Top 20 Child Actors Who Became Successful Adult Actors

too often tabloids are littered with tragic reports of former child stars but not all of them have fallen off the map welcome to watchmojo.com oast gracefully arguably becoming even more successful as adults while we applaud Ron Howard and Leonardo DiCaprio for their work beyond their tweens want to see more glory behind the camera and the other mainly made guest spots on sitcoms in his youth number 20 Thomas brodie-sangster the world fell in love with Thomas Sangster Xand gellick face the moment he ran through an airport for the girl of his dreams in Love Actually but the actors left such innocent roles behind through his portrayal of a young Paul McCartney and nowhere boy Sangster showed that he's not a little boy anymore I present to you mr. Palmer Charlie my shown kind words since then he's adopted a hyphenated name and racked up a filmography that nicely balances franchises like the Maze Runner with quieter fare like the death of a superhero what does Matt him he's who we are now and what we do right now but perhaps most notably fans will recognize Sangster as Jojen Reed on Game of Thrones you can't kit it you know why not because the Raven is you number 19 Freddie Highmore should hope so go on it's always impressive when an English actor can pull off a pitch perfect American accent but being able to do it at such a young age is really something what's more Freddie Highmore appeared to be gambling on what made him popular in roles like Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory he quickly shed the lovable English inflection when he took on the role of one of the most disturbed young minds and modern pop culture Norman Bates in Bates Motel maybe some people don't get to start over maybe they just bring themselves to a new place the show would run for five seasons with the actor receiving great critical acclaim his small screen success is continued with the complex role of the autistic surgeon Shaun Murphy on the good doctor number 18 Emma Watson in the early millennium we could never imagine the cherubic cast of Harry Potter growing up as if a spell would keep them forever youthful I'm dates bad before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed or was expelled the actors have grown up in more ways than one however Harry Potter himself Daniel Radcliffe went against type taking on more and more challenging jobs until a signature child role was practically a footnote Emma Watson has had a similar journey appearing in Indies like Sofia Coppola as The Bling Ring investigation before we're done every what do I have to sit down zip it well she's not against appearing in more family-friendly fantasies like the Beauty and the Beast remake she's primarily leaned toward mature roles such as Meg March in Little Women besides your turn number 17 Dakota Fanning it says a lot about your acting chops when you're getting SAG Award nominations at the age of seven there are four stages of a butterfly's life the first three stages from egg to larva Dakota Fanning hit the mainstream as the daughter of a mentally handicapped Sean Penn in I am Sam [Music] there was little questions she had talent but it was young Fanning's charm and whimsy that really won a silver we had order in Charlotte's Web and feared for her in War of the Worlds with her recent roles as squeaky Fromme and once upon a time in Hollywood and the Western brimstone Fanning's metamorphosis into an adult actress was complete I'm an old friend of George's thought I stopped say hello that's very nice of you but unfortunately you picked the wrong time George is taking a nap right now number 16 Neil Patrick Harris one imagines that the goal of any former child actor is to not get typecast in their adult years if that's so Neil Patrick Harris has done well to all but obliterate the years he carried the Doogie Howser moniker also I'd like to send him to nuclear medicine for cardiac scan at 9:30 thank you dr. house Harris tried once in the late 90s with an appearance and Starship Troopers as you guessed it a science officer your basic arachnid warrior isn't too smart but it wasn't until How I Met Your mother's womanizing sex-crazed Barney Stinson that Harris redefined his career and of course the robot makes an appearance in the sad love ballad he subsequently became one of the most popular lgbtq+ actors working as well as a sought-after Awards Show host number 15 Christina Ricci upon growing up Christina Ricci rid herself of childish things as soon as possible little Ricci greeted America warmly and Casper in the Addams Family movies but even before she turned 18 she had appeared in more maturely themed works such as angley's the ice storm since then she's taken on more and more risque roles from successes like Black Snake Moan and monster to outright flops like afterlife here you now and proved to me that I'm really dead rest assured she's long put the days of Wednesday Addams behind her number 14 Elijah Wood if any Hollywood actor knows the importance of initiative it's this guy I've told you telling you Connie didn't just slip you may recognize him as Frodo Baggins from the massively popular Lord of the Rings trilogy I wish the ring had never come to me I wish none of this had happened but he might never have been cast had it not been for the audition tape he took it upon himself to send in his turnes Frodo made him an international star and helped the world to see him as a man instead of the boy from films like North the good son and that one scene in Back to the Future Part two what has since shown the world his abilities and breakthrough roles in Sin City an Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind proving he'll be around for a while number 13 Joseph gordon-levitt after starting his screen career as a tyke gordon-levitt became one of the stars of the