Vestfirðir
The Vestfirðir area
Country	Iceland
Seat	Ísafjörður
Area
• Total	22,271 km2 (8,599 sq mi)
Population (2007)
• Total	7,300
• Density	0.3/km2 (0.8/sq mi)

A map of the Westfjords.

The Westfjords or West Fjords (Icelandic: Vestfirðir, ISO 3166-2:IS: IS-4) is the name for the large peninsula in northwestern Iceland. It is connected to the rest of Iceland by a 7 km wide isthmus between Gilsfjörður and Bitrufjörður. The Westfjords are very mountainous; the coastline is heavily indented by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills. These indentations make roads circuitous and communications difficult. The cliffs at Látrabjarg comprise the longest bird cliff in the northern Atlantic Ocean and are at the westernmost point in Iceland. The Drangajökull glacier is located in the north of the peninsula and is the fifth largest of the country, but the only glacier of the region.

The lack of flat lowlands in the area makes it unsuitable for agriculture, but good natural harbors in many of the fjords and their proximity to fishing areas are vital for the local economy. The Westfjords are very sparsely populated: the total population in 2007 was 7,380. The capital and by far the largest town is Ísafjörður (pop. ~ 4000).

Main settlements in the Westfjords[link]

• Reykhólar
• Bolungarvík
• Brjánslækur
• Ísafjörður
• Tálknafjörður
• Flateyri
• Suðureyri
• Súðavík
• Bíldudalur
• Þingeyri
• Patreksfjörður
• Skálanes
• Reykjanes
• Hólmavík
• Drangsnes

See also[link]

• Barðaströnd
• Regions of Iceland
• Tunnels in Iceland

External links[link]

• Fisherman Hotel Suðureyri (in Icelandic, English and German)
• Westfjords Tourist Board
• Westfjords website
• Images from the Westfjords (English and German)
• Awarded "EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence" non traditional tourist destination 2010

Látrabjarg

Oldest steel ship in Iceland

Látrabjarg

Ísafjörður

Sudureyri

v t e  Iceland topics History Economic Military Nationality Prohibition Rulers Timeline Settlement Commonwealth Christianisation Sturlung Era Kingdom Independence Movement World War II Invasion Cod Wars Financial crisis Geography Climate Extremities Fjords Geology Glaciers Highlands Islands Lakes National parks Rivers Valleys Volcanoes Waterfalls Government Executive President Prime Minister Cabinet Ministries Agencies Legislature Parliament (speakers) Standing committees Ombudsman Judiciary Supreme Court Landsdómur Politics · Law Administrative divisions (municipalities, counties, regions, constituencies) Cities and towns (postal codes) Greater Reykjavík Area Political parties Elections Laws Constitution Nationality law LGBT rights Human rights Strip club ban Diplomacy Foreign affairs Diplomatic missions in Iceland / of Iceland European Union relations International rankings Economy Agriculture Banking (list of banks) Companies Currency Healthcare Renewable energy Taxation Tourism Transportation (public) Stock Exchange Military and law enforcement National Police Special Forces Coast Guard Crisis Response Unit Air Defence System Wars Demographics Icelanders (notable) Icelandic language Languages of Iceland Education Religion Culture Architecture Art Cinema Cuisine Literature Music National costume Public holidays Sport Media Newspapers (online) Internet (.is domain) Telecommunications Telephone numbers Television Symbols Names Flag Coat of arms Anthem Category Portal WikiProject

v t e Regions and counties of Iceland Statistical region           Traditional county Capital Region Kjósarsýsla Southern Peninsula Gullbringusýsla Western Region Borgarfjarðarsýsla · Dalasýsla · Mýrasýsla · Snæfellsnes- og Hnappadalssýsla Westfjords Austur-Barðastrandarsýsla · Norður-Ísafjarðarsýsla · Strandasýsla · Vestur-Barðastrandarsýsla · Vestur-Ísafjarðarsýsla Northwestern Region Austur-Húnavatnssýsla · Skagafjarðarsýsla · Vestur-Húnavatnssýsla Northeastern Region Eyjafjarðarsýsla · Norður-Þingeyjarsýsla · Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla Eastern Region Austur-Skaftafellssýsla · Norður-Múlasýsla · Suður-Múlasýsla Southern Region Árnessýsla · Rangárvallasýsla · Vestur-Skaftafellssýsla

v t e Peninsulas of Iceland Dyrhólaey · Reykjanes · Snæfellsnes · Westfjords

Coordinates: 65°44′15″N 22°10′14″W / 65.7375°N 22.17056°W / 65.7375; -22.17056

Abigail Breslin
Breslin at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Vanity Fair party
Born	Abigail Kathleen Breslin (1996-04-14) April 14, 1996 (age 16) New York, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2002–present

