Oscar Nominations 2012: Viola Davis Before She Was Famous (PHOTO)

Nominations for the 2012 Academy Awards were announced Tuesday morning and "The Help" star Viola Davis is certainly celebrating her "Best Actress" nomination.

But before she hit Broadway or the big screen, Davis was just a regular high school student hoping to one day make it in Hollywood. Luckily, Snakkle.com uncovered one her yearbook photos.

Davis joins Glenn Close ("Albert Nobbs"), Rooney Mara ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"), Meryl Streep ("The Iron Lady") and Michelle Williams ("My Week With Marilyn") in the leading lady category for this year's Oscars. As thrilled as she is, Davis is also passing along congratulations to everyone who worked on "The Help."

"It's a collaborative art -- you can't create it in a room by yourself," she told Entertainment Weekly after the nominations were announced. "It takes other actors, a director. It's literally a boatload of artists [creating] a singular affect. That's what we did. It was truly an ensemble."

For more photos of the 2012 Oscar nominees before they were stars -- including some great shots of a pre-Hollywood George Clooney -- head over to Snakkle.com.

PHOTO:

Check out photos of other nominees below:

Comments

[Rdmptn]

02:12 AM on 01/26/2012

I love this woman. She doesn't get the recognition or parts that Tariji P. Henson receives even though she's just as talented. She is an amazing actress.

[haganj3]

07:42 AM on 01/25/2012

The lovely Viola Davis. Fantastic actress!!

[PuzzledinPeoria]

09:14 PM on 01/24/2012

Who?

[djnc]

06:37 PM on 01/24/2012

Honestly, even if you showed a current picture and had a gun to my head, I wouldn't know her name

[syds180turn]

02:51 PM on 01/24/2012

Viola Davis is so much prettier now. It's true, a swan can sprout from a ugly duckling. But more important than looks, is the fact that she's immensely talented. Congratulations!

[debanne123]

06:46 PM on 01/24/2012

Yes, everybody born should be born white, blond & blue eyed. That's the only way you can tell that they're beautiful??????????????????????????????

GET A LIFE, YOU CREEP!!!!!

[syds180turn]

09:35 AM on 01/26/2012

Apparently your medication isn't working. It's obvious you need anger management. Viola is prettier now because most of us grow into our looks for various reasons. She's a lovely woman and a great actress...that's ultimately more important. You need some help....fast/.

[Ugonna]

01:12 PM on 01/27/2012

I didn't see anything indicating a preference for white features in her post.

[Strong Hold]

09:10 AM on 01/25/2012

Hey Independent & Proud of It! is she prettier now because shes got that Euro centric hairdo?

[hotheaded]

01:44 PM on 01/25/2012

nope. she's prettier now because she's wearing make up and has had some apparent surgery.

[syds180turn]

09:35 AM on 01/26/2012

No...she's prettier now because she's more mature and has come into her own. Stop trying to find something where there's nothing. Most of us look better than we did when we were younger.