Child Actors Who Scored Oscar Nominations

Being nominated for an Academy Award is a huge achievement, and it’s especially rare for actors to receive one before they can even vote. A select few young performers have managed this, delivering compelling and fully realized characters while working within the industry’s rules for child actors. Many of these nominees set age records that remain unbroken and have influenced how the Academy judges performances by young actors.

This article highlights young actors – those under eighteen – who received Academy Award nominations. We’ll look at what they were nominated for, their age at the time, and the performances that earned them the recognition. We’ll also briefly discuss the significance of these nominations both for the Oscars and for the actors’ careers.

Justin Henry

Justin Henry received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role as Billy Kramer in ‘Kramer vs. Kramer,’ making him the youngest person ever nominated for an Academy Award at only eight years old. He starred alongside Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep in the film, which focused on a difficult divorce and custody battle, and critics especially praised his performance for its importance to the movie’s emotional impact.

His Academy Award nomination set a high standard for young performers, a record that still stands today. Henry continued acting in movies and TV shows, notably appearing in ‘Sixteen Candles,’ and he’s still often used as an example when people talk about how the Academy judges performances by child actors.

Jackie Cooper

At just nine years old, Jackie Cooper became the youngest person ever nominated for a Best Actor award for his role in ‘Skippy’. He starred as Skippy Skinner in the film, directed by Norman Taurog, and their collaboration quickly gained recognition within the film industry.

I was so amazed when Bradley Cooper got nominated at such a young age! It really set him apart as a kid actor the Academy rarely recognized like that. And it’s been incredible to watch him grow – seamlessly moving into leading adult roles and even becoming a director for TV. Seeing him now as Perry White in the ‘Superman’ movies just shows how far he’s come since that very first, special nomination. It’s a testament to a really long and varied career!

Tatum O’Neal

Tatum O’Neal made history when she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for ‘Paper Moon’ at just ten years old, making her the youngest person ever to win a competitive Oscar. In the film, directed by Peter Bogdanovich, she starred alongside Ryan O’Neal as Addie Loggins, a clever orphan who teams up with a con artist, forming the heart of the story.

Tatum O’Neal’s win was a record-breaking achievement for her age and highlighted how even a supporting role can gain recognition if a young actor is central to the story. She continued to star in popular films like ‘The Bad News Bears’ and worked consistently in both movies and TV, building a career based on that initial, successful performance.

Anna Paquin

As a film lover, I still remember being amazed by Anna Paquin in ‘The Piano.’ She was only eleven when she earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination – and *won*! Playing Flora McGrath, she brought so much to the role, communicating her character’s inner world not just through what she said, but through incredible subtlety and expression. The Academy clearly recognized that talent, and it was well-deserved.

Anna Paquin’s Oscar win made her one of the youngest people to ever receive the award in a competitive category. She went on to have a successful and diverse career, appearing in films like ‘Almost Famous’ and the ‘X-Men’ series, as well as winning an award for her role in the TV show ‘True Blood’. This continued success followed her early achievement of winning an Oscar as a child.

Quvenzhané Wallis

Quvenzhané Wallis made history when she was nominated for Best Actress at just nine years old for her role as Hushpuppy in ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild.’ She was the youngest person ever nominated in that category. Director Benh Zeitlin discovered her through an open casting call, and she became the heart of a film known for its realistic acting and poetic story.

The nomination was also historic, making Wallis the first person born in the 21st century to be nominated for an Academy Award. She continued to act in films like ‘Annie’, write books for children, and appear in other projects after receiving this significant honor.

Keisha Castle-Hughes

Keisha Castle-Hughes received a Best Actress nomination at just thirteen years old for her starring role as Pai in the film ‘Whale Rider’, directed by Niki Caro. The movie focuses on a young girl finding her place within her culture, and Academy voters praised Castle-Hughes’ performance as a newcomer in an independent film.

Keisha Castle-Hughes made history when she became the youngest actress ever nominated for a Best Actress award and the first from New Zealand to receive that recognition. She continued to build her career with roles in popular franchises and TV shows like ‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’ and ‘Game of Thrones’, becoming well-known beyond her initial film success.

Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment became the youngest-ever Best Supporting Actor nominee at age eleven for his role as Cole Sear in ‘The Sixth Sense’. The film, directed by M. Night Shyamalan and also starring Bruce Willis and Toni Collette, heavily relied on his performance to tell its story and deliver its emotional impact.