Abigail Kathleen Breslin (born April 14, 1996) is an American actress. She is one of the youngest actresses ever to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Breslin appeared in her first commercial when she was only three years old, and in her first film, Signs, at the age of five.^[1] Her subsequent films include Little Miss Sunshine, Nim's Island, Definitely, Maybe, My Sister's Keeper, Zombieland and Rango.

Personal life[link]

Breslin was born in New York City, the daughter of Kim, who manages her career, and Michael, a telecommunications expert, computer programmer, and consultant.^[2][3][4][5] Breslin has two older brothers, Ryan and Spencer, who are also actors. Breslin lives in New York with her family, which her maternal grandparents have described as "very close-knit".^[4][5] She is named after First Lady of the United States Abigail Adams.^[6]

Career[link]

Breslin's career began at the age of three, when she appeared in a Toys "R" Us commercial.^[7] Her first film role was in the 2002 science fiction thriller Signs, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, where she played Bo Hess, the daughter of the main character, Graham Hess (Mel Gibson). Signs garnered mostly positive reviews^[8] and was a box office success, grossing $408 million worldwide.^[9] Breslin's performance in the film was praised by critics.^[10][11] David Ansen of Newsweek wrote that both she and co-star Rory Culkin gave "terrifically natural, nuanced performances".^[12] In 2004, she appeared in the film Raising Helen where she and her brother Spencer played siblings. The film received mostly negative reviews.^[13] Breslin also had a small role in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. In the independent film Keane, she played Kira Bedik, a young girl who reminds the mentally disturbed protagonist William Keane (Damian Lewis) of his abducted daughter. Keane had a limited theatrical release and grossed only $394,390 worldwide^[14] but it received positive reviews and Breslin's performance was praised by critics.^[15][16] Meghan Keane of The New York Sun wrote that "the scenes between Mr. Lewis and the charmingly fragile Kira, winningly played by Ms. Breslin, bring a captivating humanity to the film".^[17]

Breslin's breakthrough role was in the 2006 comedy-drama Little Miss Sunshine, where she played Olive Hoover, a beauty pageant contestant, the youngest in a dysfunctional family on a road trip. She was cast at the age of six, years before filming was started.^[18] Her co-stars, Greg Kinnear and Alan Arkin, both mentioned that they were "astounded by her seriousness of purpose during shooting".^[19] Little Miss Sunshine was a critical^[20] and commercial success, grossing $100 million worldwide.^[21] Breslin's performance was highly praised;^[22][23][24] Claudia Puig of USA Today wrote that "If Olive had been played by any other little girl, she would not have affected us as mightily as it did."^[25] Breslin received nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the fourth youngest actress to be nominated in that category.^[26] Her co-star, Alan Arkin, did not want her to win the award, specifying that he thought that she has "had enough attention" and "needs to have a childhood".^[27]

Although Jennifer Hudson won the Oscar, Breslin co-presented with actor Jaden Smith at the 79th Academy Awards on February 25, 2007.^{[citation needed]} Breslin was part of the Disney Year of a Million Dreams celebration. Annie Leibovitz photographed her as Fira from Disney Fairies with Julie Andrews as the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio.^[28] On October 27, 2007, Breslin made her stage debut in the play Right You Are (If You Think You Are) in New York City at the Guggenheim Museum starring in an ensemble cast alongside Cate Blanchett, Dianne Wiest, Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard.^[29] In 2007, Breslin was ranked #8 in Forbes Magazine's list of "Young Hollywood's Top-Earning Stars", having earned $1.5 million in 2006.^[30]

