Certain roles require levels of maturity and understanding that are difficult to reach, so when a young child is able to deliver a performance that is moving and honest, viewers sit up and take notice. There are plenty of extremely talented child actors, some who have led huge franchises, blockbusters of their own, or successful TV shows, putting the adults to shame with their talent. Going toe to toe with their older co-stars, and sometimes even outshining them, many young stars demonstrate how much better they can be than actors with decades of experience.

From Shirley Temple to Macaulay Culkin, child stars have shown that they can be professional as well as widely successful. With many award nominations, and even a few Oscar winners, age does not necessarily correlate to talent. Some roles were made for these kids, allowing them to show audiences just what they were capable of. Whether or not their careers continued into their adulthood, viewers will always be able to revisit those powerful performances that proved talent beyond years.

10

Henry Thomas As Elliott

In E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

This beloved Steven Spielberg tearjerker is a family classic that can bring generations together as they witness one of the most beautiful intergalactic friendships in cinema. On one hand, there is a traveler from out of space who desperately tries to get back home, and on the other, there is a shy and lonely boy who finds it hard to express himself. Considering how he opens up to and bonds with an animatronic puppet, it speaks to how brilliant Henry Thomas’s performance was.

He is the heart of the film, bringing raw emotion and a wide-eyed innocence that the viewers can identify with. It was through his eyes that they could befriend E.T. themselves, and it was Thomas who served as a guide to this extra-terrestrial world. The young actor went on this emotional bike ride in the sky with a natural ease that proves years of experience are no match to the childlike wonder that comes with meeting their otherwordly best friend. The scene where they have to part ways is still as gut-wrenching as ever.

9

Dakota Fanning As Pita Ramos

In Man On Fire (2004)

One of the most prolific child actors of her generation, Dakota Fanning starred in many films and TV shows in the early 2000s, perfecting her craft and delivering performances that many grown-ups would be envious of. In Man on Fire, the then-nine-year-old appears alongside one of the most respected actors in Hollywood and manages to build a bond with him and generate a chemistry that grips viewers throughout. Denzel Washington’s Creasy becomes a much more caring version of himself, as Pita melts his icy heart.

Man on Fire is packed with violence and terrifying situations, and Fanning navigates them with emotion and maturity, without ever overacting or missing a beat. She was able to express fear with just a tremble, communicate with Washington with just a look, and deliver dialogue that might stump anyone decades older. As the heart of this high-paced action film, she more than held her own next to the double Oscar winner, and brought out the best in him as well.

8

Jacob Tremblay As Jack

In Room (2015)

The subject matter of Room is far darker than any nine-year-old should ever have to deal with. Jacob Tremblay plays a captive boy who has never seen the world beyond the room he grew up in. His scenes with Brie Larsen range from beautiful depictions of a mother-son relationship to a harrowing escape plan, and also trying to deal with unthinkable trauma. His initial lack of awareness is one of the more gentle aspects of his performance, but as soon as he begins to realize the reality of his situation, his walls come down.

He is a brilliant scene partner to Larsen, who won an Academy Award for her own performance. Without the vulnerability that he elicited, she may not have been able to reach the depths that she did. Tremblay was able to mix a semblance of innocence with a type of sweetness that can only come from the perspective of a child.

7

Abigail Breslin As Olive

In Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Full of charm, warmth, and an impressive confidence that only a precocious child can possess, Olive Hoover’s mission in Little Miss Sunshine is to compete in a beauty pageant. With the help of her dysfunctional yet loving family, she travels across America to make the dream come true. While she is a quirky and eccentric child, Abigail Breslin manages to imbue her with real and relatable characteristics which go to show her as the sweet kid that she is.

Her interactions with various members of her family are the moments that melt audiences’ hearts the most, as she’s able to break through the walls they built up with her unwavering kindness. Her scenes with Alan Arkin are hilarious, and the way they bounce off each other certainly helped him secure that Oscar. The gentle way Breslin comforts Paul Dano’s grieving character is a masterclass in earnest encouragement, without being overly saccharine. Her performance as Olive earned her a very well-deserved Academy Award nomination.

6

Natalie Portman As Mathilda

In Leon: The Professional (1994)

At just 12 years old, Natalie Portman delivered one of the most impressive performances of her long and illustrious career. In her breakout role, she mixes vulnerability with anger and strength, as she develops a bond with a recluse hitman who is very much set in his ways. Her character goes through a lot of harrowing experiences as she witnesses a violent crime and is taken under the protection of a professional ᴀssᴀssin, Leon, who very reluctantly agrees to help her exact revenge.

