Top 10 Times the Child Actor Stole the Show
#10: Abigail Breslin
“Little Miss Sunshine” (2006) Much like this movie’s title, its little starlet manages to shine the brightest even among a talented roster of actors. Abigail Breslin began her feature film career in 2002, appearing in movies like “Signs” and “Raising Helen”. While she’s brilliant in those early parts, it’s her role in the comedy drama “Little Miss Sunshine” that really put her on the map. Breslin stars as Olive, a girl with big dreams who’s driven by her quirky family to compete in a beauty pageant. Even at such a young age, Breslin commands your attention, possessing an astounding mix of childlike innocence and adult understanding. Her bright-eyed performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, one of the youngest to ever achieve that feat.
#9: Hailee Steinfeld
“True Grit” (2010) You probably know Hailee Steinfeld as a pop star and burgeoning Marvel superhero. But in 2011, she received an Oscar nomination at age 14, for her performance in “True Grit”. The film centers around Steinfeld’s character, Mattie Ross, as she tries to get revenge for her father’s death. It’s a tough role for any actor, let alone a child, as she is tasked with holding a steely toughness not common for such a young girl. But Steinfeld steps up to the challenge, showcasing a level of artistry that most actors twice her age struggle to achieve. That she managed this in her feature film debut, while opposite a powerhouse like Jeff Bridges, is a testament to the force that is Hailee Steinfeld.
#8: Haley Joel Osment
“The Sixth Sense” (1999) M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Sixth Sense” gave us not only one of the most shocking twists in movie history, but also one of the greatest child performances ever. Cast in the film when he was just 10, Haley Joel Osment plays Cole Sear, a troubled young boy who confronts his dark secret with the help of a child psychologist. What Osment brings to the role is truly amazing, telling so much more with just his eyes than could have ever been communicated with words. Hard as it might be to believe, Shyamalan has said that he was initially skeptical about hiring Osment. But luckily for us, he quickly realized the level of vulnerability the youngster possessed and made the right choice.
#7: Quvenzhané Wallis
“Beasts of the Southern Wild” (2012) A child performance so magnetic, at just nine years old, she set a record for the youngest Best Actress Oscar nominee ever. Quvenzhané Wallis completely stole the show, and the hearts of audiences around the world, with her role as Hushpuppy in “Beasts of the Southern Wild”. With no professional acting training or experience whatsoever, Wallis delivers a performance so spectacular, it’s easy to forget she’s acting. Ever so often, young actors read as much older than they actually are, and don’t necessarily come off as inherently childlike. But Wallis shows she’s adept at handling the more mature themes of the script while still delivering an authentic performance as a six-year-old.
#6: Alex Hibbert
“Moonlight” (2016) Barry Jenkins’ 2016 masterpiece “Moonlight” tells the tender story of Chiron, a young Black man exploring his sexuality, while figuring out his place in the world. We follow Chiron through three stages of his life, as a young boy, a teenager, and an adult. All three actors are wonderful, but as “Little” Chiron, Alex Hibbert’s quiet intensity undoubtedly steals the show. Hibbert is given very little dialogue in his section of the film, but proves that he doesn’t need words to get his point across. The youngster lets his enormously expressive eyes do all the talking for him - as he portrays a level of curiosity and understanding that’s far beyond his years.
#5: Natalie Portman
“Léon: The Professional” (1994) Natalie Portman has been a fixture in Hollywood for so long, it’s hard to imagine a time when she wasn’t on the big screen. Before 1994, no one had a clue who she was, but that all changed with her audacious performance in the action thriller “Léon: The Professional”. The movie follows the titular hitman, who develops a strange kinship with a young orphan named Mathilda. Portman plays the troubled 12-year-old, opposite Jean Reno and Gary Oldman, and is arguably the best performer of the trio. Her striking precociousness adds an extra layer to the dark and twisted character, and makes every word out of her mouth even more startling than the last.
#4: Jodie Foster
“Taxi Driver” (1976) Even if you haven’t seen “Taxi Driver,” you’ve probably caught onto some of its scenes through cultural osmosis. The Martin Scorsese classic stars 12-year-old Jodie Foster in a controversial role as Iris, a young sex worker who develops a friendship with Robert De Niro’s Travis Bickle. Here, Foster delivers a spell-binding performance, conveying a hardened disposition but still letting her inner naivety and playfulness rear its head. Even in the most harrowing scenes, she exudes a level of emotional maturity and depth that absolutely belies her young age. Foster shines in every scene she’s in, and is such an instant star onscreen, it’s easy to see why her career hasn’t slowed down since.
#3: Saoirse Ronan
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“Atonement” (2007) It’s no small feat to receive four Academy Award nominations before you’ve even clocked 30. But for Saoirse Ronan, it’s seemingly a walk in the park. The Irish-American actress was only 13 when she earned her first Oscar nomination for her challenging role in Joe Wright’s “Atonement.” Ronan plays a young girl who grossly misinterprets an encounter she witnesses between her sister and their housekeeper’s son. The entire film hinges on Ronan’s performance and she delivers effortlessly, capturing the perfect mix of naivety, confusion and jealousy needed to portray the character of Briony Tallis. It’s no surprise that of the extremely talented cast, she was the only one nominated for an Oscar.
#2: Tatum O’Neal
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“Paper Moon” (1973) In 1973’s “Paper Moon”, Ryan & Tatum O’Neal turned out one of the best father-daughter on screen appearances in movie history. Although the elder was an established and gifted actor at the time of the film’s release, it’s the little one who completely runs away with it. “Paper Moon” deals with a con man and the little girl he’s accidentally saddled with during his travels. The young O’Neal absolutely nails the first requirement of kid performances – she’s unbelievably cute. But she’s also way funnier than anyone her age has a right to be, going toe-to-toe with her father. At 10 years old, O’Neal won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the youngest competitive winner in the Academy’s history. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Chloë Grace Moretz, “Kick-Ass” (2010)
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Linda Blair, “The Exorcist” (1973)
A Head-Spinningly Good Performance
Dakota Fanning, “I Am Sam” (2001)
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Ivana Baquero, “Pan’s Labyrinth” (2006)
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Ricky Schroder, “The Champ” (1979)
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#1: Anna Paquin
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“The Piano” (1993) At the time of her win in 1994, Anna Paquin became the second-youngest actor to pick up an Oscar at 11, just behind Tatum O’Neal. In “The Piano”, Paquin takes on the role of Flora McGrath, a young girl who moves to the wilderness in New Zealand, after her mother gets married to a frontiersman. What Paquin manages to accomplish here is truly breathtaking, not just for a child actor, but for any performer, period. Her long-drawn speeches and sudden outbursts are stand-out moments, for sure. But even when she’s not the focus of the scene, you can’t help but be drawn to her facial expressions and body language. It’s a remarkable showing for anyone’s screen debut, let alone a tween girl.
