Dano Hid His 21st Birthday During 'Little Miss Sunshine' Filming

Paul Dano concealed his 21st birthday from his "Little Miss Sunshine" castmates during the 2006 filming of the popular dramedy. Dano, who played a 15-year-old in the movie, told People magazine that he did not want others to know his age at the time. He kept his milestone birthday a secret.

In a separate anecdote from the set, Dano recalled a humorous incident involving the iconic VW van used in the film. When the cast attempted a bonding trip to a bowling alley, Alan Arkin, playing the grandfather, urgently needed to use the restroom.

Dano explained that Arkin informed Greg Kinnear of his need to stop, but Kinnear, in a playful act of defiance, ran a red light to avoid yielding to Arkin's request. Dano assured that Kinnear acted safely while running the light.

The film, which also starred Abigail Breslin, has recently seen Breslin share her own experiences. In a 2024 interview, she discussed the challenges child actors face, stating they are often given significant responsibility without commensurate respect in Hollywood.