was only expected that Nicole Kidman attend the 1991 Academy Awards arm-in-arm with husband Tom Cruise. Nicole wore an LBD, while Tom looked handsome in a black suit with bow-tie.
Getty ImagesNicole Kidman - 2015
For the 2015 Oscars, Nicole stunned in an iridescent strapless Louis Vuitton gown with a red belt.
Rex FeaturesScarlett Johansson - 2004
2003 was the year that changed everything for teenage actress Scarlett Johansson. After impressing for her roles in Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation and Peter Webber's Girl with a Pearl Earring, she got her ticket to the 2004 Academy Awards. For the event, she wore a satin, turquoise-green gown.
Getty ImagesScarlett Johansson - 2015
Many years later, Scarlett was sticking to her colour code in green Atelier Versace.
Rex FeaturesNaomi Watts - 2002
By 2002, the world knew about bombshell Naomi Watts after her role as the lead female in psychological thriller Mulholland Drive (2001). For her debut Oscars, she wore a black Gucci dress.
Getty ImagesNaomi Watts - 2016
Now there's a lady who is practiced in the art of red carpet dressing! For the 2016 Oscars, Naomi wore a purple, jewel-toned Armani gown.
Getty ImagesMatt Damon (with Ben Affleck) - 1998
Matt Damon and school friend, Ben Affleck, were on cloud nine in 1998 when their film Good Will Hunting (which Damon began writing in college) won Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars.
Getty ImagesMatt Damon (with Luciana Barroso) - 2016
In 2016, a slightly sharper-looking Matt Damon was an old pro at the Oscars, bringing along his wife Luciana Barroso.
Getty ImagesKeira Knightley - 2006
The noughties were Keira Knightley's decade. After a breakout role in Bend It Like Beckham (2002), which was a multi-million pound success here and across the pond, Keira starred in the romantic hit Love Actually(2003), and later in Pride and Prejudice (2005). So it was only right she mingle with the Hollywood elite at the 2006 Oscars... and this was all before Pirates of the Caribbean in 2006, which went on to be her biggest financial hit thus far.
Getty ImagesKeira Knightley - 2015
In 2015, Keira swathed her growing baby bump in Valentino. Simply stunning!
Getty ImagesJennifer Garner - 2003
After making her big screen debut in Catch Me If You Can (2002) alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Garner attended the 2003 Oscars in a blue Versace gown (and a smile from ear to ear).
Getty ImagesJennifer Garner - 2016
Over a decade later, Jennifer stayed true to one of her fave designers at the 2016 Oscar awards wearing an asymmetrical, black Versace gown.
Getty ImagesEmily Blunt - 2007
In 2006, Emily Blunt starred in her breakout role as Emily Charlton in The Devil Wears Prada, so of course the gorgeous brunette was a must-have on the Academy's guest list the following year. For her first spin on the Oscars red carpet, Emily wore a sequinned blue Calvin Klein dress.
Getty ImagesRachel McAdams - 2010
While
Regina George, we mean, Rachel McAdams made her breakout in Mean Girls a whole six years earlier, it wasn't until 2010 that Rachel put on her gown and headed to the Oscars. Specifically, a tie-dye Elie Saab Couture gown.
Getty ImagesRachel McAdams - 2016
At the 2016 Oscars, Rachel wore an emerald green August Getty gown.
Getty ImagesPenelope Cruz - 2000
By 2000, gorgeous Spaniard Penelope Cruz had started to prick the ears of filmmaking heavyweights after her role in Pedro Almodóvar's 1999 success, All About My Mother. For her first Academy Awards she came draped in satin Ralph Lauren, complete with a sheer shawl.
Getty ImagesPenelope Cruz - 2014
Still beautiful. Fourteen years later, Penelope was still stealing the show at the Oscars - this time in powder pink Giambattista Valli Haute Couture.
Rex FeaturesNatalie Portman - 2005
It was Grecian Lanvin for Natalie Portman as she attended her first Oscars after recieving a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Closer (2004).
Getty ImagesNatalie Portman - 2012
Now that's how you do vintage. Natalie Portman was a firm fixture on the red carpet seven years down the line at the 2012 Oscars (and a Best Actress winner), wearing a red vintage polka-dot Dior gown.
