Oprah Winfrey, The Color Purple (1985) - When Quincy Jones and Steven Spielberg cast Winfrey, who was then a local talk-show host with no acting experience, as Sofia in the film adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, critics expected her to fall flat on her face. Instead, Winfrey delivered a standout performance amidst a star-studded ensemble. She went on to be nominated for an Oscar, along with cast mate Margaret Avery, making it the first time two Black women would compete in the same category. Unfortunately, neither won. (Photo: Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection)