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Tag Archives: child stars
Child Actresses We’d Like To See Again
As the decades come and go, some actresses stand out as transcending time and place. These two girls—now women—have moved on from their incredibly small dabble in film, but they still retain a place in the hearts of Hollywood.
1. Hillary Wolf
Remember the 1992 film Big Girls Don’t Cry… They Get Even? Hillary Wolf played the protagonist Laura Chartoff in this comedy about a girl who runs away from her dysfunctional family. Wolf is also known for her role in Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), as sister to Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin). Though she was an excellent actor, Wolf went on to pursue her truer passion—that of professional judo. She began practicing the sport at age seven and went on to represent the U.S. team in the 1996 Olympics.
2. Cecilia Rivera
Aside from one appearance in the Spanish TV series El Comisario in 2008, Rivera’s only other role was as Florés de Aguirre in Aguirre: The Wrath of God (1972). Despite her short-lived acting career, and a role which gave her few speaking lines, Rivera’s performance in Aguirre is unforgettable, as is the movie itself. Aguirre is said to have influenced Frances Ford Coppola’s 1979 film Apocalypse Now, and both have earned a cult following. In Aguirre, Florés played the title character’s daughter, and worked under harsh conditions, in a rather dangerous area, alongside the lead, Klaus Kinski, who was known as a brilliant but volatile actor. Anyone who can hold her own against these odds deserves the highest praise.
Photo © xavier gallego morel – Fotolia.com
More Up-And-Coming Child Stars
While these young’uns are making a name for themselves on the TV screen and not on the big screen, their star performances are bound to land them a lead movie role before their careers are up.
1. Kerris Dorsey
Everyone watched Kerris Dorsey grow from childhood to young-adulthood on the TV show Brothers & Sisters, as Rachel Griffith’s daughter Paige Whedon. Right before landing this role Dorsey had minor roles as Kathy Cash in Walk the Line (2005) and as Zoe in Just Like Heaven (2005), both of which starred Reese Witherspoon. Now that Brothers & Sisters has ended, Dorsey has returned major movies, this time in Moneyball (2011) which recently opened in theaters and stars Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Robin Wright.
2. Kiernan Shipka
Kiernan Shipka describes herself as a fashionista and looks to Grace Kelly for inspiration. Admiring a star of the 50s makes sense for this young actress, who plays Don Draper’s daughter Sally in television’s mega-hit show, Mad Men. Shipka’s film credits are meager so far, but with two Young Artist Awards for Mad Men and one for Carriers (2010), Shipka is sure to continue to rise. This is especially true given the fact that her Mad Men character is becoming more central to the plotline, allowing Shipka to shine as a troubled preteen alongside Jon Hamm.
3. Jackson Brundage
This ten-year-old actor has been a regular on the WB series hit One Tree Hill since the tender age of seven. While he has only appeared in one movie so far (Lime Salted Love – 2006), this makes sense for such a young actor. On One Tree Hill, Brundage plays the intelligent, sensitive, and wise son Jamie Scott who entered the series halfway through its run. His character deals with an alcoholic, sports star father; a murderous ex-prisoner grandfather; and a mother who has a bout of serious depression after her own mother dies. Brundage truly is the connective glue that holds the second half of this series together. It’s hard to imagine that such effortless talent could come out of such a young boy.
Photo © Aleksandar Kosev – Fotolia.com
Tagged child stars, Jackson Brundage, Kerris Dorsey, Kiernan Shipka, TV, TV to film
Up-And-Coming Child Stars
Which fresh faces in Hollywood have the ability and drive to become career performers?
1. Dakota Fanning & Elle Fanning
These sisters’ roads to stardom include a list of interesting “younger version” roles. Dakota played the young Ally McBeal (Calista Flockhart), the young Ellen (Ellen Degeneres) on The Ellen Show, and the young Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama (2002). Dakota’s sister Elle’s first role was, coincidentally, playing the young Lucy (Dakota Fanning) in I Am Sam (2001) and later played Daisy, aged seven, (Cate Blanchett) in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008).
2. Abigail Breslin
Jodie Foster, who costarred with Abigail Breslin in Nim’s Island (2008), said that the young star reminded her of her childhood self—both in acting at a young age and being from the city. No doubt the two stars have more deeply rooted similarities, as Breslin acted beyond her years in Little Miss Sunshine (2006), as did Foster in Taxi Driver (1976). Both girls received Oscar nominations for their roles, and Breslin is believed to become as big and long-standing a star as the now two-time Oscar winning Foster.
3. Bailee Madison
Madison played Elle Fanning’s younger sister in Phoebe in Wonderland (2008) and the younger sister of lead character Jess (Josh Hutcherson) in Bridge to Terabithia (2007). While she performed well in each of these roles and received a Young Artist award for the latter, she first gained prominence and acclaim as daughter Isabelle Cahill in Brothers (2009), which starred Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Tobey Maguire. Madison not only held her own in this role but stood out alongside these A-list actors. Her newest role is as Jennifer Aniston’s daughter in Just Go With it (2011) which recently came out on DVD.
Photo © xavier gallego morel – Fotolia.com
Back-To-School Movies
Worried about entering a new school? These films might give you a tip or two.
1. Mean Girls (2004)
This now all-star cast has Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) entering a new school after she and her parents return from years spent inAfrica. Cady finds herself struggling to align her love of math with the unexpected magnetism of the popular clique “The Plastics.”
2. Never Been Kissed (1999)
Josie Geller (Drew Barrymore) goes undercover as a reporter, and in doing so, must face her fears and flashbacks to her own tortured high school past.
3. The Karate Kid (2010)
In this remake, Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) reluctantly moves toChinawith his mother and trains under to the tutelage of kung fu master Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) in order to avoid being tormented by a group of bullies.
4. Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)
Janey Glenn (Sarah Jessica Parker) finds her way through her new school thanks to the help of classmate Lynne Stone (Helen Hunt). The two set their sights on winning a competition to score a part on “Dance TV.”
5. Legally Blonde (2001)
When seemingly-ditsy Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) gets dumped by her boyfriend, she follows him toHarvardLawSchooland shocks everyone by enrolling herself and joining him.
6. Saved! (2004)
Mary (Jena Malone) enters her perfect senior year until she becomes pregnant by her boyfriend and must face judgment from her Christian school friends and acquaintances.
7. Thirteen (2003)
Louise Freeland (Evan Rachel Wood) longs to reinvent herself at school. She becomes involved in a downward spiral of sex and drugs, following the guidance of cool girl Evie Zamora (Nikki Reed).
8. Anne of Green Gables (1985)
Anne Shirley (Megan Follows) is new toPrince Edward Islandafter being adopted by an elderly brother and sister. She soars to the top of her class, but not without being called “carrots” and enduring the wrath of the jealous popular girl.
9. Save the Last Dance (2001)
When her mother dies on her way to her Julliard audition, Sara (Julia Stiles) moves to the south side ofChicagoto live with her father and attend a largely black, underprivileged school.
10. Footloose (1984)
Ren McCormack moves fromChicagoto a small Midwestern town with his mother. He’s considered a city boy outcast until he wins a tractor race and convinces the parents of the town to reinstate rock music and dancing.
Photo © Victor Soares – Fotolia.com
Tagged back to school, child stars, cult classics, school films