By Megan Riedlinger
2:03pm PST, Dec 6, 2022
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The People's Choice Awards is back and heading to your TV screens on Dec. 6, 2022! In honor of the latest installment of the award show that's voted on by the public, Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at some of your favorite stars the first time they ever hit the PCAs. Let's start with one of Hollywood's most successful actors… Dwayne Johnson, then better known as The Rock, was on hand for his first PCA ceremony in 2003. He presented favorite motion picture actress to Julia Roberts that year while wearing a sharp pinstriped suit and a head full of hair.
Keep reading for more great throwbacks of your favorite stars on their first People's Choice Awards red carpet…
MORE: All the women Tom Cruise has loved and lost over the years
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The favorite motion picture actor of 1990 — Tom Cruise — posed with his trophy after winning largely thanks to his popular 1989 flick "Born on the Fourth of July." We're digging that big hair… and that bow tie!
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A young Mariska Hargitay arrived at the 19th Annual People's Choice Awards in 1993 — her first — on the arm of "Melrose Place" hunk Grant Show. At that point in her career, Mariska had just wrapped the short-lived CBS show "Tequila and Bonetti." Six years later, she began her long run on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
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A very young Chris Pratt attended the 29th Annual People's Choice Awards in 2003 and threw up a peace sign on the red carpet while wearing a pinstriped suit. He was there alongside the rest of the cast of the then-popular WB show "Everwood."
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A fresh-faced Jennifer Love Hewitt is seen here at the 26th Annual People's Choice Awards in 2000. In addition to looking absolutely adorable that evening (just look at her crimped locks and metallic dress!), Jennifer — who'd just finished starring on "Party of Five" at the time — took home the PCA for favorite female performer in a new TV series for "Time of Your Life."
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In recent years, Mandy Moore was up for People's Choice Awards for her acting talents. Back at her first show, though, she was known for her pop music. Mandy's self-titled third album was released the same year — 2001 — that she attended her first PCAs wearing a gray pantsuit with some sparkly embellishments.
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Back in 2006, Reese Witherspoon had two hit flicks out, so it's no wonder she won favorite leading actress during the 32nd Annual People's Choice Awards. Her films "Just Like Heaven" and "Walk the Line" helped her take home the trophy that year.
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Mila Kunis attended her first People's Choice Awards in 2011, donning this strapless olive green frock. While she was in attendance as a guest that year, the following year, she earned a PCA nod for favorite comedic movie actress for "Friends with Benefits," in which she starred alongside Justin Timberlake.
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So no one told you life was gonna be this way! Jennifer Aniston attended her first People's Choice Awards in 1995 alongside her "Friends" co-stars including Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. The 21st Annual PCAs took place just two months before the first season finale of "Friends" aired.
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Ted Danson attended his first PCAs looking dapper in a tux and bow tie. He was on hand for the 23rd Annual People's Choice Awards with wife Mary Steenburgen in 1997 while the couple were co-starring on the CBS show "Ink."
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Jennifer Lawrence's first People's Choice Awards was in 2012. That year, she not only presented but was nominated for favorite movie superhero for her work as Mystique in "X-Men: First Class." She opted for this electric blue Viktor & Rolf minidress with mesh cutouts.
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In 2011, celebrity look-alikes Minka Kelly and Leighton Meester — who co-starred in the thriller movie "The Roommate," which came out that year — posed together at the 37th Annual People's Choice Awards. The "Friday Night Lights" and "Gossip Girl" stars both wore patterned minidresses with pumps.
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Back in 2003, Kaley Cuoco attended her first PCAs in a delicate white and gray printed dress with an asymmetrical hemline. Her show, "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," won favorite new TV comedy at the 29th Annual People's Choice Awards that night.
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Seven years after starring in "Charlie's Angels," a then-brunette Cameron Diaz made her first appearance at the People's Choice Awards in 2007. She took home the PCA for fave leading lady for her starring role in the heart-warming flick "The Holiday."
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Wonder who took top honors for favorite talk show host back in 1988? It was none other than the iconic Oprah Winfrey, who was a PCA newbie at the 14th Annual People's Choice Awards in 1988.
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Ryan Reynolds' first time at the PCAs? That was back in 2010, when he accepted the award for favorite comedy movie — "The Proposal" — alongside co-star Sandra Bullock. Keep reading to find out when Sandra made her People's Choice Awards debut…
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Sandra Bullock first attended the show during the 22nd Annual People's Choice Awards back in 1996. That year, she won favorite motion picture actress for her work in "While You Were Sleeping" while sporting this lacy little dress.
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From "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to the "American Pie" film franchise, Alyson Hannigan has been in a lot of popular projects. The "How I Met Your Mother" star is seen here at her first People's Choice Awards in 2006 alongside husband and former "BTVS" co-star Alexis Denisof.
