Abigail Breslin

Abigail Breslin snatched the child actress crown right off Dakota Fanning’s swelled head.  An Oscar nomination for ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ put her on the map, and her incarnation as the most popular (and expensive) doll of the minute cemented her place as top tot.

The precocious little dear was born on April 14, 1996 in New York City, the daughter of computer progmmer dad Michael and multi-tasking stage mom Kim, who manages the career of both Abigal and older brother Spencer.  The two played siblings in the Kate Hudson comedy 'Raising Helen' in 2004.

Abigail first emerged onto the screen in M. Night Shyamalan's 'Signs,' alongside Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix.  Television appearances followed, in addition to a minor role in the Anne Hathaway vehicle 'Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.'

Breslin became a household name in 2006’s sleepr smash 'Little Miss Sunshine.’ Breslin donned a fat suit and a penchant for pageantry for the award-winning indie comedy, which co-stars Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano, and Greg Kinnear. Her natural gifts -- plus a somewhat inappropriate Rick James dance -- earned her a SAG nomination and made her the fourth youngest ever nominee for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.  Co-star Alan Arkin said out of backhanded concern that he hoped she wouldn’t win, claiming Breslin "needs to have a childhood."

Arkin’s wish came only halfway true.  Breslin lost to ‘Dreamgirls’ Jennifer Hudson.  She has since, however, continued working nonstop in projects like ‘Kit Kittredge:  An American Girl,’ ‘Nim’s Island’ with Jodie Foster, ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ with Cameron Diaz and Alec Baldwin, and even a turn on the hit series ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ with Katherine Heigl and Patrick Dempsey.