Oscar Nominees: Before They Were Famous (PHOTOS)

Posted January 18, 2013, 4:23 pm   •   by Cory Lopez   •   2 comments

Before the red carpets, big screen roles and seven-figure salaries, movie stars started out as ordinary people.

And this year's batch of Academy Award nominees are no exception. Sure, after decades in the spotlight, A-list acting nominees like Robert De Niro, Sally Field and Denzel Washington are so recognizable that they might stop traffic a mile away.

But before bursting onto the scene, their now-famous mugs would have blended right in with a crowd on Hollywood Boulevard.

So as the countdown to the Oscars ceremony (five weeks!) continues, Celebuzz takes a trip back in time to see what this year's crop of nominees looked like before they hit the big time.

Was Tommy Lee Jones just as distinguished decades before Lincoln? Was Jennifer Lawrence already breaking hearts as a pre-teen? Did Anne Hathaway always have her movie star good looks?

For a blast from the past, take a gander at the gallery and see if you can guess the Oscar nominee from their pre-fame photos.