Brie Larson and other famous actors in Disney Channel original movies

WABC logo
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Brie Larson poses in the press room with the award for outstanding female actor in a leading role for "Room" at the 22nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
AP-AP

This story first appeared on Oh My Disney and is reprinted with permission.

It's a well-known fact that some big-time actors have starred in a Disney Channel Original Movie or two, such as Zac Efron in High School Musical and Selena Gomez in Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie. That's why we get excited when we find out that some of our favorite actors appeared in DCOMs since becoming famous. So before you tune into the Academy Awards on Sunday, February 28, brush off your old DCOM DVDs and check out the following performances by some of Hollywood's elite.

Brie Larson as Courtney Enders in Right on Track

Before she was a 2016 Academy Award nominee for Best Actress , Brie Larson's first starring role was as teen drag racer in the 2003 DCOM Right on Track. Yes, you read that right - Brie portrayed Courtney Enders, a real-life drag racer who competed against the boys with her older sister.

Bryan Cranston as Nick Wrigley in 'Twas the Night

Golden Globe-winning, Tony-winning and Emmy-winning actor (he's won a lot of awards) Bryan Cranston starred in the 2001 holiday film 'Twas the Night, where he portrayed a grown man who perpetually found himself on Santa's naughty list. We're happy to report that the only list Bryan is on this year is the list for Best Actor at the Academy Awards.

America Ferrera as Yolanda Vargas in Gotta Kick It Up!

America Ferrara first danced onto our TV screens and into our hearts as Yolanda "Yoli" Vargas in the 2002 DCOM, Gotta Kick It Up! From there, America went on to win both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role as Betty Suarez in Ugly Betty.

Diane Keaton as Roberta Blumstein in Northern Lights

We bet you didn't know that Academy Award winner Diane Keaton starred in this 1997 DCOM about a woman named Roberta who is given joint-custody of her nephew. You may now use this fun fact to impress your friends with your knowledge of DCOMs and Diane Keaton filmography.

Justin Timberlake as Jason Sharpe in Model Behavior

JT's turn as a male model in the fittingly-named Model Behavior made all of our NSYNC-obsessed hearts melt. The film made its debut in the year 2000, which means that Justin was just at the beginning of his career as an actor.

Kristen Stewart as Girl in Fountain Line in The Thirteenth Year

We know what you're thinking, "Wait, Kristen Stewart was in that 1999 DCOM about the boy who turned into a merman?" Yes, she was! Originally an uncredited part, Kristen's performance as "Girl in Fountain Line" from The Thirteenth Year is now listed as her first acting role on her IMDB page, so you know it's legit.

Taran Killam as Jordan Cahill in Stuck in the Suburbs

Before he became a Saturday Night Live castmember, Taran played a popstar who accidentally switches cell phones with a teen from the 'burbs, played by Danielle Panabaker. Stuck in the Suburbs truly has everything we could ask for in a mid-2000s DCOM, including a zany-but-cute plotline, Brenda Song in a supporting role, and Taran's sweet bleached tips.

Camilla Belle as Sydney Miller in Rip Girls

In one of her first roles, Camilla Belle played a young girl who returns to her deceased mother's native Hawaii to learn more about her past and potentially, her future. With an emotional plot and a performance by Camilla that led to a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance in a TV movie (drama), Rip Girls is a DCOM classic that still resonates today.

Do you have any favorite actors who starred in a Disney Channel Original Movie? Tell us in the comments below.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of this station.