10 Best Child Performances in Hollywood: Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone to Owen Cooper in Adolescence
Check out the 10 best child performances of all time below!
Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Age During Filming: 11 years old
Role: Harry Potter
Director: Chris Columbus
Notable Awards/Nominations:
Nominated for Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor (2002)
Nominated for MTV Movie Awards for Breakthrough Male Performance (2002)
Nominated for Empire Awards for Best Child Performance (2002)
Daniel Radcliffe became a global star with his role in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The first film of the highly popular franchise shaped an entire generation's childhood. His performance left a lasting impact on younger audiences and secured him a permanent spot in pop culture. The world of wizards appealed to kids and teens, and the three young lead actors, portraying Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Wesley, connected with fans.
Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit
Age During Filming: 13 years old
Role: Mattie Ross
Director: Joel and Ethan Coen (Coen Brothers)
Notable Awards/Nominations:
Nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (2011)
Nominated for BAFTA Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (2011)
Nominated for Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Won Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer (2011)
Critics were all praise for Steinfeld's performance in True Grit, and many called her a "true gift" to Hollywood. At the young age of 13, the child actress perfectly portrayed a fierce, intelligent, and determined young girl seeking justice for her father's murder.
Quvenzhané Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild
Age During Filming: 6 years old
Role: Hushpuppy
Director: Benh Zeitlin
Notable Awards/Nominations:
Nominated for Academy Award for Best Actress (2013)
Won Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer (2013)
Won Black Reel Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance (2013)
Nominated for Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor (2013)
Wallis's performance in Beasts of the Southern Wild is seen as one of the most stunning debuts by a child star in Hollywood history. Her authenticity mesmerized audiences, and she left a lasting imprint on the industry. The way she performed in heartbreaking scenes left critics and viewers impressed.
Bella Ramsey in Game of Thrones
Age During Filming: 12 years old
Role: Lyanna Mormont
Directors: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Mark Mylod and Miguel Sapochnik
Notable Awards/Nominations: While Bella Ramsey did not receive major individual awards for Game of Thrones, her performance was highly appreciated by fans and critics
Bella Ramsey as Lyanna Mormont was one of the most loved characters in Game of Thrones. She left a lasting impact on the audience despite having brief appearances on the show. Ramsey made her debut in Season 6 and immediately stole the spotlight with her fierce demeanor and unapologetic presence.
Jaden Smith in The Karate Kid
Age During Filming: 11 years old
Role: Dre Parker
Director: Harald Zwart
Notable Awards/Nominations:
Nominated for Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor (2011)
Won Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film (2011)
Nominated for MTV Movie Award for Biggest Badass Star (2011)
Smith's heartfelt performance in the film impressed fans and critics alike. He perfectly portrayed a young boy facing culture shock and bullying. His chemistry with his co-star Jackie Chan was also highly praised by viewers. Many related to Smith's character, making him a highly respectable child star.
Shirley Temple in Curly Top
Age During Filming: 6 years old
Role: Elizabeth Blair
Director: Irving Cummings
Notable Awards/Nominations: While Shirley Temple did not receive major awards or nominations for Curly Top, her performances during the 1930s earned her immense popularity among audiences
Temple emerged as the quintessential child star with the release of Curly Top. She captivated audiences with her infectious energy, radiant smile, and remarkable talent. She played the role of Elizabeth, a playful orphan who brings joy to those around her. Her ability to express a wide range of emotions made her a Hollywood sweetheart.
Drew Barrymore in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Age During Filming: 7 years old
Role: Gertie Taylor
Director: Steven Spielberg
Notable Awards/Nominations:
Won Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (1982)
With her second movie, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Barrymore proved that she had a natural gift for acting, even as a kid. Her adorable representation of the little sister of Elliott (Henry Thomas) impressed fans. Her scenes with her alien pal were also the most loved in the film. Her innocence and sincerity made the film memorable.
