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Real Life American Girl ABIGAIL BRESLIN Shines in Her Role as Kit
By Colleen Campbell

The lovable and excitable star of Little Miss Sunshine, Abigail Breslin, is setting out on her next big adventure, but this time to the past, not to a beauty pageant in California. She stars in Kit Kittredge: an American Girl, which opens in theaters July 2.

Every little American Girl fan will know the story of Kit Kittredge, a bright young girl and aspiring journalist growing up in 1934 Cincinnati, Ohio who is forced to cope with the effects of the Great Depression when her father loses his car dealership and her family opens a bordering house.

 “I was so excited when I learned I would be playing Kit,” Breslin said. “I’ve always been a huge fan of the dolls and books, and now I actually got to play one. It was such great fun.”

 Not one to discriminate, she shares an equal love for all the American Girl dolls, no matter their era or story. Dolls and acting aside, her role as Kit also gave her the opportunity to explore her other passion that are just like Kit’s: animals. Owner of two dogs, two cats, and a turtle, Breslin has worked with animals ranging from frogs to sea lions in her short career and dreams of one day becoming a veterinarian. And what animal does she team up with in this film. Some fans of Kit might just guess it’s a monkey if they read Danger At The Zoo: A Kit Mystery.

Besides their common love of animals, Breslin was also able to connect with the character of Kit on a personal level through writing. Kit uses the power of the pen to get published in the Cincinnati Register and uncover clues to a mystery; Breslin, likewise, pursues writing yet on a less dramatic scale.

“I’m not a fan of math,” she said, “so I was excited that Kit is more of a writer. I had to learn how to work with a typewriter but when they first showed it to me, I was confused and asked ‘Where’s the screen?’ I felt so silly.”

Along with discovering the old ways of the typewriter, Breslin learned how to roller skate for the part and received a meaningful lesson in American history, not to mention a chance to relate to her grandmother on a personal level.

“My grandmom grew up during the Depression,” she said. “I showed her the different clothes, sets, and cars we were using and she was amazed at how it reminded her of when she was a kid. The Great Depression was when people were buying a lot of things on credit and they didn’t have enough money to pay it back. And so they stopped buying things, which made the stores and factories close until everybody was basically out of work.”

Despite her prestigious acting reputation and busy schedule, Breslin still finds plenty of time to be a kid. She brought a stuffed animal as her “date” to the Academy Awards in 2005 and enjoys the Jonas Brothers and sleepovers with her cousins.

“I don’t feel like my career makes me miss out on anything,” she says. “I may be homeschooled, but I don’t have to start my schoolwork until around noon and I finish earlier too.” 

Breslin’s truly unique combination of sophistication and childish charm adds to her appeal with audiences of all ages. “I just try to be the best that I can,” she said. “If I gave it my best shot, then I know I have something to be proud of.”

Colleen Campbell is a staff writer.

Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann