From Karla Sofía Gascón to Demi Moore and Timothée Chalamet, here are the first-time nominees and trailblazers you need to know

The 2025 Oscar nominations are here and they are already shaping up to be a historic moment for the film industry.

Leading the pack is Jacques Audiards Emilia Pereza Spanish-language musical crime comedy that scored an impressive 13 nominations. Among its honors are nods to first-time nominees Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldaña, solidifying its place as the most nominated non-English language film in Oscar history.

Close behind was The Brutalist and Evileach earning 10 nominations, including for first-time nominees Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the latter of whom is now positioned to make history as the youngest EGOT winner — a rare feat for those who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony.

The milestones don’t stop there! This year’s nominations include a host of artists breaking fresh ground in Hollywood.

Nominated as an actor for the first time

Demi Moore

At 62, Moore is celebrating her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role in The substance. The performance not only reignited her passion for acting, but also earned her a Golden Globe earlier this year.

Mike Madison

The young actress is making waves as a first-time Oscar nominee for Best Actress thanks to her breakout performance in Anora.

Fernanda Torres

After winning a Golden Globe earlier this awards season, Torres earned her first Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role in I’m still here making her the only other Brazilian actor ever nominated in an acting category. The first one? Her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, who received a nomination for Best Actress Main station in 1999.

Sebastian Stan

The actor steps into the Oscar spotlight with his first Best Actor nomination, earned for his portrayal of Donald Trump in The apprentice.

Ariana Grande

The pop star captivated audiences with her role as Glinda in Evilwhich earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination in her Oscar debut.

Kieran Culkin

Best known for his work in Successionearned Culkin his first Academy Award nomination for his outstanding supporting role in A real paina performance that also earned him a Golden Globe.

Isabella Rossellini

After decades in the industry, Rossellini received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sister Agnes in Conclave.

Zoe Saldana

The actress received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance as Rita Mora Castro in Emilia Pereza role that also brought her Golden Globes recognition.

Jeremy Strong

The actor enters the Oscar race with his first Best Supporting Actor nomination thanks to his portrayal of Roy Cohn in The apprentice.

Monica Barbaro

Barbaro earned her first Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress, delivering an outstanding performance as Joan Baez in A complete unknown.

Guy Pearce

The Australian actor and musician secured a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr. The Brutalist.

Yura Borisov

Borisov not only received his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Anorabut he is also the first Russian actor to be recognized in a performance category since 1977.

Cynthia Erivo’s double milestones

Already an Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner, Erivo is now on track to potentially become the youngest EGOT winner at 38, thanks to her Best Actress nomination for Evil.

But that’s not all – she’s also the second black woman to earn multiple Best Actress nominations, after Viola Davis.

Erivo’s first nomination in the category came for her performance in Harriet (2019). Davis, meanwhile, was recognized for The help (2011) and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020). She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Fence in 2017.

Timothée Chalamet: The youngest actor to get two Best Actor nods since James Dean

At 29, Chalamet becomes the youngest actor to receive two Best Actor nominations since James Dean, earning his latest for portraying Bob Dylan in A complete unknown. He was previously nominated for Best Actor in 2017 Call me by your name at the age of 22. Dean was in 1956 nominated for East of Eden and a 1957 nominee for Fight. Both came posthumously when Dean died in 1955 aged 24.

Back-to-back designations for Colman Domingo

After his nomination to Rusty last year, Domingo earned back-to-back nominations for Best Actor with his role in Sing Singa feat last accomplished by Denzel Washington for Fence in 2017 and Roman J. Israel, Esq. in 2018. Domingo is also the first LGBTQ+ actor and Afro-Latino actor to achieve such a feat.

Karla Sofia Gascón writes trans history

Gascón is the first openly trans actress to be nominated for an Oscar, recognized for her lead role in Emilia Perez. In the film, Gascón plays a Mexican crime boss who seeks out a lawyer (Saldaña) who helps the character transition to living as a woman.

Emilia Perez make more history

With 13 nominations, the Spanish-language film surpasses previous records and becomes the most nominated non-English language film in Oscar history.

The film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Jacques Audiard), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress (Gascón), Best Supporting Actress (Saldaña), Best International Feature Film (France), two for Best Original Song (“El Mal” and “Mi Camino”), Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Editing, Best Sound and Best Cinematography.