Best Young Actor or Actress of the Year

Awarded to the best young performer in an eligible film from the award year. Although we were initially flexible on age parameters, this award’s definition is now strictly limited it to performers who were under 18 at the time of their scenes in the movie were filmed (even if they were older when the film was released). After this award was introduced in 2002, it went dormant for a decade before being revived for the 2012 awards. After that, it was split into separate Young Actress and Young Actor awards.

Best Young Actor or Actress in a 2002 Film

Winner

  • Kieran Culkin – Igby Goes Down (2002)
  • Gael García Bernal – Y Tu Mama También (2002)
  • Elijah Wood – The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

Additional Nominees

  • Nicholas Hoult – About a Boy (2002)
  • Jena Malone – The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)
  • Jack Rovello – The Hours (2002)
  • Aaron Stanford – Tadpole (2002)

Best Young Actor or Actress in a 2012 Film

Winner

  • Quvenzhané Wallis – Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

Additional Nominees

  • Max Charles – The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
  • Pierce Gagnon – Looper (2012)
  • Daniel Huttlestone – Les Miserables (2012)
  • Gulliver McGrath – Lincoln (2012)
  • Amandla Stenberg – The Hunger Games (2012)

Related Awards

  • Best Young Actress of the Year
  • Best Young Actor of the Year