- Abigail Breslin in “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006).
- Quvenzhané Wallis in “Beasts of the Southern Wild” (2012).
- Haley Joel Osment in “The Sixth Sense” (1999).
- Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement” (2007).
- Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit” (2010).
- Mary Budham in “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962).
- Jodie Foster in “Taxi Driver” (1976).
- Justin Henry in “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979).
- Tatum O’Neal in “Paper Moon” (1973).
The 2018 Academy Awards nominees have been announced a couple of days ago. And while we wait for the award ceremony airing March 4, we thought to acknowledge the young actors who have been nominated for the most prestigious award in film in its 90-year history. Let’s celebrate the amazing talents of the youngest Academy nominees who made their families the proudest they could ever be!
Abigail Breslin in “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006)
Abigail Breslin was cast in “Little Miss Sunshine” at just 6 years old, but had to wait 4 more years to start filming. Worth the wait though, as her performance not only melted the hearts of viewers worldwide, but also earned her an Oscar nomination.
Quvenzhané Wallis in “Beasts of the Southern Wild” (2012)
At only 9 years old Quvenchané became the youngest nominee ever in the Best Female Actress category. Her role in “Beasts of the Southern Wild” opened many more opportunities for her, such as a starring role in high-ranked “Annie” remake.
Haley Joel Osment in “The Sixth Sense” (1999)
Haley Joel Osment was only 11 when the supernatural thriller “The Sixth Sense” brought him to stardom. His performance as a psychic child was so impressive, that he became the second-youngest performer ever to receive an Academy nomination for a supporting role. Sadly, he lost the final Oscar vote to Michael Caine (with whom he would later work, appearing together in “Secondhand Lions”).
Saoirse Ronan in “Atonement” (2007)
13-year-old Saoirse Ronan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in the 2007 film “Atonement”. Today, the Ireland native is 22 years old and has just received her third Academy nomination for her starring role in “Lady Bird”.
Hailee Steinfeld in “True Grit” (2010)
Today, Hailee Steinfeld is an accomplished actress and singer. But her rise to fame was at only 14 years old, when she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Mattie, a girl seeking her father's murderer, in the 2010 film True Grit.
Mary Budham in “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)
This young girl received an academy nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the iconic “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Interestingly, Mary was only 35 days older than the record holder Tatum. She lost her nomination to another child actor that year, but nevertheless Mary’s amazing performance stays in our memories along with the timeless movie.
Jodie Foster in “Taxi Driver” (1976)
14-year-old Jodie Foster was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Iris in the 1976 film “Taxi Driver” directed by Martin Scorsese. As an adult, she won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role in “The Accused” (1988) and “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991). She was also nominated for her starring role in “Nell” (1994).
Justin Henry in “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)
Justin Henry’s performance in “Kramer vs. Kramer”, his first movie ever, landed him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Plus, he was only 8 years old, making him the youngest nominee in any category ever at that time. Now that’s what we call a movie debut!
Tatum O’Neal in “Paper Moon” (1973)
This young actress takes home the biggest prize. At the age of 10 Tatum O’Neal became the youngest winner of Best Supporting Actress. In the movie she played a young orphan girl who forms a bond with her travel companion when she shows her skills for conning people. These children have proven that even the biggest dreams can be achieved at any age.
