6 Actors Who Got Their Big Break in Quentin Tarantino’sOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood(Including 2 Oscar Nominees!)

Mar. 15, 2025

Margaret Qualley in 2019’s ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ ; Mikey Madison attends Sony Pictures' ‘Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood’ premiere on July 22, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.Photo:©Sony Pictures Entertainment ; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

©Sony Pictures Entertainment ; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Quentin Tarantinohas quite an eye for Hollywood stars.

In 2019, the legendary filmmaker releasedOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood, which follows a former Western star actor and his stunt double friend as they navigate the changing landscape of 1960s Los Angeles. Not only was the movie star-studded, withBrad Pitt,Leonardo DiCaprioandMargot Robbiein leading roles, but it was also a catapult for the next generation of Hollywood:Mikey Madison,Sydney Sweeney,Margaret Qualley,Austin Butler,Maya HawkeandVictoria Pedretti.

Madison toldDazedin November 2024 that she feels “blessed” thatOnce Upon a Timein Hollywoodwas her first “big movie role.”

“Quentin, if you didn’t cast Mikey Madison inOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood, there would be noAnora,” Baker said whileaccepting the Oscarfor Best Director from Tarantino himself. “Thank you, thank you so much.”

So, who are all of the stars who came out ofOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood? Here’s a look at some of Hollywood’s biggest names today who got their first major role in the Tarantino film.

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Mikey Madison

Mikey Madison attends HFPA And THR Golden Globe Ambassador Party on Nov. 14, 2019, in West Hollywood, Calif.Leon Bennett/WireImage

Leon Bennett/WireImage

Madison was only 19 years old when she was cast as Susan “Sadie” Atkins inOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood.

“I have always been a huge Tarantino fan,” she toldGQin February 2025. “I had the opportunity to audition for him in person … I was very nervous. I was like, you know what, I’m just going to take this moment. I’m going to pretend like I have the role.”

“I ended up getting the role,” she continued. “It felt like winning the lottery.”

Madison explained that while she hadn’t played a character as “bats— crazy” and “unpredictable” prior toOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood,she felt something “change” in her.

“He even told me that he had even gone to seeOnce Upon a Timein Hollywoodagain just to see the ending scene, which made me feel very happy,” Madison toldGQ.

In addition toAnora— a performance that led her towin the Oscar for Best Actress— Madison also went on to star in 2022’sScream.

02of 06Sydney SweeneySydney Sweeney in 2019’s ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.'.©Sony Pictures Entertainment2019 was a big year for Sweeney. In addition to her appearance as Manson family member Snake inOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood,she was also rising to fame for her breakout role as Cassie in HBO’sEuphoria. (The actress had previously portrayed Eden Spencer inThe Handmaid’s Tale.)In June 2019, one month beforeOnce Upon a Timein Hollywoodwas released, Sweeney opened up toBUILDabout how she “learned so much” from her costars.“You know when you have that bucket list of everyone you hope that you can one day work with, and then you just cross them all off on the same exact day for a couple months,” she said. “It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is crazy.’ It was just this surreal experience.“The Emmy-nominated actress has continued gaining acclaim in Hollywood since, and went on to star in HBO’sThe White Lotus,2023’sAnyone but Youand 2024’sMadame Web. She is now reprising her role as Cassie in season 3 ofEuphoria.

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Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney in 2019’s ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.'.©Sony Pictures Entertainment

©Sony Pictures Entertainment

2019 was a big year for Sweeney. In addition to her appearance as Manson family member Snake inOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood,she was also rising to fame for her breakout role as Cassie in HBO’sEuphoria. (The actress had previously portrayed Eden Spencer inThe Handmaid’s Tale.)

In June 2019, one month beforeOnce Upon a Timein Hollywoodwas released, Sweeney opened up toBUILDabout how she “learned so much” from her costars.

“You know when you have that bucket list of everyone you hope that you can one day work with, and then you just cross them all off on the same exact day for a couple months,” she said. “It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is crazy.’ It was just this surreal experience.”

The Emmy-nominated actress has continued gaining acclaim in Hollywood since, and went on to star in HBO’sThe White Lotus,2023’sAnyone but Youand 2024’sMadame Web. She is now reprising her role as Cassie in season 3 ofEuphoria.

