She may not be the youngest actor to win one of the big four at the Oscars, but Jennifer Lawrence is the first to be born in the 1990s. This may not be newsworthy (or timely for that matter), but I noticed it while goofing around on the internet.
Lawrence, born August 15, 1990 was 22 years, 193 days old when she took home the Oscar for Best Actress last month for her role in Silver Linings Playbook. She is the second youngest to win the award, just behind Marlee Matlin (Children of a Lesser God, 1987) who was 21 years, 218 days old and just younger than Janet Gaynor (for three films in 1906) who was 22 years, 222 days old when she won her award.
The Silver Linings Playbook actress was younger than the Adrian Brody, the youngest Best Actor winner, who was 29 years, 343 days old when he won for The Pianist in 2003. However, the actress was older than the youngest Best Supporting Actor, Timothy Hutton, who was 20 years, 227 days old when he won for Ordinary People in 1981.
None of those winners hold a candle to the three youngest winners in Oscar history, all Best Supporting Actresses. Tatum O’Neal won for Paper Moon in 1974 at 10 years, 148 days old to be the youngest. She’s followed by Anna Paquin (The Piano, 1982) at 11 years, 240 days old and Patty Duke (The Miracle Worker, 1963) at 16 years, 115 days old.
So, Ms. Jennifer Lawrence might not hold any significant age records, but she was the first winner born in the 1990s, which in my opinion was the pinnacle of decades.
ADAM VITCAVAGE 