Wah-wah! Here comes the sun.

Top 16 Best Child Actor Performance

// September 23rd, 2009 // movie talk

The list below only about child actor/actress performance from the movies that I watched. So, if you think that there are other better performance that should be on the list that I didn’t include, simply because I haven’t seen them or maybe I have different opinion. Still, would like to hear yours too.

16. Hayden Panettiere as Patty Ann Applewood (Normal, 2003)

Photo: HBO

I cheated a little bit here. This is actually not from the movie that was out in the theater. It was actually aired on HBO, but they called it their original movie. Panettiere played as Patty Ann Applewood, a daughter of parents who are in urge of separation due to the father wish to have sex changing operation. The parents, Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson, surely would get Oscar nod, if this one not made for television. Panettiere succeeded playing her character as this tomboyish girl who’s the only one in the family who doesn’t seem mind of her father shocking wish. She brought a little light to the audience in this darkest time of the Applewood family.

15. Mara Wilson as Matilda (Matilda, 1996)

The movie is based on the book by Road Dahl. Mara Wilson as lonely Matilda, who wanted to study so bad but unfortunately her parents didn’t care about her wish at all. I saw Dakota Fanning with I Am Sam way before I watched this movie, so I couldn’t help but compare the two. The role would also fit for Fanning when she was younger. However, I also couldn’t help also imagine her in the role as Sean Penn’s daughter in I Am Sam. It seemed both actress came channeling their talent from the same source. Anyway, Wilson so convincing to play Matilda as she was born for it. Unfortunately, she seemed to disappear from the radar after that but I know many people still longing for her return, including me.

14. Abigail Breslin as Olive Hoover (Little Miss Sunshine, 2006)

Photo: Fox Searchlight

Abigail Breslin performance in this movie probably the most natural thing I’ve ever seen coming from child actor. Usually movie that highlights some of the most famous child actors, because of the unique character they portrayed. Breslin, however, play her character as a normal little girl might act. When we see her, we see some little girl next door. When I first heard they nominate her for Oscar, I couldn’t understand why, because to me nothing really stands out of her performance. Now, I see why that she deserve to get the nod is because her naturalism, something that I thought I didn’t see because she makes her blend with her character so well.

13. Christian Bale as Jim ‘Jamie’ Graham (Empire of the Sun, 1987)

Photo: Warner Bros

Before Bruce Wayne that probably the most famous character he ever played, he was Jim ‘Jamie’ Graham. A lost little boy who find himself in the middle of the war. When Japanese invaded China, Jim got separated with his parents and has to learn how to survive in this horrific situation. From a spoil brat, to suddenly losing everything and found You can tell by watching this movie that Bale is gonna be big one day. I still think this is his bet movie ever, even better than Batman Begins or that VERY successful The Dark Knight.

12. David Dorfman as Aidan Keller (The Ring, 2002)

Photo: DreamWorks

“She never sleeps,” said Aidan Keller in terrified voice about the ghost that has been haunting him. And, that’s one of the best scene in the movie that once tops my list for the scariest movie I’ve ever seen. When Aidan said that, the actor David Dorfman convinced the audience that he really scared, and we now felt the way he feels. Dorfman played the character that I think hard to play by just regular child actors. He had to play “mature” character inside a child body, who prepare his own lunch, went to school by himself, and of course had to deal with a ghost who seemed won’t leave him alone after he saw that damned tape.

11. Elijah Wood as Mike (Radio Flyer, 1992)

Photo: The Insider

I was amazed to see Elijah Wood in this movie. I didn’t see it around 1992 where the movie released, but years after it. It was also the first Wood movie I’ve seen and had the best acting from him so far, even better than critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings Trilogy (the acting, not the movie). He was in the movie that probably won’t be enjoyable too many kids, since it dealt more with “more” mature situation and not like silly and goofy kids adventure. It’s about two brothers Mike and Bobby (also played brilliantly by another talented young actor, Joseph Mazzello) who desperately trying to get away from their abused house. The movie itself doesn’t really get great review (I was surprised), but I am sure many agrees that Wood performance is unforgettable.

10. Natalie Portman as Mathilda (The Professional, 1994)

The director Luc Besson trying to create another strong female character after succeed with Anne Parillaud from La Femme Nikita. This time he tried to use even so much younger type. However, I find that Natalie Portman is more natural than Parrilaud, which I am sorry to say was a bit over acting. Portman (or her parents) took a chance in this role that for some considerably as exploitation of an actress herself. I could understand why because there were some dialogs and scenes that probably found by some people to be disturbed. Although, I am sure that’s the purpose of her character, to make us felt that way and it worked. The actress herself seemed to grow up fine and in fact known as one of the smartest star out there. The movie seemed doesn’t leave such a negative impact on her. Thank goodness for that.

9. James Bentley as Nicholas Stewart (The Others, 2001)

Hard too choose between James Bentley or Alakina Mann. I think both are brilliant. But come to think about that, the scene where Bentley comment on why dove is considered as the symbol of “holy ghost”, such as describe in the bible, left it stuck in my mind. His expression truly showed how talented and natural he was as a child actor. The chemistry he had with the child that play as her sister and of course the mother that played by Nicole Kidman is undeniable. Of course, as the kid who terrified by the haunting ghost, we can see clearly see the frightened in his eyes (and his sister’s eyes) and we could fear what he feared about. If academy award had a category for best child actor, he should win it.

