Per IMDb, Abigail Breslin appeared in a 2004 episode of “Law & Order: SVU” entitled “Birthright.” This was notably prior to Breslin’s breakout moment in “Little Miss Sunshine,” but she made a serious impression regardless. According to Fandom, Breslin played a six-year-old kid named Patty in the hit show, who was stuck at the center of a wild custody dispute.
The episode kicked off with Patty’s attempted abduction in Central Park, which was later discovered to be a setup by officers Benson and Stabler, as Patty’s alleged birth mother, Michelle (portrayed by veteran actor Lea Thompson), tried to prove she was the girl’s rightful guardian. M.E. Warner conducted a DNA test to ascertain actual Patty’s biological mother, while Benson figured out the original issue stemmed back to a dodgy fertility doctor.
In the end, following a lengthy and highly emotional trial, it was determined that Sarah (Camilla Scott) gave birth to Patty, but the egg in question actually came from Michelle. Regardless, the youngster understandably wanted to stay with Sarah and Michelle left town, unable to take the pain of not seeing her daughter. Suffice to say, Patty was a complex role that Breslin excelled in, regardless of her age.
According to “Law & Order: SVU” star Christopher Meloni, who plays Detective Stabler, Breslin stood out as a star in the making on the day. He told the Daily Beast, “She was just a little girl… but she was so rock-solid.”
