8 Oscar Winners Who Got Their Acting Starts As Kids (4 of 5)

Kate Winslet

Although Winslet didn’t achieve true fame until she appeared as the spirited and independent Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic – for which she was nominated for an Oscar – her first professional acting role was in a British television series called “Dark Season.” In this show, she played Reet, a rebellious and resourceful teenager. Winslet has gone on to perform a huge variety of roles in various genres. Her commitment to her craft earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress in The Reader in 2009.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale has a reputation for having a short fuse, which often leads to conflict with the director and the movies he stars in, but there’s no denying that he’s a remarkable talent. He started his acting career as a child artist, and his first major role came in the 1987 film “Empire of the Sun” directed by Steven Spielberg, the film tells the story of a young British boy, Jamie Graham, who finds himself separated from his parents during World War II. As an adult, his broad range and dedication to his roles – most notably as the titular superhero in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy – has earned him a lot of respect. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “The Fighter” in 2011.