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In 2005, Kristen Bell made her first People's Choice Awards appearance in a hot pink halter dress. That previous year, her show "Veronica Mars" debuted, giving her a brand new legion of fans.
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Back in 2002, Jennifer Garner and then-husband Scott Foley both attended their first PCAs. They were on hand for the 28th Annual People's Choice Awards, where Jennifer's show "Alias" took home top honors.
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When she attended the 24th Annual People's Choice Awards in 1998, Melissa Joan Hart was in the midst of starring on her wildly successful sitcom "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." She's seen here in an ultra-'90s floral gown with then-boyfriend James Fields.
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Carrie Underwood's first PCAs was in 2009. The star sported this beautiful strapless multicolored floral-patterned Naeem Khan gown for the occasion where she not only performed but picked up two trophies — favorite female singer and favorite country song for "Last Name."
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The youngest People's Choice Awards first-timer on the list? That honor goes to Drew Barrymore, who took home her first PCA prize way back in 1983 for her flick "E.T.," which won favorite motion picture at the award show's ninth annual ceremony. Drew is seen here with co-stars Henry Thomas and Robert MacNaughton.
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Michael B. Jordan's first time at the People's Choice Awards was in 2014. That year, he attended and presented alongside his co-stars in "That Awkward Moment," Zac Efron and Miles Teller.
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Way back in 2001, Jessica Alba made her People's Choice Awards debut. She attended the ceremony in this pretty, multicolored floral frock and took home an extra accessory that night — a trophy for her show "Dark Angel" after it won favorite new dramatic TV series.
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Pierce Brosnan made his first appearance at the 10th Annual People's Choice Awards back in 1984 when he was starring on TV's "Remington Steele." He looked sharp in a tux and bow tie alongside his first wife, the late Cassandra Harris.
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The perfect person for Ellen Pompeo to pose with at her first PCAs was obviously her co-star Patrick Dempsey. The "Grey's Anatomy" leads were on hand to accept the favorite TV drama prize at 2007's People's Choice Awards. Ellen might have been a newbie but Patrick's first time at the big show actually happened more than a decade prior…
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Long before "Grey's Anatomy" hit the air, Patrick Dempsey attended his first People's Choice Awards in 1991. He was there with Richard Grieco, Christian Slater and Costas Mandylor — his co-stars in the 1991 flick "Mobsters."
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Baby V! The year was 2012 and Vanessa Hudgens attended her first People's Choice Awards wearing a dazzling black floor-length gown. She had two very different films out that year: "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" and "Spring Breakers."
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Selena Gomez stunned in this one-shouldered, ruffled pink Paule Ka minidress at her very first People's Choice Awards in 2011. That year, she picked up a favorite breakout artist trophy for her music group, Selena Gomez & the Scene.
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Kelly Ripa was on hand for her very first People's Choice Awards in 1993. She wore a sparkly yellow minidress when her soap opera, "All My Children," won favorite daytime serial that year.
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Zendaya turned heads in this stunning cut-out gown by Christopher Esber when she attended her first People's Choice Awards in 2019. Z took home two awards that night: fave drama TV star for "Euphoria" and fave female movie star for "Spider-Man: Far from Home."
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Jim Parsons' first time at the People's Choice Awards? 2010 — the same year "The Big Bang Theory" took home favorite TV comedy.
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Taylor Swift opted for a little tiny white strapless dress by Jenny Packham for her first time at the People's Choice Awards. She attended the 2010 ceremony where she took home the trophy for favorite female artist.
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Ellen DeGeneres attended her first People's Choice Awards in 1995 in a slick suit. She was on hand for the 21st Annual ceremony, which is when her sitcom, "Ellen," won favorite new TV comedy. Ellen also took home the prize for favorite female performer in a new TV series.
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Peace! Back in 2007, Miley Cyrus attended the 33rd Annual People's Choice Awards looking super on-trend — for the time! The "Hannah Montana" actress opted for a textured turquoise frock and peep-toe heels.
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Ellie Kemper attended her first People's Choice Awards in 2012 wearing a simple black dress. The star was then making a name for herself on the hit show "The Office."
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Cute as a button! Way back in 1993, the one and only Halle Berry attended her very first People's Choice Awards in this vintage-inspired magenta dress. Her first PCA nomination and win would come 13 years later for favorite female action star for "X-Men: The Last Stand."
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When it came time for Melissa McCarthy's first People's Choice Awards, she had buddy and co-star Sandra Bullock at her side! The two won the favorite comedic movie award for their flick "The Heat" during the 40th Annual People's Choice Awards in 2014.
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Katy Perry fared pretty well at her first PCAs! The pop star attended the 2011 People's Choice Awards and took home trophies for favorite female artist and favorite online sensation while wearing an on-brand pink, purple and blue tulle confection.
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"Grey's Anatomy" hunk Justin Chambers brought wife Keisha Chambers to his very first People's Choice Awards in 2007. His ABC show won favorite TV drama that year.