Linda Blair in The Exorcist
Age During Filming: 13 years old
Role: Regan MacNeil
Director: William Friedkin
Notable Awards/Nominations:
Nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1974)
Won Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (1974)
Linda Blair scared generations of movie lovers by playing possessed youngster Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist. Her acting was so convincing that it gave goosebumps to the audience. In the scenes where she was possessed by an entity, Blair delivered remarkable performances with chilling expressions and body movements.
Owen Cooper in Adolescence
Age During Filming: 14 years old
Role: Jamie Miller
Director: Philip Barantini
Notable Awards/Nominations:
Nominated for Gotham TV Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Limited Series (2025)
Nominated for Astra Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie (2025)
Cooper delivered an intense performance in Adolescence as a 13-year-old school boy suspected of murdering his classmate. With every scene, he kept the audience hooked to the screen as the story unfolded. His role demanded emotional depth, and Cooper did an exceptional job of portraying the same. Critics applauded his performance and even compared it to the early work of Leonardo DiCaprio and Jodie Foster. Even though all episodes were shot in a single take, the child star proved that he is as good as any seasoned actor.
Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone
Age During Filming: 9 years old
Role: Kevin McCallister
Director: Chris Columbus
Notable Awards/Nominations:
Nominated for Golden Globe for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (1991)
Won American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (1991)
Won Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture (1991)
Home Alone is a cult classic, all thanks to Culkin. His portrayal of the charming and naughty young boy fighting home invaders garnered him a ton of praise and applause. His natural comedic timing and sweet expressions impressed viewers and made the film a global phenomenon for years to come.
These young actors demonstrated that they can compete with seasoned actors if given the right script. With their performances, they secured a place in our hearts and had their names etched in Hollywood history. Their ability to connect with audiences and make them laugh, cry, or sometimes scared, is applause-worthy. If you haven't seen any of these 10 films before, add them to your weekend binge-list and enjoy with a bag of popcorn.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
THIS Actor Lost Titanic To Leonardo DiCaprio, But Still Charmed Kate Winslet
The actor refused to take James Cameron's direction during the audition. Matthew McConaughey is said to have lost the role of Jack Dawson in Titanic after refusing to take direction during his audition with director James Cameron. The 55-year-old actor, known for his Texan drawl and easy charm, auditioned opposite Kate Winslet during early casting sessions for the 1997 blockbuster, and the claim he botched his try-out for the hit movie comes from producer Jon Landau's posthumous memoir, The Bigger Picture, which was excerpted in journalist Matthew Belloni's newsletter What I'm Hearing. Jon is said to have written: 'We brought (Matthew) in to do a scene with Kat (Winslet, for Titanic). You want to check for chemistry, not just how people look on film, but how they interact. Kate was taken with Matthew, his presence and charm. Matthew did the scene with the (Southern) drawl." According to Jon, after Matthew's initial reading, filmmaker James, now 70, asked him to perform the scene again without the Southern accent. The actor is said to have declined. 'That was pretty good. Thanks," Matthew apparently said, ending the audition without doing a second take. Jack Dawson, the character eventually portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, was written as a working-class orphan from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, travelling back to America aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. While Matthew was rejected for the role, Leonardo, now 50, also initially caused friction during the audition process. In a 2022 interview with GQ, James recalled asking Leonardo to read lines in a test shoot alongside Winslet. The actor reportedly told him: 'Oh, I don't read." James replied that if he didn't read, he wouldn't get the part. Leonardo then agreed and delivered a strong performance. 