Tatum ___, youngest-ever Oscar winner (at age 10, for Best Supporting Actress) nyt crossword clue

The clue "Tatum ___, youngest-ever Oscar winner (at age 10, for Best Supporting Actress)" points to the actress **Tatum O'Neal**. To solve this clue, let’s break it down: 1. **Identify the Subject**: The clue specifies "youngest-ever Oscar winner," which helps narrow down who the answer could be. Historical knowledge indicates that Tatum O'Neal won her Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Paper Moon" when she was just 10 years old. 2. **Filling in the Blanks**: Since I'm looking for a surname (indicated by the blank after "Tatum"), I would consider "O'Neal" as the only option that fits historically and contextually. 3. **Confirmation through Facts**: It’s helpful to cross-check if the details align—the year of her Oscar win (1974) corroborates with her record as the youngest recipient in that category, solidifying "O'Neal" as the right answer. 4. **Letters and Length**: If there were known letters or a specific letter count required by the crossword, I would further validate the answer by ensuring "O'Neal" fits within those parameters. ### Tips for Crossword Puzzle Solving: - **Consider Context**: Often, clues provide contextual hints or historical facts. Having a broad understanding of genres (like film and literature) can help immensely. - **Think of Common Pairings**: Names, phrases, and common collocations often help in crossword clues. Memorable names or phrases in pop culture can quickly lead to answers. - **Use the Crossword Grid**: Often, filled letters from intersecting answers provide additional clues, so don't hesitate to use existing letters to confirm your thoughts. - **Stay Flexible with Knowledge**: Sometimes, the most abstract or obscure clues can require lateral thinking or knowledge beyond just popular culture (like literature, history, etc.). With all these techniques and knowledge points combined, the answer to your clue is "O'Neal."