Entertainment
Child & Teen Stars Who Defied the Odds & Became Even More Famous Adults
Not all child stars are able to successfully navigate fame as an adult (or, you know, want to navigate fame as an adult). While many of our favorite child actors fly under the radar once they age out of their kid roles, you might be surprised to find just how many of today's A-list celebrities are still at the top of their game. Click through to read about the child stars who are even more famous as adults.
Drew Barrymore
Barrymore broke out in Hollywood at the age of six in Steven Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extraterrestrial.
Image: Universal Pictures
Drew Barrymore
Today, the Blended actress has her hands full — she runs her own production company, directed her own feature, and still manages to steal fans’ hearts in romantic comedies.
Neil Patrick Harris
The actor starred as the titular character on Doogie Howser, M.D. from 1989-1993.
Image: ABC
Neil Patrick Harris
Harris proved he wasn’t a child star anymore with his racy role in Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle and later played ladies man Barney on How I Met Your Mother. Oh yeah, and he hosts everything and has the cutest family in existence.
Anna Paquin
She may have been a child star, but she was already doing big things. Paquin scored the Best Supporting Actress Oscar at the age of 11 for her role in The Piano — which just so happened to be her first role ever.
Image: Miramax Films
Anna Paquin
The actress just wrapped up her role as Sookie Stackhouse on HBO’s True Blood.
Jodie Foster
Foster scored an Oscar nomination at the age of 16 for her role as a child prostitute in Taxi Driver.
Image: Columbia Pictures
Jodie Foster
The Silence of the Lambs actress recently starred in Elysium alongside Matt Damon. She also directed an episode of Netflix series Orange Is The New Black.
Zac Efron
Efron got his start on the series Summerland before breaking out as basketball player/musical theater nerd Troy Bolton in Disney Channel’s High School Musical.
Zac Efron
Efron had become a bonafide romantic lead, first in the Nicholas Sparks film The Lucky One and later in rom-coms like That Awkward Moment.
Christian Bale
The actor got his start in films like Empire of the Sun and Newsies (pictured.)
Image: Buena Vista Pictures
Christian Bale
The actor has starred in major films like The Fighter, American Psycho, and, recently, American Hustle. Oh, and he was Batman. In case you forgot.
Leonardo DiCaprio
DiCaprio was a child star who appeared in films like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (pictured), This Boy’s Life, and the sitcom Growing Pains.
Image: Paramount Pictures
Leonardo DiCaprio
He might not have an Oscar under his belt just yet, but the Wolf of Wall Street actor is one of the most sought-after stars in Hollywood.
Miley Cyrus
The Tennessee-raised star had a minor role in Big Fish and the TV series Doc before landing the titular role on Hannah Montana.
Miley Cyrus
Cyrus has mostly left acting behind (her last venture was in 2012’s So Undercover) and has focused on music. She recently went on a world tour to promote her new album Bangerz .
Ron Howard
Before he was a director, Howard played Opie on the Andy Griffith Show (pictured) and later portrayed Richie on the sitcom Happy Days.
Image: CBS
Ron Howard
The former child star has directed famous flicks like Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and Frost/Nixon.
Natalie Portman
Portman’s first major role was as troubled tween Mathilda in Leon: The Professional in 1994.
Image: Columbia Pictures
Natalie Portman
The actress won the Best Actress Oscar for Black Swan in 2010.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
You may remember the actor as the cute kid from Angels in the Outfield, or as the adult-alien-turned-tween on 3rd Rock From the Sun.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
The Don Jon actor/director is the host of his own TV series HitRecord and recently starred in Sin City: A Dame To Kill For.
Aubrey "Drake" Graham
Before he was a rapper, Drake was playing popular basketball star Jimmy on Canadian drama Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Image: TeenNick
Aubrey "Drake" Graham
The “Started From the Bottom” rapper won the Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2013 for his album Take Care.
Emma Watson
The Harry Potter star rose to fame at age 11 in the role of smart witch Hermione Granger.
Emma Watson
Though Watson admits that she’d never need to work again thanks to her Harry Potter money, the actress has starred in films like Perks of Being A Wallflower and Noah. And she’s a feminist, to boot.
Kirsten Dunst
At age 12, Dunst starred in Interview With A Vampire alongside Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Later she appeared in films like Little Women and Jumanji (pictured.)
Image: TriStar Pictures
Kirsten Dunst
The Spider-Man actress recently starred in Lars von Trier’s Melancholia to rave reviews.
Kristen Stewart
Stewart, pictured here with Panic Room co-star and fellow former child star Jodie Foster, got her start in the 2001 film The Safety of Objects.
Kristen Stewart
Stewart has wrapped a major franchise (those vampire flicks, maybe you’ve heard of them?) and has been getting rave reviews for her role in Guantanamo Bay-set feature Camp X-Ray.
Jason Bateman
The comedian (pictured right) was on the sitcom Silver Spoons as a kid.
Image: NBC
Jason Bateman
The Horrible Bosses actor returned to TV with his starring role on Arrested Development in 2003.
Ryan Gosling
Before he was Ryan “Hey, Girl” Gosling, the Crazy, Stupid Love actor was on The Mickey Mouse Club with some famous friends.
Image: ABC
Ryan Gosling
His pal (and roommate) while he was on the show? None other than…
Justin Timberlake
The “Mirrors” singer co-starred with Gosling on the variety show. Also on the roster? Christina Aguilera and JT’s first love Britney Spears.
Selena Gomez
Gomez got her start on Barney & Friends alongside friend Demi Lovato before moving on to her own show on Disney Channel, Wizards of Waverly Place.
Selena Gomez
The actress/singer/fashion designer just released the new music video for her mature new single “The Heart Wants What It Wants.”
