Which Oscar category nominated Mary Badham for playing Scout in the 1962 To Kill a Mockingbird film?

Mary Badham was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Scout in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird.

Badham portrayed Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, the young narrator of Harper Lee’s story. Her performance opposite Gregory Peck, who played Atticus Finch, earned her a nomination at the 35th Academy Awards in 1963.

At age 10, Badham became the youngest actress ever nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category at that time. She did not win: the award went to Patty Duke for The Miracle Worker, another acclaimed performance by a child actor.

A common mix-up is confusing Badham’s nomination with Gregory Peck’s win for Best Actor. Peck won for playing Atticus, while Badham’s recognition came in the supporting-actress category.