# Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film

The Young Artist Award for Best Performance by a Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film is one of the Young Artist Awards presented annually by the Young Artist Association to recognize a young actress under the age of 21, who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the film industry. In its early years, the award was also known as the Youth in Film Award for Best Young Actress Starring in a Motion Picture, as well as by numerous other variations to its title over the years, however, the spirit of the award has remained essentially the same since its inception. Winners are selected by secret ballot of the 125 members of the Young Artist Association as well as former Youth in Film Award/Young Artist Award winners.

## History

Throughout the past 34 years, accounting for ties, category splits, and repeat winners, the Young Artist Association has presented a total of 44 "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film" awards to 40 different actresses. Winners of the award receive the traditional Young Artist Award statuette; a gilded figure of a man displaying a star above its head, reminiscent of a miniature child-sized Oscar. The first recipient was Diane Lane, who was honored at the 1st Youth in Film Awards ceremony (1979) for her performance in A Little Romance. The most recent recipients are Kathryn Newton and Quvenzhané Wallis who tied at the 34th Young Artist Awards for their toles in Paranormal Activity 4 and Beasts of the Southern Wild respectively.
Throughout the history of the award, the "Best Young Actress in a Feature Film" category has been "split" several times. Until the 3rd Youth in Film Awards ceremony (1981), nominations for the "Best Young Actress in a Feature Film" award included all actresses, regardless of whether the performance could be perceived to be in either a leading or supporting role. At the 4th Youth in Film Awards ceremony (1982), however, the "Best Supporting Young Actress in a Feature Film" category (not listed on this page) was specifically introduced as a separate award.
In the late 1980s, the category was split for three ceremonies; the 9th Youth In Film Awards ceremony (1987), the 10th Youth in Film Awards ceremony (1988), and the 15th Youth in Film Awards ceremony (1993). During these three years, the Young Artist Association split the category into a total of four sub-categories; "Best Young Female Superstar in a Motion Picture", "Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture: Drama", "Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture: Comedy or Fantasy", and "Best Young Actress in a Motion Picture: Horror or Mystery" (all listed on this page). However, the association would once again "merge" these various sub-categories back together after the 15th Youth in Film Awards.
Beginning with the 14th Youth in Film Awards, the association once again split the category, this time creating a new category to recognize young film actresses age 10 and under in their own separate category. The "Best Young Actress Age 10 and Under in a Feature Film" category (not listed on this page) would become a permanent fixture of the Young Artist Awards and, as of 2012, is still awarded annually. Despite the creation of the "10 and Under" category, some "leading" young actresses under the age of 10 have continued to be nominated as "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film".

## Superlatives

Although today the Young Artist Association has strict age requirements regarding which nominees are eligible for a Young Artist Award nomination, the association did not originally have such specific age restrictions. Today, candidates eligible for a Young Artist Award nomination must be between the ages of 5 and 21 at the time of principal production of the project for which they are nominated. However, the eldest winner of the "Best Young Actress in a Feature Film" award is Lea Thompson, who was 26 years old the night she won for her performance in Some Kind of Wonderful at the 9th Youth in Film Awards ceremony (1987). The youngest winner of a "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film" award is Robin Weisman, who was 6 years old the night she won for her performance in Three Men and a Little Lady at the 12th Youth in Film Awards ceremony (1990).
The following list of superlatives is of winners/nominees in the "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film" category. Wins/nominations in other Young Artist Award feature film categories, such as "Best Supporting Young Actress in a Feature Film", "Best Young Actress Age 10 and Under in a Feature Film", and "Best Leading Young Actress in an International Feature Film", are not included.
Superlative winners/nominees are listed alphabetically.
| Superlative | Actress | Wins | Nominations |
| Actresses with most "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film" wins | Thora Birch | 2 wins | 4 nominations |
| Actresses with most "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film" wins | Anna Chlumsky | 2 wins | 2 nominations |
| Actresses with most "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film" wins | Dakota Fanning | 2 wins | 5 nominations |
| Actresses with most "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film" wins | Diane Lane | 2 wins | 3 nominations |
| Actress with most "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film" nominations | Dakota Fanning | 2 wins | 5 nominations |
| Actress with most "Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film" nominations (without winning) | Christina Ricci | 0 wins | 4 nominations |

