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Bradley Cooper, 'A Star is Born' -

'A Star is Born' was Bradley Cooper's first attempt at directing and it was a massive hit. 

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Bradley Cooper, 'A Star is Born' -

The movie was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Actor for Bradley Cooper and Best Picture! 

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Denzel Washington, 'Fences' -

Denzel Washington had tried directing himself prior to the Oscar-winning film 'Fences,' but without significant success. 

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Denzel Washington, 'Fences' -

'Fences' was a film adaption of a play which he had already performed in. It was nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor for Washington himself. Viola Davis won Best Supporting Actress for her role. 

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Ben Affleck, 'Argo' - Ben Affleck won an Oscar for Best Screenplay in 1997 for his contribution to the movie 'Goodwill Hunting' which he both starred in and wrote with Matt Damon.

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Ben Affleck, 'Argo' -

'Argo' was his first Oscar for a film he directed and starred in himself. He swiped the award for Best Picture in 2013.

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Mel Gibson, 'Braveheart' - Mel Gibson had varying success with his ventures into the dual role of actor and director, but 'Braveheart' was a game-changer for him.

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Mel Gibson, 'Braveheart' -

The movie was nominated for 10 Oscars that year and won five of them. Mel Gibson won Best Picture and Best Director.

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Kevin Costner, 'Dancing With Wolves' -

Kevin Costner was the star and director of the now classic film 'Dancing With Wolves' which stole most of the Oscars in 1991. Controversially, it beat 'The Godfather: Part III' for Best Picture!  

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Kevin Costner, 'Dancing With Wolves' - It was nominated for a whopping 12 Oscars and won seven, including Best Director for Costner. 

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Barbra Streisand, 'Yentl' -

Broadway legend Barbra Streisand was told for 10 years that she was too old to play the lead in the classic play 'Yentl,' until she finally decided to make the movie herself. 

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Barbra Streisand, 'Yentl' -

Her screen adaption of 'Yentl,' which she directed and starred in, won two Oscars that year. Go Barbra! 

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Clint Eastwood, 'Unforgiven' - Western legend Clint Eastwood was considered an action star back in his day. He took the Academy Awards by storm in 1993 when he starred in and directed the revenge epic 'Unforgiven.'

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Clint Eastwood, 'Unforgiven' -

It was nominated for nine Oscars and won four of them, including Best Director for Eastwood! 

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Warren Beatty, 'Reds' -

Warren Beatty was one of the most handsome faces in Hollywood in his day, but he managed to go beyond the romantic lead. 

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Warren Beatty, 'Reds' -

His masterpiece 'Reds' mixed an epic romance with a fascinating political period drama. The movie got 12 nominations and Beatty took home the Oscar for Best Director. 

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Warren Beatty, 'Bugsy' -

He went on to take the leading role and director's chair in the gangster classic 'Bugsy' 10 years later, which was also nominated for two Oscars. 

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Orson Welles, 'Citizen Kane' - The incredible Orson Welles is better known as a director, but has also featured in leading roles in many of his own films. He starred in 'Citizen Kane,' widely considered to be one of the best movies of all times.

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Orson Welles, 'Citizen Kane' - It was nominated for nine Oscars but surprisingly only took one home. It's considered a bit of a snub by cinephiles!

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Charlie Chaplin, 'The Great Dictator' -

Charlie Chaplin was far more than a slapstick comedy star. He wrote, directed, and starred in the notorious Nazi satire 'The Great Dictator.'

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Charlie Chaplin, 'The Great Dictator' -

The movie was nominated for five Oscars including Best Actor, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay for Chaplin. It didn't win any, perhaps it was too close to the bone back in 1941!  

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Sir Laurence Olivier, 'Henry V' -

Sir Laurence Olivier is a legend in both cinema and theater. He already had a stellar career under his belt when he created his series of film adaptions of Shakespeare's plays.

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Sir Laurence Olivier, 'Henry V' -

The first was 'Henry V' in 1944. It was nominated for four Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor, and Olivier received a special award for his outstanding achievement in bringing the play to the screen. 

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Sir Laurence Olivier, 'Hamlet' -

A few years later he released his 'Hamlet,' which really cleaned up at the Oscars that year. The film had five wins including Best Actor and Best Picture for Olivier. 

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Sir Laurence Olivier, 'Richard III' -

In 1957, he released 'Richard III,' and  received yet another nomination for Best Actor for his leading role. 

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Woody Allen, 'Annie Hall' -

Woody Allen is no stranger at the Oscars, but he rarely starred in his own films. When he did, he certainly made an impression. 

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Woody Allen, 'Annie Hall' -

'Annie Hall' took home five Oscars. Allen was nominated for Best Actor although he didn't win it, but he did take home Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Not bad! 

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Woody Allen, 'Manhattan' -

Two years later he starred in his movie 'Manhattan' alongside Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, and Mariel Hemingway. While it was quite the same success as 'Annie Hall,' it did receive two more Oscar nominations. 

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What next? -

For more fascinating Oscars trivia, take a look at this list of the most unexpected Oscar winners in history!

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