Saoirse Ronan And 3 Other Best Child Actors Who Outshined Their Adult Co-Stars
These actors demonstrate that talent is not limited by age.
The truly magical moments in Hollywood are when a child star hits the big screen: Macaulay Culkin turned a criminal comedy into a holiday smash, while Game of Thrones' Tyrant King Jack Gleeson made the world hate him.
To this day, the industry continues to discover talent in underage actors, some of whom outshine their more experienced screen counterparts.
1. The Impossible (2012) – Tom Holland
The Impossible is a disaster movie that introduced the world to Tom Holland. The movie is set in 2004 in Thailand during a devastating earthquake that caused a tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
The plot centers on a family of tourists who find themselves at the center of a destructive force. Holland, who was only 14 at the time, had to play scenes that were heartbreakingly difficult for his age.
2. The Piano (1993) – Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin is the second underage actress in the history of cinema to win an Oscar. Paquin received her undoubtedly well-deserved award for her role in Jane Campion's drama The Piano.
The eleven-year-old actress played little Flora, the daughter of the main character, who is sent to an island in New Zealand for an arranged marriage.
Anna Paquin's performance did not leave the Academy indifferent. She managed to win the award in the Best Supporting Actress nomination.
3. The Florida Project (2017) – Brooklynn Kimberly Prince
Most of the actors in the films of indie enthusiast Sean Baker have no professional training, including six-year-old Brooklynn, the star of the film The Florida Project.
As time has shown, Baker did not miscalculate with his choice: Brooklynn became the heart of The Florida Project. Moonee's childlike spontaneity gave the film the necessary boost of optimism without which it would have become a dull and depressing drama.
4. Atonement (2007) – Saoirse Ronan
Not every seasoned actor can make you care, or even hate your character.
But 13-year-old Saoirse Ronan managed it. The plot of Atonement is about the affair between the daughter of wealthy parents, Cecilia, and the son of the housekeeper, Robbie, who is falsely accused of rape.
The guilty party is Cecilia's little sister Briony, who misinterpreted what was going on between the young people. Ronan's performance is an incredible combination of strength and vulnerability that accompanies Briony throughout the movie.