Being recognized in this way put Osment among a select few young actors praised for their work in modern plays. He then went on to star in well-known films like ‘A.I. Artificial Intelligence’ and has consistently worked in both on-screen and voice acting roles, demonstrating a successful career that began with an early award nomination.

Abigail Breslin

At just ten years old, Abigail Breslin received an Academy Award nomination for her role as Olive Hoover in the film ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. The movie follows Olive’s quirky family on a road trip, and Breslin’s performance was praised alongside those of her talented co-stars, including Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, and Alan Arkin.

Being nominated brought young actress Abigail Breslin into the spotlight among other rising stars in supporting roles. She continued to work steadily after this early recognition, appearing in films like ‘August: Osage County’ and on television shows such as ‘Scream Queens’.

Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at just thirteen years old for her role as Briony Tallis in Joe Wright’s film, ‘Atonement’. She skillfully portrayed the character throughout different time periods, and critics praised her performance for how crucial it was to the story.

Her initial Oscar nomination launched a career filled with accolades. Saoirse Ronan went on to receive Academy Award nominations for her leading performances in films like ‘Brooklyn’, ‘Lady Bird’, and ‘Little Women’. This established her as one of the most consistently recognized actresses of her generation, a recognition that began when she was just a teenager.

Mary Badham

At just ten years old, Mary Badham received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Scout Finch in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ Starring alongside Gregory Peck, she beautifully captured the novel’s childlike point of view, contributing to a film that was widely praised and nominated for many awards.

When she was nominated, she became one of the youngest actors ever recognized for a supporting role. Throughout her life, Badham continued to support reading and efforts to preserve the legacy of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ and she occasionally returned to acting, staying connected to the part that brought her Academy Award recognition.

Jodie Foster

At just fourteen years old, Jodie Foster was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress award for her performance as Iris in Martin Scorsese’s ‘Taxi Driver’. Because she was a minor, the filmmakers followed standard industry practice by implementing rules to protect her, such as using a stand-in for some scenes and providing on-set tutoring.

Foster first gained Academy recognition before winning Best Actress for ‘The Accused’ and ‘The Silence of the Lambs’. This early attention also highlights the Academy’s willingness to acknowledge powerful, difficult stories, even when portrayed by a young performer working under strict supervision.

Patty McCormack

At just eleven years old, Patty McCormack received a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance as Rhoda Penmark in the film ‘The Bad Seed’. She originally played the same role on stage, and her work in both versions helped bring the complex character to life on screen.

Being nominated for an award made her one of the first young actors to be recognized in a supporting role. McCormack continued to act in movies and TV shows for many years, even appearing in ‘Frost/Nixon’, proving she had a long and successful career after her early success.

Linda Blair

At just fifteen years old, Linda Blair received an Academy Award nomination for her role as Regan MacNeil in ‘The Exorcist’. While Mercedes McCambridge provided the voice of the demon, Blair’s powerful on-screen performance was central to the film’s story of possession.

Blair’s work helped create a highly acclaimed film that received numerous award nominations and wins for both its artistic and technical achievements. She also earned considerable praise herself that same season, including a prominent acting award, solidifying the industry’s positive reaction to her impressive performance.

Sal Mineo

At just seventeen years old, Sal Mineo received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as John “Plato” Crawford in ‘Rebel Without a Cause’. In the film, directed by Nicholas Ray and starring James Dean and Natalie Wood, Mineo played a central character who embodied the feelings of teenage isolation.

I was really impressed when Sal Mineo landed his second Oscar nomination for ‘Exodus’! It’s pretty rare for an actor to get two supporting nominations so early on. Those nominations really marked a great stretch in his career – he was consistently working in big studio films and still finding time for stage work, keeping him really visible and in demand.

Brandon deWilde

At just eleven years old, Brandon deWilde received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his work in ‘Shane’. His character, Joey Starrett, shared a meaningful connection with the main character, and his performance was highly praised as part of the film’s strong cast, directed by George Stevens.

Before being nominated for an award, deWilde gained recognition for his performance in the stage play ‘The Member of the Wedding,’ demonstrating his early roots in theater. He continued to act in movies and TV shows as he grew up, and his role in ‘Shane’ remains a highlight from his young career.

Let us know in the comments which performances by young Oscar nominees are your favorites, and suggest some roles you think deserve to be recognized on future lists!

2025-09-14 19:47