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Tomei followed up As the World Turns, in 1986, with a role on the sitcom A Different World as Maggie Lauten during the first season.

Her film debut was a minor role in the 1984 comedy film The Flamingo Kid, with Matt Dillon.

Following several small films, her breakthrough comedic performance came in My Cousin Vinny ( 1992 ), where she received critical praise for her performance.

Critic Vincent Canby wrote, " Ms. Tomei gives every indication of being a fine comedian, whether towering over Mr. Pesci and trying to look small, or arguing about a leaky faucet in terms that demonstrate her knowledge of plumbing.

Mona Lisa is also a first-rate auto mechanic, which comes in handy in the untying of the knotted story.

" For her performance, Tomei was named Best Supporting Actress at the 1993 Academy Awards, prevailing over Miranda Richardson, Joan Plowright, Vanessa Redgrave and Judy Davis.

American film critic Rex Reed created controversy ( and a minor Hollywood myth ) when he suggested that Jack Palance had announced the wrong name after opening the envelope.

While this allegation was repeatedly disproved – even the Academy officially denied it – Tomei called the story " extremely hurtful.

" A Price Waterhouse accountant explained that if such an event had occurred, " we have an agreement with the Academy that one of us would step on stage, introduce ourselves, and say the presenter misspoke.