## Winners and nominees

For the first twenty-three ceremonies, due to the numerous "Television" awards also presented by the Young Artist Association, the eligibility period spanned two calendar years to recognize the traditional television season. For example, the 1st Youth in Film Awards, presented in October 1979, recognized performers who appeared on television shows and in feature films that were released between September 1, 1978 and August 31, 1979. Starting with the 24th Young Artist Awards, presented in March 2003, the period of eligibility became the full previous calendar year, from January 1 to December 31, similar to the eligibility requirement used by the Academy Awards.
Following the Young Artist Association's practice, the films below are listed by year of their qualifying run, which is the year the film was released in the United States, and not by the date of the ceremony, which has traditionally taken place the following calendar year beginning with the 10th Youth in Film Awards ceremony which recognized performances during the 1987/1988 season and took place in 1989.

### 1970s

| Year | Actress | Film | Studio |
| 1978 / 1979 (1st) |
| 1978 / 1979 (1st) | Diane Lane | A Little Romance | Warner Bros. |
| 1978 / 1979 (1st) | Trini Alvarado | Rich Kids | United Artists |
| 1978 / 1979 (1st) | Mariel Hemingway | Manhattan | United Artists |
| 1978 / 1979 (1st) | Patsy Kensit | Hanover Street | Columbia Pictures |
| 1978 / 1979 (1st) | Brooke Shields | Just You and Me, Kid | Columbia Pictures |
| 1978 / 1979 (1st) | Cindy Smith | Benji's Very Own Christmas Story | Mulberry Square Productions |

