Anna Paquin: Reinventing Herself

In my recent post on teen films I discussed how I think teens have a better chance of establishing strong careers by performing in teen oriented films over prestige films.

One of the actresses who I think has done an incredible job at sticking in the Hollywood game after a childhood success story is Anna Paquin.

Anna Paquin became the second youngest person to win an Oscar at the age of 11 for her role in the Piano.

Now, Paquin has not yet returned to the Oscar stage as a nominee or winner since then, but her career is certainly alive and well.

She has done a variety of films, television and feature, that would be considered prestige films, such as Almost Famous, The Squid and the Whale and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

Yet, while these films, among others certainly are respectable, I think part of the reason that Anna Paquin is continually considered for a variety of parts like these, is because she has taken moves and opportunities to secure some star power with teen oriented roles like the film She's All That and the X-Men franchise.

By playing teen roles, I think she took herself from the world of "young Oscar winner" to "teen star" paving the way for her to edge her way into non-teen roles that are still age appropriate, including her most recent turn in the popular role of Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood, for which she has won the Golden Globe and Satellite Award.

I hardly think Anna Paquin's film success ends with her HBO series, rather I think her acting ability, along with ability to redefine her filmography at each step of her own age suggest to me that she is a very talented and adaptable actress.

Now if only, Haley Joel Osment could land himself a role on 90210 or a teen oriented film he might be able to bring some luster back to his career that really kicked off in full swing with his Oscar nominated role in The Sixth Sense.