Top 10 Child Actors Who Totally Outshined the Adults

#10: Roman Griffin Davis

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Roman Griffin Davis was only 11 when he landed the lead in Taika Waititis World War II satire Jojo Rabbit. Davis played Jojo Betzler, a young Nazi enthusiast whose worldview completely unravels after he discovers that his mother is secretly sheltering a Jewish girl. Although he was born into a family of filmmakers, this was Davis acting debut and he was surrounded by an army, no pun intended, of acclaimed talent. Not only was his mother played by Oscar-nominated actor Scarlett Johansson, he also appeared alongside Sam Rockwell, Stephen Merchant and Waititi himself. Yet, it was Davis who commanded everyones attention, delivering a performance so subtly powerful it made his experienced co-stars look like they were the ones just making their debut.

#9: Hailee Steinfeld

True Grit (2010)

The Coen Brothers True Grit follows 14-year-old Mattie Ross, a fiercely determined young girl who hires a gruff bounty hunter to avenge her fathers death. Then-newcomer Hailee Steinfeld played Mattie Ross, and for the better part of the film, she appears opposite Jeff Bridges, the veteran actor who was just coming off an Oscar win for 2009s Crazy Heart. Nevertheless, you just couldnt take your eyes off Steinfeld. The then 13-year-old actor brought such an unwavering intensity to the role that cut through the bravado of her co-stars with clarity and conviction. The rapid-fire dialogue rolled off her tongue and her deadpan humor felt completely natural, never forced. In a film brimming with grit, hers was undoubtedly the truest of all.

#8: Kirsten Dunst

Interview with the Vampire (1994)

Kirsten Dunst was the first actress producers considered for the role of Claudia in Interview with the Vampire. But even after auditioning thousands, they just kept coming back to her, and its easy to see why. At just 11, she had to portray a young girl turned into a vampire by Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. The pressure of acting opposite such big names would overwhelm most, but Dunst held her ground like a seasoned pro. In every scene, she navigates the confusion and torment of a child trapped in an immortal body with ease. Its a role you would think demands experience, but Dunsts portrayal proves that true talent isnt limited by age. Unsurprisingly, she was the only cast member nominated for a Golden Globe.

#7: Natalie Portman

Léon: The Professional (1994)

When an actor delivers a career-defining performance, its usually years into said career. However, Natalie Portman achieved this in her film debut. In Léon: The Professional, Portman plays a 12-year-old girl who forms an unlikely bond with a hitman while fleeing from a corrupt DEA agent. The adult actors in the film deliver wildly different performances: Jean Renos hitman is stoic and measured, while Gary Oldmans villain is a chaotic mess. Yet, neither could overshadow Portman, who portrayed Mathilda with a versatile range of emotions, all delivered with a natural ease. For any actor, this would be impressive, but for someone so young, it was extraordinary. And as we all know, it was just the beginning of the powerhouse career Portman has since built.

#6: Shirley Temple

Bright Eyes (1934)

While the other child actors on this list certainly delivered memorable performances, this was one of the few who single-handedly drew audiences to the box office. After breaking out at just three years old, Shirley Temple solidified herself as Hollywoods number-one box-office draw with her performance in 1934s Bright Eyes. As Shirley Blake, a spirited orphan who brings light and joy to everyone she meets, Temple effortlessly stole the spotlight. No matter how hard they tried, the more experienced adult actors like James Dunn and Lois Wilson were simply no match for Temples infectious charm and stage presence. It was that magnetic energy that connected with audiences and had them flocking to the theaters just to see her.

#5: Abigail Breslin

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

At the time of its release in 2006, the cast of Little Miss Sunshine werent exactly A-list actors. However, most of them had decades of acting experience with several Academy Award nominations to their names. Yet, the one person who completely stole the show was 10-year-old Abigail Breslin. Playing a quirky little girl with big dreams of winning a beauty pageant, Breslin brought a sweet, unfiltered honesty that became the films beating heart. Even her adult co-stars, Greg Kinnear and Alan Arkin, were floored by her drive and work ethic at such a tender age. Although the Oscar she was nominated for ultimately went to someone else, theres no doubt that Breslin lived up to the films title, by shining the brightest in every single scene.

#4: Macaulay Culkin

Home Alone (1990)

Granted, Macaulay Culkin wasnt a total rookie when he landed the role of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. But compared to his veteran co-stars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, who played burglars Harry and Marv, he was still the kid on set. And yet, for a film packed with such heavyhanded slapstick comedy, Culkin somehow avoids turning Kevin into a cartoon. He delivers his lines with a cool, almost suspiciously grown-up confidence, and has a comedic timing that is clearly beyond his years. Even when things veer into the absurd, Culkin remains grounded and never loses that wide-eyed charm. In doing so, he not only makes the audience root for him, but he makes it abundantly clear that this is his film and no one elses.

#3: Saoirse Ronan

Atonement (2007)

It certainly speaks volumes when a 12-year-old steps onto a set with the likes of James McAvoy, Keira Knightley and Vanessa Redgrave, and ends up being the only one nominated for an Oscar. But thats exactly what Saoirse Ronan pulled off. In Atonement, Ronan played 13-year-old Briony Tallis whose misguided take on a private moment between her sister and the housekeepers son sets off a chain of devastating consequences. Although it was one of her first ever roles, Ronan delivered a performance so chilling and precise, she practically hijacked the film from her adult co-stars. With just an icy stare, she said more than pages of dialogue ever could. Even after her character aged out and she was replaced, Ronans presence still haunted every frame.

#2: Haley Joel Osment

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Bruce Willis isnt exactly the kind of actor who fades into the background, especially in his heyday. But opposite Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense, he had no choice. Osment starred in the film as Cole Sear, a young boy cursed with the ability to see the dead. Every whispered line, wide-eyed stare and trembling pause was delivered with a complexity youd never expect from an 11-year-old. But Osment had it in abundance. In scene after scene, opposite actors with far more credits than he had years, Osment was magnetic, and he didnt have to do too much to pull viewers in. Somehow, this pint-sized actor managed to carry the weight of the film on his small shoulders and he made it look effortless.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Linda Blair, The Exorcist (1973)

A Chilling Performance That Blew Everyone Out of the Water

Mara Wilson, Matilda (1996)

Wilsons Quiet Charm Ends up Doing All the Talking

Jacob Tremblay, Room (2015)

Brie Larson Was Phenomenal but Wed Argue Tremblay Was the Scene-Stealer Here

Dafne Keen, Logan (2017)

Keens Seasoned Co-stars Were No Match for Her Feral Performance

#1: Anna Paquin

The Piano (1993)

Jane Campions The Piano tells the story of a nonverbal woman who communicates only through her young daughter. Considering the film featured heavyweights like Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel and Sam Neill, it would seem nearly impossible for a child actor with no prior experience to steal the show. But thats precisely what Anna Paquin did. Paquin was a constant presence in the film, delivering more lines than anyone else and sharing scenes with all those seasoned names. And every time, it felt like she was showing them how its done. Of course, the other actors were impressive, but Paquins unexpected powerhouse of a performance was simply impossible to look away from. Its no wonder she took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

What other scene-stealing child actors did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.