10 Film Performances By Kids That Didn't Actually Suck

4. Kirsten Dunst - Interview With The Vampire

Interview-with-the-Vampire-Claudia-vampires-32262576-500-282 Age is one of the hardest things to pull off convincingly, which is why actors are frequently cast as younger rather than older. They can remember being a certain age and access that frame of reference to inform their performance. A younger actor, on the other hand, hasn't experienced that part of their lives yet, and will most likely have a harder time in the role. So when you ask a 12-year-old actress to play a vampire who's been around for a century...well, that's not something just anyone can do. Kirsten Dunst knocks it out of the park in Interview with the Vampire. She perfectly portrays an adult woman in the body of a child, and her chemistry with co-stars Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise would put to shame actresses three times her age. You can see her playing a woman who is both frustrated by the fact that she can't age yet still uses an appearance of wide-eyed innocence to her advantage, and it's honestly some of the best work Dunst has ever done.
Contributor
Contributor

Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.