'Girls with Guns' Films
A list of a few films in which a young actress handles firearms. To clarify, I've included only films where the girls handle the guns for a significant period of time. For example, Addy Miller in The Secret Life of Bees (where she played the young Dakota Fanning) isn't included because she touched the gun for only a few seconds.
This list is in progress. There are screencaps of many more fims not yet listed here at my Girls with Guns album.
Likely the first child actress to handle a gun, Diana Serra Cary (Baby Peggy) in The Darling of New York, 1923
Hurt (2009). After they discover a secret she's been hiding, orphan Sarah ( Sofia Vassilieva, age 16 during filming) takes down her new foster family in a variety ways, including firing a rifle at her foster mom and sister.
Kick-Ass (2010). Eleven-year-old vigilante Hit Girl, also known as Mindy ( Chloe Moretz, age 11, in her child-star-making role), takes down a room full of bad guys using several guns, including a Heckler & Kock USP compact that she kicks out of thug's hand and uses to shoot him.
The Last Boy Scout (1991). The bratty teenage daughter of a Secret Service agent, Darien (Danielle Harris, age 13-14) is fascinated by the Smith & Wesson 66 Snub in her dad's glove compartment and hides it inside her stuffed animal.
Lawn Dogs (1997). Ten-year-old Devon (Mischa Barton, age 10) finds her dad's handgun in his glove compartment and plays with it. When her dad and his buddies nearly kill the boy who mows their lawns, mistakenly thinking that he molested Devon, she uses it to shoot one of them after they ignore her pleas to stop.
Leon: The Professional (1994). After an assassin takes her in and begins teaching her his trade, 12-year-old orphan Mathilda ( Natalie Portman, age 12, in her film debut) fires his Ruger SP101 pistol at random out the window and uses it to play Russian Roulette.
Natalie Portman in Leon: The Professional
Orphan (2009). A psychotic little girl adopted by a family with issues of their own, Esther ( Isabelle Fuhrman, age 11) points her dad's handgun at her little sister, asks her to play Russian Roulette, and shoots her mom in the arm.
Pups (1999). Two teen best friends, Rocky (Mischa Barton, age 12) and Stevie, find his mom's gun hidden in her bedroom and impulsively decide to rob a bank. Rocky points the gun at anyone who tries to stop them, but only Stevie actually fires it.
Push (2009). A teen on the run who happens to have the ability to see the future, Cassie (Dakota Fanning, age 14) uses a SIG-Sauer P228 pistol to defend herself against the sinister government agents who want to exploit her power.
The Secret of Hidden Lake (2006). Little Maggie ( Jodelle Ferland, age 11) goes on a hunting trip with her dad, who teaches her the correct way to stalk prey and aim and fire her miniature hunting rifle. She shoots at a bird but misses.
True Grit (2010). 14-year-old Mattie ( Hailee Steinfeld, age 13, in her Oscar-nominated role), a pioneer girl with a vengeance, carries her late father's Colt Dragoon pistol during her quest for his killer. When she finally finds and shoots him, the force of the shot blows her backward.
Zombieland (2009). One of two con-artist sisters, Little Rock (Abigail Breslin, age 12) spends most of her time toting a Winchester 1890 action rifle. She only kills zombies, but she's willing to kill any humans who threaten her sister.
Abigail Breslin in Zombieland
It's worth pointing out that of the young actresses who have murdered in films, very few of them used guns. The most famous child killer - devious little Rhoda (Patty McCormack) in 1956's The Bad Seed - preferred to use methods that could pass as accidents.
Some of the movies listed here overlap with my list of Young Actresses in Evil Roles.
This list is in progress. There are screencaps of many more fims not yet listed here at my Girls with Guns album.
Likely the first child actress to handle a gun, Diana Serra Cary (Baby Peggy) in The Darling of New York, 1923
Hurt (2009). After they discover a secret she's been hiding, orphan Sarah ( Sofia Vassilieva, age 16 during filming) takes down her new foster family in a variety ways, including firing a rifle at her foster mom and sister.
Kick-Ass (2010). Eleven-year-old vigilante Hit Girl, also known as Mindy ( Chloe Moretz, age 11, in her child-star-making role), takes down a room full of bad guys using several guns, including a Heckler & Kock USP compact that she kicks out of thug's hand and uses to shoot him.
The Last Boy Scout (1991). The bratty teenage daughter of a Secret Service agent, Darien (Danielle Harris, age 13-14) is fascinated by the Smith & Wesson 66 Snub in her dad's glove compartment and hides it inside her stuffed animal.
Lawn Dogs (1997). Ten-year-old Devon (Mischa Barton, age 10) finds her dad's handgun in his glove compartment and plays with it. When her dad and his buddies nearly kill the boy who mows their lawns, mistakenly thinking that he molested Devon, she uses it to shoot one of them after they ignore her pleas to stop.
Leon: The Professional (1994). After an assassin takes her in and begins teaching her his trade, 12-year-old orphan Mathilda ( Natalie Portman, age 12, in her film debut) fires his Ruger SP101 pistol at random out the window and uses it to play Russian Roulette.
Natalie Portman in Leon: The Professional
Orphan (2009). A psychotic little girl adopted by a family with issues of their own, Esther ( Isabelle Fuhrman, age 11) points her dad's handgun at her little sister, asks her to play Russian Roulette, and shoots her mom in the arm.
Pups (1999). Two teen best friends, Rocky (Mischa Barton, age 12) and Stevie, find his mom's gun hidden in her bedroom and impulsively decide to rob a bank. Rocky points the gun at anyone who tries to stop them, but only Stevie actually fires it.
Push (2009). A teen on the run who happens to have the ability to see the future, Cassie (Dakota Fanning, age 14) uses a SIG-Sauer P228 pistol to defend herself against the sinister government agents who want to exploit her power.
The Secret of Hidden Lake (2006). Little Maggie ( Jodelle Ferland, age 11) goes on a hunting trip with her dad, who teaches her the correct way to stalk prey and aim and fire her miniature hunting rifle. She shoots at a bird but misses.
True Grit (2010). 14-year-old Mattie ( Hailee Steinfeld, age 13, in her Oscar-nominated role), a pioneer girl with a vengeance, carries her late father's Colt Dragoon pistol during her quest for his killer. When she finally finds and shoots him, the force of the shot blows her backward.
Zombieland (2009). One of two con-artist sisters, Little Rock (Abigail Breslin, age 12) spends most of her time toting a Winchester 1890 action rifle. She only kills zombies, but she's willing to kill any humans who threaten her sister.
Abigail Breslin in Zombieland
It's worth pointing out that of the young actresses who have murdered in films, very few of them used guns. The most famous child killer - devious little Rhoda (Patty McCormack) in 1956's The Bad Seed - preferred to use methods that could pass as accidents.
Some of the movies listed here overlap with my list of Young Actresses in Evil Roles.