Abigail Breslin
She earned an Oscar nomination at just 10 years old for her unforgettable, scene-stealing turn as the pageant hopeful Olive Hoover.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American actress·Birthday: April 14·Millennials
Biography
Abigail Breslin didn't just enter Hollywood; she arrived, fully formed, with a naturalism that disarmed audiences. As a young child actor, she held her own in major films, but it was the indie darling 'Little Miss Sunshine' that changed everything. Her portrayal of Olive, a girl with big dreams and a bigger heart, was a masterclass in unaffected charm, landing her a Best Supporting Actress nomination and making her a household name. Rather than be typecast as the cute kid, Breslin navigated her teen years with a mix of mainstream fare and darker, more complex roles, like a young girl facing a zombie virus in 'Maggie'. She has steadily built an adult career defined by versatility, moving between horror, drama, and comedy, proving that her early success was no fluke but the mark of a genuine, enduring talent.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Abigail was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Abigail Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Abigail's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress at age 10 for her role in 'Little Miss Sunshine'.
- Starred as the lead in the horror film 'Maggie' alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, showcasing a dramatic shift in her roles.
- Played a recurring role as activist and heiress Gloria Baker in the television series 'Scream Queens'.
- Portrayed real-life kidnapping victim Amanda Knox in the television film 'Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy'.
Did You Know?
Her older brothers, Ryan and Spencer Breslin, are also actors.
She made her film debut in M. Night Shyamalan's 'Signs' at the age of five.
Breslin is also a singer and released the single 'You Suck' in 2020.
She was a contestant on the 32nd season of 'Dancing with the Stars'.
“I just wanted to be an actress, and I got to be an actress.”