Breslin at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival

Breslin next appeared in the 2007 romantic comedy No Reservations, playing the niece of master chef Kate Armstrong (Catherine Zeta-Jones). The film garnered mostly negative reviews^[31] but was successful commercially, grossing $92 million worldwide.^[32] Roger Ebert wrote that Breslin "has the stuff to emerge as a three-dimensional kid, if she weren't employed so resolutely as a pawn."^[33] Also in 2007, she starred in another romantic comedy, Definitely, Maybe, in which her character is the daughter of a recently divorced father (Ryan Reynolds).^[34] Definitely, Maybe received generally favorable reviews,^[35] with Steven Rea of The Philadelphia Inquirer writing that Breslin is "alarmingly cute – but she backs the cuteness up with serious acting instinct".^[36]

In 2008, Breslin starred with Jodie Foster in the film Nim's Island as Nim Rusoe, a young girl who lives on a remote tropical island.^[37] Nim's Island received mixed reviews^[38] but was successful financially, grossing $100 million worldwide.^[39] Also in 2008, Breslin appeared in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl as the title character. The film was based on the American Girl line of dolls, books, and accessories of which Breslin is a fan.^[40] Kit Kittredge: An American Girl garnered favorable reviews^[41] and grossed $17 million at the box office.^[42] Breslin's performance in the film was praised by critics;^[43][44][45] Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal wrote that she "carries the event-stuffed story with unflagging grace".^[46]

In 2009, Breslin appeared in My Sister's Keeper, where she played the role of Anna Fitzgerald, a young girl who was conceived to be a donor for her sister, Kate, who suffers from leukemia. Elle and Dakota Fanning were slated to play the roles of Anna and Kate respectively;^[47] however, Dakota refused to shave her head for the role, so she and Elle were replaced by Sofia Vassilieva and Breslin.^[48] My Sister's Keeper received mixed reviews^[49] but was a financial success, grossing $95 million worldwide.^[50] James Berardinelli wrote that Breslin and Vassilieva "display a natural bond one might expect from sisters, and there's no hint of artifice or overacting in either performance".^[51] Also in 2009, Breslin appeared in the horror comedy Zombieland as Little Rock.^[52] Director Ruben Fleischer said that "the dream was always to get Abigail Breslin" for the role.^[53] The film received positive reviews^[54] and was successful at the box office, grossing $102 million worldwide.^[55]

With previews beginning in February 2010, she made her Broadway theatre debut as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker at the Circle in the Square Theatre.^[56] Breslin has said that she was honored to play Keller,^[57] who is one of her "biggest heroes".^[58] The Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, an advocacy group for blind and deaf actors criticized the play's producers for not casting a deaf or blind actor in the role. Lead producer David Richenthal defended the decision, stating that he needed a well-known actress: "It’s simply naïve to think that in this day and age, you’ll be able to sell tickets to a play revival solely on the potential of the production to be a great show or on the potential for an unknown actress to give a breakthrough performance."^[59] Vision-impaired actress Kyra Siegel was cast as Breslin's understudy.^[60] Breslin's performance was praised by critics;^[61][62][63] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that she "well portrays Helen's feral rebelliousness in the play's early sections and is deeply touching as her character's bond with her teacher grows".^[64] Ticket sales for the play, however, were considered disappointing, and the show closed in April 2010.^[65][66]

In September 2009, Breslin filmed in Des Moines, Iowa, playing the title character in the film Janie Jones:^[67] a 13-year old girl who is abandoned by her former-groupie mother (Elisabeth Shue), and informs Ethan Brand (Alessandro Nivola), a fading rock star, that she is his daughter.^[68] The film premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.^[68] In 2011, Breslin voiced Priscilla, a cactus mouse in the animated comedy Rango,^[69] and appeared in the romantic comedy New Year's Eve.

In December 2011, it was confirmed that she will appear in the film adaptation of Orson Scott Card's novel, Ender's Game.^[70]

Music career[link]

Breslin recently started a rock band called "CABB" with her friend Cassidy Reiff.^[71]

Filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Abigail Breslin

• Abigail Breslin at the Internet Movie Database
• Abigail Breslin at AllRovi
• Works by or about Abigail Breslin in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Vanity Fair spotlight
• Brandon Kosters interview 1 March 2011