8. Linda Blair The Exorcist as Regan (1973)

Photo: mptvimages.com

I always felt like I somehow familiar with that name even before I watched the Exorcist, or before I heard about the movie itself. Of course, after watching it I see why. Blair gave great performance as Regan, the child that possessed by the devil. I wasn’t surprise that she got nominated for Oscar and many consider one of her scene of one of the most scariest scene ever. Of course, many young people now who gotten used with the movie like Saw or Hostel probably would find it ridiculous, but I can understand why the people in that era felt that. I did, and I wasn’t really from that era. The sequel like many would say isn’t as good as the first one, so I only watched it once and never again. However, I never got tired with the first one and watched it once in a while.

7. Tina Marjorino as Jessica Green (When A Man Loves a Woman, 1994)

Again, both children in this movie are simply amazing. Tina Marjorino and Mae Whitman. However, the scene with Tina’s character dealing with her alcoholic mother (Meg Ryan) probably more haunting, at least for me. If you see the movie and love it then you wouldn’t ever forgot when her character being snapped in the face by her mother. It felt like she really did feel the pain, both for being snapped and also because it was done by her own mother. The way she phoned her stepfather when she found her mother fainted on the shower was also heartbreaking as well. Lastly, of course her scene in the park with Andy Garcia’s character. When I first saw her, my first thought: How could she be THAT good?

6. Kirsten Dunst as Amy March (Little Women, 1994)

If you check her imdb page, you won’t be surprised that many people said that she wasn’t talented at all. I assumed those never seen her in Little Women. Even though surrounding by OTHER talented actors, she could shine, probably even shiner than the lead character played by Winona Ryder (don’t get me wrong, I adore her as well). Every time I saw performance like her, I always wished that academy award would have a special award for child actor (I believed that they used to have it). Dunst fit so well as Amy March, the youngest of March sister. I read the book a little (haven’t finished it yet) and realize it even more that Amy IS Kirsten or the other way around. The second best performance by Dunst ever (the first one would be on this higher list of course).

5. Haley Joel Osment as Cole Sear (The Sixth Sense, 1999)

“I see dead people,” confessed Cole to Dr. Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis). What a heartbreaking performance. Being just a kid, can see ghost but no one believes you. Osment really perfect for this role and to me still his best performance ever It’s a shame he lost to Michael Caine for best supported actor at academy award. The movie itself was one of the scariest movie I’ve ever seen. Well, of course now after watching several times, the scariness effect has faded away, but it’s still great and so does Osment.

4. Emma Bolger as Ariel (In America, 2002)

Emma and her sister Sarah Bolger, gave a great performance. It was hard to choose which one are the best and of course I felt bad to choose one sister over the others. I am sure though that there are many out there who will favor Sarah. Just like Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine, Emma as Ariel, the younger sister, act just like a what a little girl should act. I like it because it’s so normal and natural. It felt like she’s probably just act like herself. It doesn’t mean that her role isn’t challenging at all. I saw many child actors at her age actually having troubles on act like naturally. Most of them seemed like memorizing a script, or acted under the direction. Emma makes us forget that she also has someone direct her as well. That’s what I call “REAL” talent.

3. Kirsten Dunst as Claudia (Interview with the Vampire, 1994)

Another proof that with a great script, Dunst can pull it off. Interview With the Vampire still one of the best vampire movie (although maybe now it’s tie with Let The Right One In, I am not sure yet). My favorite character there actually Claudia (hauntingly played by Kirsten Dunst, the second role from her that capture my mind). She played as the little girl who is forced not to grow up because her life ended when she became a vampire. Dunst manage to make her character so sad but at the same time disturbing. Simply, one of the best performance ever, by a young girl or by actresses in general.

2. Anna Chlumsky as Vada Sultenfuss (My Girl, 1991)

This is one of my favorite movie all the time. I watched it years ago and like it. Then I watched it again recently and STILL love it. It’s still has the same effects. It’s simple, easy to follow, different, smart, sad, funny and many other feelings (none are disappointment, though). Anna Chlumsky is the star of this movie. Not only because the story is about her, but she really shines in her movies. Seeing her makes you want to be a child again, want you to think like her, want to have dream like her and maybe act like her. Chlumsky just amazing in there, but the whole cast are. Every few months, I felt like I need to saw her again and usually I was amazed (again) by things she said and did. Really, she’s perfect as Vada Sultenfuss, and hopefully she can bring back more magic in the future.

1. Dakota Fanning as Lucy Diamond Dawson (I am Sam, 2001)

Photo : New Line Production

Never in my life that I am so impressed, I mean REALLY impressed with a child performance like I did with Dakota Fanning in I Am Sam. She’s so little and tiny, but when she speaks everyone hears, and everyone amazing. She has big eyes that also could tell a story when she isn’t speaking. I heard people said watching Dakota Fanning act is like watching the younger Meryl Streep. I absolutely agree. In this movie, Fanning overshadowed everyone, even caliber actor like Michelle Pfeiffer and Sean Pean. I am so shocked when I she didn’t get nominated for academy award. I think the academy makes mistake. Her performance here surely better than MANY more talented actors/actress. I was surprise that Abigail Breslin got nominated for Little Miss Sunshine (I think she deserves it), but to my opinion Dakota Fanning performance is one of the best, and as you can see tops this list. So, why she didn’t? Her recent movies maybe not interesting as the first one, but she still be able to show how talented she is.