Amazing Child Actor Performances of the Past 100 Years

Nine-year-old Jonathan Chang appeared in “Yi Yi: A One and a Two…” The film is about Taiwanese family members seeking reconciliation in their relationships. The motion picture won a Best Director award for Edward Yang at the Cannes Film Festival. Chang also has appeared in “Da-Yu: The Touch of Fate” and “God Man Dog.”

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” was not Daniel Radcliffe’s first big-screen appearance. That was in “The Tailor of Panama,” in which he portrayed the son of parents played by Geoffrey Rush and Jamie Lee Curtis. Once the Harry Potter series premiered, Radcliffe became one of the most famous people in the world. He’s experienced success in the theater as well. Radcliffe appeared in the Broadway revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” and was well-received by critics.

Seven-year-old Dakota Fanning’s movie debut was in “Tomcats” in 2001. Later that year, she appeared as the daughter of a mentally challenged man played by Sean Penn in “I Am Sam,” which was a breakthrough performance. Fanning has never looked back. She’s appeared in hits such as “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Man on Fire,” and the remake of the “War of the Worlds.”

Keisha Castle-Hughes made her film debut at 12 years old in “Whale Rider,” about a young Maori girl fighting to claim her destiny as a leader. Her performance earned critical acclaim and a Best Actress Academy Award nomination, making her the second-youngest actress ever nominated. Castle-Hughes appeared in “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” and has been in the television series “Game of Thrones” and “FBI: Most Wanted.”

Freddie Highmore’s breakout role was in “Finding Neverland” as a boy in the family that inspired Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie. Highmore also starred as the homicidal maniac Norman Bates in the TV thriller series “Bates Motel” and has played an autistic surgeon in the series “The Good Doctor.”