'Kate just lit up … dark clouds had opened up and a ray of sun came down and lit up Jack," James said – adding: 'I'm like, 'Alright, he's the guy.'" Titanic, released in December 1997, became one of the most commercially and critically successful films of all time. Directed by James and starring Leonardo and Kate, the film tells the story of the actors' characters Jack and Rose – two young lovers from different social backgrounds who meet aboard the doomed ship. The film had a production budget of around $200 million and earned more than $2.2 billion globally. It became the highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release, holding that title until James Cameron's Avatar overtook it in 2009. Titanic received 14 Academy Award nominations and won 11, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Song and Best Cinematography. It also catapulted both Leonardo and Kate – then aged 22 and 21 respectively – to international stardom. Despite narrowly missing the opportunity, Matthew went on to enjoy major success in Hollywood with roles in Dallas Buyers Club, Interstellar, and True Detective, earning an Academy Award in 2014. First Published: August 07, 2025, 13:37 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
The Walking Dead actress Kelley Mack passes away at the age of 33
Kelley Mack, an actress best known for her role on The Walking Dead, has passed away at the age of 33. According to her obituary, Mack died peacefully on August 2, surrounded by family, following a diagnosis of glioma of the central nervous system. Mack, born Kelley Klebenow in Cincinnati, Ohio, was remembered by loved ones through a post on her official Instagram account on Tuesday, August 5. The post featured a portrait of the actress alongside a message that read: 'It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley. Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go.' Mack gained recognition for portraying the character 'Addy' in Season 9 of The Walking Dead, the long-running AMC series that aired from 2010 to 2022. Over the course of her career, she accumulated 35 acting credits and five producing credits. In addition to her work in television, Mack appeared in commercials for brands such as Dr. Pepper, Ross, Dairy Queen, and Chick-fil-A. At the time of her passing, she was featured in a Rakuten commercial alongside her mother, Kristen. Mack also worked as a voice-over artist and notably served as a voice match for Hailee Steinfeld's character Gwen Stacy in the Academy Award-winning film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Mack graduated from Hinsdale Central High School in 2010 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in cinematography from Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University in 2014. Her interest in filmmaking and performance began in childhood after receiving a video camera as a birthday gift, leading to early roles in commercials. Her obituary described her as someone who 'cherished time with her family and friends, finding joy in collaboration and storytelling.' In her personal life, Mack enjoyed hiking, biking, playing piano, traveling, and pickleball. She is survived by her parents, Kristen and Lindsay Klebenow; her siblings, Kathryn and Parker (also an actor); her grandparents, Lois and Larry; and her partner, Logan. Mack will appear posthumously in an upcoming Universal Pictures film, portraying a character named Ricky.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Brad Pitt's mother Jane Pitt passes away at 84: Fans recall time she was rooting for son's reunion with ex-wife Jennifer Aniston
Hollywood star , is mourning the loss of his mother, Jane Etta Pitt, who passed away at the age of 84. Soon after news broke about Jane's sudden demise, tributes poured in from fans, celebrating her legacy as a devoted mother, grandmother, and retired school counsellor. One resurfaced detail that struck an emotional chord with fans, was her deep hope that her son would one day reunite with his ex-wife, . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Jane, was known for her fondness for Jennifer, even years after her son parted ways with the actress in 2005. According to multiple reports, Jane had always maintained a warm relationship with Aniston, who reportedly kept in touch with her on birthdays and other special occasions. Reports doing the rounds quoted family sources saying that Jane was 'rooting' for the couple to find their way back to each other. After Brand and Jennifer's epic reunion at the SAG awards, family insider revealed to Star magazine that Jane 'always had a special place in her heart for Jen.' The source added, 'Even after the divorce, they remained close. She never liked the way things ended between them and was thrilled when Brad and Jen reconnected.' The buzz around a potential reunion reached an all-time high after the former golden couple's affectionate exchange backstage that fans and mommy Pitt also adored. 'She was rooting for them to get married again,' said a family source quoted by National Enquirer. 'She loved Jen and hated Angie ( ).' Brad's niece, Sydney Pitt, paid a touching tribute to Jane on social media, calling her 'the heart of the family' and remembering her for her immense love and grace. 'She could keep up with all 14 of us grandkids without missing a beat,' Sydney wrote. 'Everyone who met her felt her love.' The cause of her death has not been disclosed.