### 1980s

| Year | Actress | Film | Studio |
| 1979 / 1980 (2nd) |
| 1979 / 1980 (2nd) | Diane Lane | Touched by Love | Sony Pictures |
| 1979 / 1980 (2nd) | Jodie Foster | Foxes | United Artists |
| 1979 / 1980 (2nd) | Kristy McNichol | Little Darlings | Paramount Pictures |
| 1979 / 1980 (2nd) | Brooke Shields | The Blue Lagoon | Columbia Pictures |
| 1980 / 1981 (3rd) |
| 1980 / 1981 (3rd) | Kristy McNichol | Only When I Laugh | Columbia Pictures |
| 1980 / 1981 (3rd) | Melissa Sue Anderson | Happy Birthday to Me | Columbia Pictures |
| 1980 / 1981 (3rd) | Shelby Balik | The Incredible Shrinking Woman | Universal Studios |
| 1980 / 1981 (3rd) | Mara Hobel | Mommie Dearest | Paramount Pictures |
| 1980 / 1981 (3rd) | Kyle Richards | The Watcher in the Woods | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 1980 / 1981 (3rd) | Brooke Shields | Endless Love | Columbia Pictures |
| 1981 / 1982 (4th) |
| 1981 / 1982 (4th) | Aileen Quinn | Annie | Columbia Pictures |
| 1981 / 1982 (4th) | Bridgette Andersen | Savannah Smiles | Embassy Pictures |
| 1981 / 1982 (4th) | Michelle Pfeiffer | Grease 2 | Paramount Pictures |
| 1982 / 1983 (5th) |
| 1982 / 1983 (5th) | Roxana Zal | Table for Five | Warner Bros. |
| 1982 / 1983 (5th) | Katherine Healy | Six Weeks | Universal Pictures |
| 1982 / 1983 (5th) | Diane Lane | Rumble Fish | Universal Pictures |
| 1982 / 1983 (5th) | Ally Sheedy | WarGames | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| 1983 / 1984 (6th) |
| 1983 / 1984 (6th) | Molly Ringwald | Sixteen Candles | Universal Pictures |
| 1983 / 1984 (6th) | Drew Barrymore | Irreconcilable Differences | Warner Bros. |
| 1983 / 1984 (6th) | Alison Eastwood | Tightrope | Warner Bros. |
| 1983 / 1984 (6th) | Christina Nigra | Cloak & Dagger | Universal Pictures |
| 1983 / 1984 (6th) | Roxana Zal | Testament | Paramount Pictures |
| 1984 / 1985 (7th) |
| 1984 / 1985 (7th) | Meredith Salenger | The Journey of Natty Gann | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 1984 / 1985 (7th) | Fairuza Balk | Return to Oz | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 1984 / 1985 (7th) | Drew Barrymore | Cat's Eye | MGM/UA |
| 1984 / 1985 (7th) | Joyce Hyser | Just One of the Guys | Columbia Pictures |
| 1984 / 1985 (7th) | Amanda Peterson | Explorers | Paramount Pictures |
| 1985 / 1986 (8th) |
| 1985 / 1986 (8th) | Laura Jacoby | Rad | TriStar Pictures |
| 1985 / 1986 (8th) | Lucy Deakins | The Boy Who Could Fly | 20th Century Fox |
| 1985 / 1986 (8th) | Kerri Green | Lucas | 20th Century Fox |
| 1985 / 1986 (8th) | Melora Hardin | Papa Was a Preacher | LaRose Productions |
| 1985 / 1986 (8th) | Elisabeth Harnois | One Magic Christmas | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 1985 / 1986 (8th) | Robyn Lively | Wildcats | Warner Bros. |
| 1985 / 1986 (8th) | Alyssa Milano | Commando | 20th Century Fox |
| 1985 / 1986 (8th) | Heather O'Rourke | Poltergeist II: The Other Side | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Superstar: Lisa Bonet | Angel Heart | TriStar Pictures |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Martha Plimpton | The Mosquito Coast | Warner Bros. |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Kristy Swanson | Deadly Friend | Warner Bros. |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Drama: Lea Thompson | Some Kind of Wonderful | Paramount Pictures |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | J. L. Reate | The Golden Child | Paramount Pictures |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Ione Skye | River's Edge | Hemdale/Island Pictures |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Comedy: Maia Brewton | Adventures in Babysitting | Buena Vista/Touchstone Pictures |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Tina Caspary | Can't Buy Me Love | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Margaret Langrick | Harry and the Hendersons | Universal Studios |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Amanda Peterson | Can't Buy Me Love | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Horror: Christa Denton | The Gate | Alliance Entertainment |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Carrie Lorraine | Dolls | Empire Pictures |
| 1986 / 1987 (9th) | Jill Schoelen | The Stepfather | New Century Vista Film Company |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Drama: Hayley Taylor-Block | Touch of a Stranger | Raven Star |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Annabeth Gish | Mystic Pizza | The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Laura Jane Goodwin | Crystalstone | Moviestore Entertainment |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Marcie Leeds | Beaches | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Mindy McEnnan | World Gone Wild | Apollo Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Martha Plimpton | Running on Empty | Warner Bros. |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Julia Roberts | Mystic Pizza | The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Meredith Salenger | A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon | 20th Century Fox |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Comedy/Fantasy: Mayim Bialik | Beaches | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Tina Caspary | Mac and Me | Orion Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Angela Goethals | Heartbreak Hotel | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Heather Graham | License to Drive | 20th Century Fox |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Alyson Hannigan | My Stepmother Is an Alien | Columbia Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Lauren Stanley | Mac and Me | Orion Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Horror/Mystery: Kristy Swanson | Flowers in the Attic | New World Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Jennifer Banko | Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood | Paramount Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Paula Irvine | Phantasm II | Universal Studios |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Marcie Leeds | Near Dark | Anchor Bay Entertainment |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Ebonie Smith | Lethal Weapon | Warner Bros. |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Shawnee Smith | The Blob | TriStar Pictures |
| 1987 / 1988 (10th) | Brooke Theiss | A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master | New Line Cinema |
| 1988 / 1989 (11th) |
| 1988 / 1989 (11th) | Winona Ryder | Great Balls of Fire! | Orion Pictures |
| 1988 / 1989 (11th) | Blaze Berdahl | Pet Sematary | Paramount Pictures |
| 1988 / 1989 (11th) | Rebecca Harrell | Prancer | Orion Pictures |
| 1988 / 1989 (11th) | Jenny Lewis | The Wizard | Universal Studios |
| 1988 / 1989 (11th) | Robyn Lively | Teen Witch | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| 1988 / 1989 (11th) | Sarah Polley | The Adventures of Baron Munchausen | Columbia Pictures |