03of 06Margaret QualleyLena Dunham, Margaret Qualley and Brad Pitt in ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.'.Andrew Cooper/ColumbiaQualley wasn’t new to Hollywood when she played Pussycat in Tarantino’s film, but the young actress certainly had her first big moment in the spotlight then.During a February 2020 conversation withW Magazine, Qualley revealed that she was initially turned down for a different part and “went on with [her] life.“Then,her dad— who lived in Panama — manifested her casting.“He was trying to encourage me to come visit him in Panama and he said that I should book a plane ticket, and then I’ll get a Quentin Tarantino movie,” she recalled. “He was saying it with the logic that if I made plans, that life would get in the way and I would have work.“Qualley got the call for a chemistry read with Pitt during her third day in Panama. “Now he feels like he has magical powers,” she said.In July 2019, the actress shared withEntertainment Weeklythat she knew being in the Tarantino film was a “once-in-a-lifetime experience."“Quentin said, ‘This is going to be the most fun you’ve ever had making a movie,’ ” Qualley recalled to the outlet. “And he was right.“The actress continued to prove her star quality in Hollywood, going on to star in 2023’sPoor Thingsand 2024’sThe Substance, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

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Margaret Qualley

Lena Dunham, Margaret Qualley and Brad Pitt in ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.'.Andrew Cooper/Columbia

Qualley wasn’t new to Hollywood when she played Pussycat in Tarantino’s film, but the young actress certainly had her first big moment in the spotlight then.

During a February 2020 conversation withW Magazine, Qualley revealed that she was initially turned down for a different part and “went on with [her] life.”

Then,her dad— who lived in Panama — manifested her casting.

“He was trying to encourage me to come visit him in Panama and he said that I should book a plane ticket, and then I’ll get a Quentin Tarantino movie,” she recalled. “He was saying it with the logic that if I made plans, that life would get in the way and I would have work.”

Qualley got the call for a chemistry read with Pitt during her third day in Panama. “Now he feels like he has magical powers,” she said.

In July 2019, the actress shared withEntertainment Weeklythat she knew being in the Tarantino film was a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“Quentin said, ‘This is going to be the most fun you’ve ever had making a movie,’ ” Qualley recalled to the outlet. “And he was right.”

The actress continued to prove her star quality in Hollywood, going on to star in 2023’sPoor Thingsand 2024’sThe Substance, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

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Austin Butler

Austin Butler in 2019’s ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.'.©Sony Pictures Entertainment

Though Butler got his start as a child star on Nickelodeon’siCarlyandZoey 101, as well as Disney Channel’sHannah Montana, he rose to even greater fame after portraying Manson family member Charles “Tex” Watson inOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood.

At the time of casting, Butler had tochoose between accepting the roleor going to the screen test forTop Gun: Maverick, he shared during a January 2024 conversation for theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast.But because he had been waiting to work with Tarantino “for so long,” he ultimately went withOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood.

More recently, Butlerportrayed Feyd-Rautha Harkonnenin 2024’sDune: Part Two.

05of 06Maya HawkeMaya Hawke attends Sony Pictures’ ‘Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood’ premiere on July 22, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagicHawke was just getting started when she played Manson Family member Flower Child inOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood.In 2019, the young actress toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat she filmed her audition tape in her bedroom with her dad,Ethan Hawke.“Wesent in the tape to Quentin, and I got a callback,” she said. “He actually organized a really amazing callback process that was unlike anything I’ve ever been through … except for maybe auditioning for drama school.“Since then, Hawke has starred as Robin Buckley inStranger Things, and had roles in 2022’sDo Revengeand 2023’sMaestro.She additionally voiced Anxiety in 2024’sInside Out 2.

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Maya Hawke

Maya Hawke attends Sony Pictures’ ‘Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood’ premiere on July 22, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Hawke was just getting started when she played Manson Family member Flower Child inOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood.

In 2019, the young actress toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat she filmed her audition tape in her bedroom with her dad,Ethan Hawke.

“Wesent in the tape to Quentin, and I got a callback,” she said. “He actually organized a really amazing callback process that was unlike anything I’ve ever been through … except for maybe auditioning for drama school.”

Since then, Hawke has starred as Robin Buckley inStranger Things, and had roles in 2022’sDo Revengeand 2023’sMaestro.She additionally voiced Anxiety in 2024’sInside Out 2.

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Victoria Pedretti

Victoria Pedretti attends Sony Pictures’ ‘Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood’ premiere on July 22, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

After a few television roles, Pedretti had her film breakout as Manson family member Leslie Van Houten, a.k.a. Lulu, inOnce Upon a Timein Hollywood. Though it was a small part, it was the beginning of her rise to fame.

source: people.com