The two make one of the most memorable on-screen duos, as they both learn from each other and learn to care for one another. He is the paternal figure she never really had, and she unlocks a kindness in him that had been dormant for a long time. To be able to tell this story, Portman had to produce a mature performance that held up against Jean Reno and Gary Oldman. Suffice it to say, she was able to do that, unleashing her unmistakable talent on the world.

5

Tatum O’Neal As Addie Loggins

In Paper Moon (1973)

Tatum O’Neal remains the youngest Academy Award winner of all time, at the age of 10. Her role as a witty and street-smart Addie doesn’t lean as much into the vulnerability and innocence that many child characters display but rather focuses on her toughness and cunning. Paper Moon is a caper movie with a heart, and pairs the young star with her real-life father, Ryan O’Neal, which allowed her to feel comfortable enough to deliver such an impressive debut performance.

There is a lot of playful banter as well as genuine tension between the two, as they con their way through various businesses with some hilarious results. But beyond the comedic sᴀss and outward strength, lies a lonely young girl looking for a connection. She has plenty of bravado, but there is a part of her that longs to have stability and a family. O’Neal’s clever and considered portrayal guaranteed her place as one of the most memorable child performers in cinema history.

4

Saoirse Ronan As Briony Tallis

In Atonement (2007)

As one of the busiest and critically acclaimed actors of the last few decades, Saoirse Ronan has brought to life many intriguing characters and beautiful stories. Many viewers have grown up with her and the films she’s been making since she was just a child. As the 13-year-old version of Briony, her role in Atonement is not a sympathetic one, but it is incredibly important. In fact, she causes a ripple effect that destroys lives and effectively ends a budding love story between Cecilia and Robbie.

In a series of misunderstandings, a very misinformed Briony makes a terrible mistake, and Ronan’s performance throughout the sequence of scenes is exceptional. She dealt with Ian McEwan’s story with great care, ensuring audiences found themselves directing their anger and frustration at her. But, that was very much the point, and her diligent performance earned her the first of her four Academy Award nominations.

3

Quvenzhané Wallis As Hushpuppy

In Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012)

It’s rather remarkable to imagine that Quvenzhané Wallis was only six years old when she filmed Beasts of the Southern Wild. She is the youngest person ever to have been nominated for the Best Actress Oscar, and she absolutely deserved it for this magical performance. The film blends hardship with fantasy elements, all woven together poetically. The viewers are shown her world through her curious and resilient eyes, and Wallis is the most charming guide one could hope for.

In scenes with the adults, she keeps up every step of the way; with her peers, she’s a natural leader; and when she’s alone it’s impossible to look away. The sheer workload and emotional intensity that was required from this very young person is extremely impressive, and there are countless older, more experienced actors who have not been able to do the same. Her screen presence is electric and engaging and should serve as an example, not only to future generations but to previous ones as well.

2

Haley Joel Osment As Cole Sear

In The Sixth Sense (1999)

The talented young actor of The Sixth Sense already had an impressive appearance in another staple of the 1990s, Forrest Gump, and even shared scenes with Tom Hanks. In this supernatural thriller, his co-stars are Bruce Willis and Toni Colette, and he shines with both of them. He tries to hide his fear and act as normally as possible around his mother, while simultaneously building the courage to open up to his therapist about what’s plaguing him.

Even though the film has many frightening moments, and Haley Joel Osment’s acting is spine-tingling, there is so much more to his performance. He goes from a fragile and terrified young boy to someone who tries to bring peace and comfort to others. Throughout his entire journey, viewers are invested and feel the urge to keep him safe at all costs. And, that is all thanks to Osment. He received an Oscar nomination for his efforts, and for context, Willis did not. It also remains one of the most memorable, and most quoted, child performances.

1

Anna Paquin As Flora McGrath

In The Piano (1993)

The second-youngest Academy Award winner, Anna Paquin delivered a multi-layered performance that stole most of the scenes featuring her in The Piano. While fellow Oscar winner Holly Hunter’s role relies on non-verbal communication, Paquin, in turn, is her mouthpiece in many situations. She also had to develop a shorthand with her on-screen mother that translated well off the screen too. But, what’s special about her portrayal is that she was able to be both mature and childlike at the same time.

Flora’s life isn’t easy, but she still enjoys being loud and dancing while her mother plays the piano. On the other hand, she also has feelings of jealousy, fear, and vindictiveness, which lead her to do some dangerous things. Paquin manages to deliver lines at record speed while maintaining an accent that’s not her own and drawing everyone in with her facial expressions. Her presence is crucial to the story, and it is clear that she was entrusted with such an important role because of her expert ability to handle its importance.