### 1990s

| Year | Actress | Film | Studio |
| 1989 / 1990 (12th) |
| 1989 / 1990 (12th) | Robin Weisman | Three Men and a Little Lady | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1989 / 1990 (12th) | Kimberly Cullum | The Rapture | New Line Cinema |
| 1989 / 1990 (12th) | Brooke Fontaine | Ghost Dad | Universal Pictures |
| 1989 / 1990 (12th) | Staci Keanan | Lisa | United Artists |
| 1989 / 1990 (12th) | Lexi Faith Randall | The Long Walk Home | Miramax Films |
| 1990 / 1991 (13th) |
| 1990 / 1991 (13th) | Thora Birch | Paradise | Buena Vista Pictures |
| 1990 / 1991 (13th) | Mikki Allen | Regarding Henry | Paramount Pictures |
| 1990 / 1991 (13th) | Angela Goethals | V.I. Warshawki | Buena Vista Pictures |
| 1990 / 1991 (13th) | Heather Graham | Shout | Universal Studios |
| 1990 / 1991 (13th) | Milla Jovovich | Return to the Blue Lagoon | Columbia Pictures |
| 1990 / 1991 (13th) | Reese Witherspoon | Man in the Moon | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| 1991 / 1992 (14th) |
| 1991 / 1992 (14th) | Alisan Porter | Curly Sue | Warner Bros. |
| 1991 / 1992 (14th) | Thora Birch | All I Want for Christmas | Paramount Pictures |
| 1991 / 1992 (14th) | Samantha Mathis | This Is My Life | 20th Century Fox |
| 1991 / 1992 (14th) | Christina Ricci | The Addams Family | Paramount Pictures |
| 1991 / 1992 (14th) | Meadow Sisto | Captain Ron | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1991 / 1992 (14th) | Nicholle Tom | Beethoven | Universal Studios |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Drama: Ariana Richards | Jurassic Park | Universal Studios |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Clarissa Lassig | A Home of Our Own | Gramercy Pictures |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Kate Maberly | The Secret Garden | Warner Bros. |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Remy Ryan | RoboCop 3 | Orion Pictures |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Alicia Silverstone | The Crush | Warner Bros. |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Comedy: Thora Birch (tie) | Hocus Pocus | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Comedy: Christina Vidal (tie) | Life with Mikey | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Senta Moses | Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | 20th Century Fox |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Amy Sakasitz | Dennis the Menace | Warner Bros. |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Vinessa Shaw | Hocus Pocus | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 1992 / 1993 (15th) | Madeline Zima | Mr. Nanny | New Line Cinema |
| 1993 / 1994 (16th) |
| 1993 / 1994 (16th) | Anna Chlumsky | My Girl 2 | Columbia Pictures |
| 1993 / 1994 (16th) | Alana Austin | A Simple Twist of Fate | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1993 / 1994 (16th) | Zelda Harris | Crooklyn | Universal Studios |
| 1993 / 1994 (16th) | Katherine Heigl | My Father the Hero | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1994 / 1995 (17th) |
| 1994 / 1995 (17th) | Anna Chlumsky | Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain | Universal Studios |
| 1994 / 1995 (17th) | Vanessa Lee Chester | A Little Princess | Warner Bros. |
| 1994 / 1995 (17th) | Claire Danes | Home for the Holidays | Paramount Pictures |
| 1994 / 1995 (17th) | Kirsten Dunst | Jumanji | TriStar Pictures |
| 1994 / 1995 (17th) | Nicole Lund | Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain | Universal Studios |
| 1994 / 1995 (17th) | Liesel Matthews | A Little Princess | Warner Bros. |
| 1994 / 1995 (17th) | Christina Ricci | Casper | Universal Studios |
| 1994 / 1995 (17th) | Alicia Silverstone | Clueless | Paramount Pictures |
| 1995 / 1996 (18th) |
| 1995 / 1996 (18th) | Michelle Trachtenberg | Harriet the Spy | Paramount Pictures |
| 1995 / 1996 (18th) | Thora Birch | Alaska | Columbia Pictures |
| 1995 / 1996 (18th) | Heather Matarazzo | Welcome to the Dollhouse | Sony Pictures Classics |
| 1995 / 1996 (18th) | Anna Paquin | Fly Away Home | Columbia Pictures |
| 1995 / 1996 (18th) | Mara Wilson | Matilda | TriStar Pictures |
| 1996 / 1997 (19th) |
| 1996 / 1997 (19th) | Mara Wilson | A Simple Wish | Universal Pictures |
| 1996 / 1997 (19th) | Jennifer Love Hewitt | I Know What You Did Last Summer | Columbia Pictures |
| 1996 / 1997 (19th) | Florence Hoath | Fairy Tale: A True Story | Paramount Pictures |
| 1996 / 1997 (19th) | Christina Ricci | That Darn Cat | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 1996 / 1997 (19th) | Jurnee Smollett | Eve's Bayou | Trimark Pictures |
| 1997 / 1998 (20th) |
| 1997 / 1998 (20th) | Lindsay Lohan (tie) | The Parent Trap | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 1997 / 1998 (20th) | Jena Malone (tie) | Stepmom | Columbia Pictures |
| 1997 / 1998 (20th) | Kirsten Dunst | Small Soldiers | DreamWorks |
| 1997 / 1998 (20th) | Jennifer Love Hewitt | Can't Hardly Wait | Columbia Pictures |
| 1997 / 1998 (20th) | Scarlett Johansson | The Horse Whisperer | Touchstone Pictures |
| 1997 / 1998 (20th) | Emily Lipoma | Frog and Wombat | Pigtail Productions |
| 1997 / 1998 (20th) | Leelee Sobieski | A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries | October Films |
| 1997 / 1998 (20th) | Katie Stuart | Frog and Wombat | Pigtail Productions |
| 1998 / 1999 (21st) |
| 1998 / 1999 (21st) | Kimberly J. Brown | Tumbleweeds | Fine Line Features |
| 1998 / 1999 (21st) | Brittany Murphy | Girl, Interrupted | Columbia Pictures |
| 1998 / 1999 (21st) | Natalie Portman | Anywhere but Here | 20th Century Fox |
| 1998 / 1999 (21st) | Christina Ricci | Sleepy Hollow | Paramount Pictures |
| 1998 / 1999 (21st) | Michelle Williams | Dick | TriStar Pictures |

