Earning an Oscar at the tender age of 11 in your first film role would be considered peaking too soon by some, but Anna Paquin has gained success throughout her impressive career so far – from child actor to blockbuster star, indie darling to TV series frontrunner.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary release of The Piano, in cinemas for one night only on June 15 and also starring Holly Hunter, Sam Neill and Harvey Keitel, we take a look at Anna Paquin’s greatest performances to date.
The Piano (1993)
In her first film role, Anna Paquin steals every scene as precocious child Flora McGrath in Jane Campion’s masterpiece The Piano. Playing the daughter of a mute woman (Holly Hunter) sold into marriage, Flora translates her mother’s thoughts as they navigate a cruel family life in a remote country. The role earned Anna Paquin an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 11, making her the second youngest person to earn the accolade.
Fly Away Home (1996)
When 13-year-old Amy Alden (Anna Paquin) finds a nest of abandoned goose eggs, she sneaks them into her father’s barn to incubate and hatch. After her father (Jeff Daniels) agrees to help raise them, a local game warden tells them that the birds have imprinted on Amy, believing that she is their mother, and tells them that domestic birds need their wings clipping rendering them flightless. Amy finds this cruel and together with her father, they form a plan to teach the geese to fly and migrate south for the winter. Anna Paquin and Jeff Daniels spectacular dynamic captured the hearts of cinemagoers and the film remains a family favourite to this day.
X-Men (2000)
Playing a teen who discovers the extent of her developing mutant powers when she accidentally puts her boyfriend into a coma, Anna Paquin launched the X-Men franchise alongside Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and both became household names. As the pair find themselves introduced to Charles Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) School For Mutants, they also become embroiled in a plot to induce further mutations in world leaders and join forces in an attempt to stop it.
True Blood (2008)
After starring in a blockbuster superhero trilogy, Anna Paquin played the lead role in an incredibly successful TV series. As Sookie Stackhouse, a perky waitress who falls in love with a vampire, the character explored themes of discrimination, segregation, violence against minorities, drug addiction and faith. True Blood won an Emmy for Outstanding Casting For A Drama and Anna Paquin was recognised with a Best Actress Satellite Award.
Margaret (2011)
Despite a star-studded cast, including Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, Jean Reno, Allison Janney and Matthew Broderick, Anna Paquin held her own in a taught drama from filmmaker Kenneth Lonergan. Telling the story of a teenager who, after being indirectly involved in a fatal accident, seeks to get justice for the family of the victim whilst also navigating a tumultuous family and social life. In the film, Anna Paquin shows incredible emotional range and her performance earned her many accolades, including Best Actress awards from both the London and Chicago Critics Circle.
THE PIANO RETURNS TO CINEMAS FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY ON JUNE 15TH
ALSO AVAILABLE ON DVD, BLU-RAY AND DIGITAL DOWNLOAD JULY 16TH
