Paquin 'old' for moppet Oscar gold
That honor in a main category still belongs to Tatum O'Neal, who copped the best supporting actress statuette in 1974 for "Paper Moon" at age 10.
Paquin, however, made "The Piano" when she was a mere 9 years old. For the record, O'Neal was nine as well when she sashayed through "Paper Moon."
Still younger was Shirley Temple, who won a special Oscar in 1934 at age 6.
While only a few child thesps have earned an Oscar, a playpen full of them have been nominated.
Jackie Cooper came first, nominated in Oscar's infancy in the 1930/31 awards. He was 8 and earned a best actor nod in "Skippy," but lost out to his considerable senior, the 53-year-old Lionel Barrymore in "A Free Soul."
More recently, Justin Henry picked up a best supporting actor nomination at age 8 for "Kramer vs. Kramer" in 1980. He, too, bowed to an elder, the 79 -year-old Melvyn Douglas, who won for "Being There."
Jodie Foster was honored with a nomination for her child prostitute in "Taxi Driver" at age 14 in 1977, but she succumbed to 60-year-old Beatrice Straight in "Network."