### 2000s

| Year | Actress | Film | Studio |
| 1999 / 2000 (22nd) |
| 1999 / 2000 (22nd) | Elizabeth Huett | Social Misfits | Our Way Productions |
| 1999 / 2000 (22nd) | Kirsten Dunst | Bring It On | Universal Studios |
| 1999 / 2000 (22nd) | Natalie Portman | Where the Heart Is | 20th Century Fox |
| 1999 / 2000 (22nd) | Jamie Renée Smith | MVP: Most Valuable Primate | Keystone Family Pictures |
| 1999 / 2000 (22nd) | Mara Wilson | Thomas and the Magic Railroad | Destination Films |
| 2000 / 2001 (23rd) |
| 2000 / 2001 (23rd) | Scarlett Johansson (tie) | An American Rhapsody | Paramount Classics |
| 2000 / 2001 (23rd) | Emma Watson (tie) | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | Warner Bros. |
| 2000 / 2001 (23rd) | Hayden Panettiere | Joe Somebody | 20th Century Fox |
| 2002 (24th) |
| 2002 (24th) | Alexa Vega | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | Buena Vista Pictures |
| 2002 (24th) | Amanda Bynes | Big Fat Liar | Universal Studios |
| 2002 (24th) | America Ferrera | Real Women Have Curves | Newmarket Films/HBO Films |
| 2002 (24th) | Kristen Stewart | Panic Room | Columbia Pictures |
| 2002 (24th) | Evan Rachel Wood | Little Secrets | Columbia TriStar/Samuel Goldwyn |
| 2003 (25th) |
| 2003 (25th) | Jenna Boyd | The Missing | Revolution Studios |
| 2003 (25th) | Dakota Fanning | The Cat in the Hat | Universal Studios |
| 2003 (25th) | Rachel Hurd-Wood | Peter Pan | Universal Studios |
| 2003 (25th) | Lindsay Lohan | Freaky Friday | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 2003 (25th) | Evan Rachel Wood | The Missing | Universal Pictures |
| 2004 (26th) |
| 2004 (26th) | Emmy Rossum | The Phantom of the Opera | Warner Bros. |
| 2004 (26th) | Emily Browning | Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events | Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks |
| 2004 (26th) | Dakota Fanning | Man on Fire | 20th Century Fox |
| 2004 (26th) | Carly Schroeder | Mean Creek | Paramount Classics |
| 2004 (26th) | Alexa Vega | Sleepover | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| 2005 (27th) |
| 2005 (27th) | Dakota Fanning | Dreamer | DreamWorks |
| 2005 (27th) | Taylor Dooley | The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D | Columbia Pictures |
| 2005 (27th) | Jordan-Claire Green | Come Away Home | Haven Films |
| 2005 (27th) | Q'orianka Kilcher | The New World | New Line Cinema |
| 2005 (27th) | AnnaSophia Robb | Because of Winn-Dixie | 20th Century Fox |
| 2006 (28th) |
| 2006 (28th) | Keke Palmer | Akeelah and the Bee | Lionsgate |
| 2006 (28th) | Keisha Castle-Hughes | The Nativity Story | New Line Cinema |
| 2006 (28th) | Dakota Fanning | Charlotte's Web | Paramount Pictures |
| 2006 (28th) | Brie Larson | Hoot | New Line Cinema |
| 2006 (28th) | Sara Paxton | Aquamarine | Fox 2000 Pictures |
| 2006 (28th) | Emily Rios | Quinceañera | Sony Pictures |
| 2007 (29th) |
| 2007 (29th) | AnnaSophia Robb | Bridge to Terabithia | Buena Vista Pictures |
| 2007 (29th) | Gracie Bednarczyk | Grace Is Gone | The Weinstein Company |
| 2007 (29th) | Abigail Breslin | No Reservations | Warner Bros. |
| 2007 (29th) | Isamar Gonzales | Chop Shop | Koch-Lorber Films |
| 2007 (29th) | Kay Panabaker | Moondance Alexander | 20th Century Fox |
| 2007 (29th) | Dakota Blue Richards | The Golden Compass | New Line Cinema |
| 2007 (29th) | Emma Roberts | Nancy Drew | Warner Bros. |
| 2007 (29th) | Saoirse Ronan | Atonement | Focus Features |
| 2008 (30th) |
| 2008 (30th) | Dakota Fanning | The Secret Life of Bees | Fox Searchlight |
| 2008 (30th) | Abigail Breslin | Kit Kittredge: An American Girl | New Line Cinema |
| 2008 (30th) | Madeline Carroll | Swing Vote | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 2008 (30th) | Georgie Henley | The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | Walt Disney Pictures |
| 2008 (30th) | Keke Palmer | The Longshots | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| 2009 (31st) |
| 2009 (31st) | Abigail Breslin | My Sister's Keeper | New Line Cinema |
| 2009 (31st) | Emma Roberts | Hotel for Dogs | DreamWorks/Paramount Pictures |
| 2009 (31st) | Saoirse Ronan | The Lovely Bones | DreamWorks |
| 2009 (31st) | Yara Shahidi | Imagine That | Paramount Pictures |
| 2009 (31st) | Jolie Vanier | Shorts | Warner Bros. |

