Entertainment 2012 Oscar Nominees’ Awkward Pasts By Us Weekly Staff February 25, 2012 TOP STORIES 12 Octavia Spencer – Then Before she became a household name, Spencer believed her most memorable role was Bad Santa‘s sassy hooker! Credit: Octavia Spencer - Now The Help star is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Credit: George Clooney - Then The actor made a pass at Blanche Devereaux in a 1987 episode of NBC's The Golden Girls. Credit: George Clooney - Now The Descendants star is nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Motion Picture at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Credit: Melissa McCarthy - Then "I was goth in high school. It was familiar," the actress says of her part in 2003's The Life of David Gale. Credit: Melissa McCarthy - Now The Bridesmaids star is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Credit: Rooney Mara - Then The actress "didn't love" her campy turn in 2010's A Nightmare on Elm Street. Credit: Rooney Mara - Now The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo star is nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Motion Picture at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Credit: Kenneth Branagh - Then The actor went for laughs as a legless villain in the panned Wild Wild West in 1999. Credit: Kenneth Branagh - Now The My Week With Marilyn star is nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Credit: Viola Davis - Then "We had a ball," the actress admits of doing 2008's The Andromeda Strain with Rick Schroder. Credit: Viola Davis - Now The Help star is nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Motion Picture at the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Just For You Which TV Shows Are Canceled in 2026-2027? What Justin Hartley’s 'Tracker' Costars Said About Him Amid Cast Exits Celebrity Deaths of 2026: David Allan Coe, Nedra Talley and More We Lost Which 'Tracker' Stars Are — And Aren't — Returning for Season 4 After Exits? Hayden Panettiere Gets 'Brutally Honest': Child Stardom, Crushing Loss, More Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Exclusives you can't get anywhere else We know you want Us, because you've made it this far. Sign up for weekly celebrity news, exclusives, and original reporting delivered straight to your inbox. Enter your email Subscribe Please enter a valid email. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy