Blanchett made her feature film debut with a supporting role as a spirited young Australian nurse captured by the Japanese Army during World War II, in Bruce Beresford's film "Paradise Road" (1997), which co-starred Glenn Close and Frances McDormand. "Paradise Road" made just over $2 million at the box office on a budget of $19 million and received mixed reviews from critics, with Roger Ebert criticising the film's "lack of a story arc". Her first leading role came later that year as eccentric heiress Lucinda Leplastrier in Gillian Armstrong's romantic drama "Oscar and Lucinda" (1997), opposite Ralph Fiennes. Blanchett received wide acclaim for her performance, with Emanuel Levy of "Variety" declaring, "luminous newcomer Blanchett, in a role originally intended for Judy Davis, is bound to become a major star". She earned her first AFI Award nomination as Best Leading Actress for "Oscar and Lucinda". She won the AFI Best Actress Award in the same year for her starring role as Lizzie in the romantic comedy "Thank God He Met Lizzie" (1997), co-starring Richard Roxburgh and Frances O'Connor. By 1997, Blanchett had accrued significant praise and recognition in her native Australia.