Abigail Breslin

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1 Mar 2024

Abigail Breslin

Abigail Breslin, born on April 14, 1996, is an American actress who gained widespread recognition for her role in the comedy-drama film "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006). At the age of 10, she earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the movie. Following this breakthrough, Breslin established herself as a prominent figure in Hollywood with a series of diverse roles.

She continued her success with roles in various films, including "No Reservations" (2007), "Nim's Island" (2008), "Definitely, Maybe" (2008), "My Sister's Keeper" (2009), "Zombieland" (2009), "Rango" (2011), "The Call" (2013), "August: Osage County" (2013), "Maggie" (2015), "Freak Show" (2017), "Zombieland: Double Tap" (2019), and "Stillwater" (2021).
In addition to her film career, Breslin ventured into television, notably starring in the horror-comedy series "Scream Queens" on Fox between 2015 and 2016. This marked her first regular role in a television series and showcased her versatility as an actress across different mediums.

Abigail Breslin was born in New York City to Kim (née Walsh) and Michael Breslin. Her mother worked as a talent manager, while her father was a telecommunications expert, computer programmer, and consultant. She has two older brothers, Ryan Breslin (born in 1985) and Spencer Breslin (born in 1992), both of whom are actors. The Breslin family shared a close bond and was raised in New York.
Breslin's father had Jewish heritage, and she was named after Abigail Adams, the first Second Lady and second First Lady of the United States.

Abigail Breslin's acting career began at the tender age of three when she appeared in a Toys "R" Us commercial. Her first major acting role came in the film Signs (2002), directed by M. Night Shyamalan, where she portrayed Bo Hess, the daughter of the main character, Graham Hess, played by Mel Gibson. Signs received mostly positive reviews and was a commercial success, grossing $408 million worldwide. Breslin's performance in the film was particularly praised by critics, with David Ansen of Newsweek highlighting her and co-star Rory Culkin's "terrifically natural, nuanced performances."

In 2004, she appeared alongside her brother Spencer in Raising Helen, playing siblings in the film. However, Raising Helen did not perform well at the box office.
Breslin also had a small role in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Additionally, she starred in the independent film Keane, portraying the character Kira Bedik, a young girl who reminds the mentally disturbed protagonist William Keane, played by Damian Lewis, of his missing daughter. While Keane had a limited theatrical release and modest box office success, Breslin's performance received acclaim from critics. Meghan Keane of The New York Sun praised her portrayal as "charmingly fragile" and noted that her scenes with Damian Lewis brought "captivating humanity" to the film.

Abigail Breslin's breakthrough role came in the 2006 comedy-drama Little Miss Sunshine, where she portrayed Olive Hoover, a young beauty pageant contestant, in a dysfunctional family on a road trip. Despite being only six years old when cast, Breslin's performance garnered widespread acclaim. The film was both a critical and commercial success, grossing $100 million worldwide. Breslin received nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her one of the youngest actresses ever nominated in that category. Additionally, she co-presented at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007.

In October 2007, Breslin made her stage debut in the play Right You Are (If You Think You Are) in New York City, alongside a stellar ensemble cast. That same year, she was ranked No. 8 in Forbes magazine's list of "Young Hollywood's Top-Earning Stars."
Following her success in Little Miss Sunshine, Breslin continued to excel in both film and television. She appeared in several films, including No Reservations (2007), Definitely, Maybe (2007), Nim's Island (2008), and Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008), receiving praise for her performances.

In 2009, Breslin starred in the emotional drama My Sister's Keeper as Anna Fitzgerald, a young girl conceived to be a donor for her sister suffering from leukemia. She also appeared in the horror comedy Zombieland, further showcasing her versatility as an actress. Both films were well-received by critics and audiences alike, solidifying Breslin's reputation as a talented and versatile young actress in Hollywood.

In February 2010, Abigail Breslin made her Broadway debut portraying Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker" at the Circle in the Square Theatre. Although her performance was praised by critics, ticket sales for the play were disappointing, and it closed in April 2010. Despite criticism from advocacy groups for not casting a deaf or blind actor in the role, lead producer David Richenthal defended the decision, stating the need for a well-known actress to sell tickets.

Following her Broadway debut, Breslin continued to expand her acting repertoire. In 2011, she voiced Priscilla, a cactus mouse, in the animated film "Rango" and appeared in the romantic comedy "New Year's Eve." In 2013, she starred in the thriller "The Call," receiving mixed reviews for her performance. She also appeared in "Haunter," playing the role of Lisa, a ghost.
Breslin's film credits also include the adaptation of Orson Scott Card's novel "Ender's Game" and "August: Osage County," alongside Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep. In 2014, she appeared in the crime drama "Perfect Sisters." Additionally, she starred in Fox's horror-comedy series "Scream Queens," which aired from 2015 to 2016.
In 2019, Breslin reprised her role as Little Rock in the horror comedy sequel film "Zombieland: Double Tap," continuing to showcase her versatility and talent as an actress.