### 2010s

| Year | Actress | Film | Studio |
| 2010 (32nd) |
| 2010 (32nd) | Hailee Steinfeld | True Grit | Paramount Pictures |
| 2010 (32nd) | Delanie Armstrong | Lavanderia] | Stauros Entertainment |
| 2010 (32nd) | Elle Fanning | The Nutcracker in 3D | Freestyle Releasing |
| 2010 (32nd) | Jennifer Lawrence | Winter's Bone | Roadside Attractions |
| 2010 (32nd) | Chloë Grace Moretz | Kick-Ass | Universal Pictures |
| 2011 (33rd) |
| 2011 (33rd) | Chloë Grace Moretz | Hugo | Paramount Pictures |
| 2011 (33rd) | Jordana Beatty | Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer | Relativity Media |
| 2011 (33rd) | Elle Fanning | Super 8 | Paramount Pictures |
| 2011 (33rd) | Saoirse Ronan | Hanna | Focus Features |
| 2011 (33rd) | Ariel Winter | The Chaperone | Samuel Goldwyn Films |
| 2012 (34th) |
| 2012 (34th) | Kathryn Newton (tie) | Paranormal Activity 4 | Paramount Pictures |
| 2012 (34th) | Quvenzhané Wallis (tie) | Beasts of the Southern Wild | Fox Searchlight Pictures |
| 2012 (34th) | Tara Lynne Barr | God Bless America | Magnolia Pictures |
| 2012 (34th) | Kara Hayward | Moonrise Kingdom | Focus Features |
| 2013 (35th) |
| 2013 (35th) | Sophie Nélisse (tie) | The Book Thief | 20th Century Fox |
| 2013 (35th) | Loreto Peralta (tie) | Instructions Not Included | Pantelion Films |
| 2013 (35th) | Annalise Basso | Standing Up | Aldamisa Entertainment |
| 2013 (35th) | Megan Charpentier | Mama | Universal Pictures |
| 2013 (35th) | Abigail Hargrove | World War Z | Paramount Pictures |