long-running but underrated sitcom third Rock from the Sun in a role that allowed him to show off his stellar comedic timing and know-how as an old man trapped in a youthful body I'm in command once that show came to an end he tried his hand at more dramatic roles and indie flix like brick he would almost entirely shed his boyish persona to become a star in big-budget films such as Inception The Dark Knight Rises and looper along with Golden Globe nods for 500 days of summer and 5050 gordon-levitt founded a collaborative online production company called hit record in the mid-2000s he never wanted to be anybody's girlfriend number 12 Anna Paquin one of the youngest performers to ever win an Academy Award Peck wins early years in the film industry were marked by a playful spirit and an ability to tackle weighty subjects when it came time to transition to on-screen adulthood she never missed a beat with excellent appearances and respected films like the x-men series the first boy I ever kissed ended up in a coma for three weeks 25th hour and almost famous finally completely coming of age for most audiences thanks to her starring role and Golden Globe nominated performance in the vampire drama True Blood Anna poised herself to have a lengthy and celebrated career in the years to come what do you have we don't have a death wish I just happen to think that judging an entire group of people based on the actions of a few individuals within that group is morally wrong well I will not let you put yourself or this bar in danger I won't number 11 Mickey Rooney beginning acting at the ripe old age of six Mickey Rooney spent the rest of his 93 years on this planet making appearances in front of the cameras and though he may have passed away his legacy lives on one of the last living silent film era stars and a Hollywood heavyweight with one of the longest careers going micki proved his skills with acclaimed roles including Midsummer Night's Dream at age 15 and an Academy Award nominated performance at almost 60 in the black stallion and remember you don't want him down break you you know what that means horse starts to settle eights someone just skip what Mickey Rooney won awards receipts at hearts over the course of a multi-decade career with his humor charm and genuine talent what do you mean it was why on the blame nobody's flying the plane number 10 Scarlett Johansson NEPA John Hunt Scarlett Johansson is best known nowadays for playing natasha romanoff in the MCU although her breakthrough role was far different from Black Widow you totally ignored me ever since high school ended you're the one who's still living out some stupid seventh grade fantasy the deeply cynical ghost world may have transformed her career but she had a reputable stack of child roles leading up to it though she received an introducing credit in the Horse Whisperer she had already appeared in several other films just as well though as director Robert Redford's sang the praises of her maturity and calling her 13 going on 30 she was scared by the time a movie carrying that title rolled around she already had a Golden Globe nomination number 9 Kirsten Dunst Kirsten Dunst without realizing it may epitomize this list as the girl Hollywood didn't want to grow up after she appeared as the young vampiress opposite Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise an interview with the vampire audiences couldn't picture her as an adult Dunst his age however starring in everything from blockbusters like the spider-man trilogy to experimental films like Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind where will I be if there's a rupture between our two families am i Tippi Austrian or the Dafina of France Dunst has also pursued more challenging risky roles with controversial filmmakers such as Lars von Trier and prestige names like Sophia Coppola do I get to say thank you this time number 8 Natalie Portman what's your name viewers were introduced to miss Portman when she was barely in her tweens but even then her acting skills made her an acting heavyweight who was wise beyond her years and as mature as her co-stars Gary Oldman and Jean Renault in Lael the professional I work for you in exchange you teach me how to clean ironically when she was finally awarded an Oscar for her work it was for her role as a woman who in many ways was childlike and repressed living under the thumb of her mother [Applause] whatever her age or whichever emotion she's a vocal natalie portman is a talented actress of the highest regard who's transitioned from child star to adult star with grace Annie my goodness you've got so of you beautiful well for a senator number seven Christian Bale [Music] when viewing the intense often angry performances of Christian Bale's recent years it's difficult to believe he was once a cute child actor or a singing and dancing team but we have the movies to prove it well the same misses the best teachers the University of Life if you can get past his baby face and instead focus on the gravitas he brought to his characters at such an early age his current trajectory makes perfect sense you could see the kind of passion that even then could lead an actor to lose and gain weight for roles even to the detriment of his health okay and could catch glimpses of a thespian who could later lose himself entirely in his work I mean I guess I'm a pretty sick guy number six Kurt Russell a legendary Hollywood star who had his first film role beside Elvis Presley at the age of 11 Kurt Russell's career has spanned five decades and his success has remained relatively constant as things out there trying to imitate him Gary an actor who according to some sources was Disney's top star of the 1970s Russell transitioned easily from more family-friendly fare to more mature or straight-up badass roles an a-list actor who has also become a cult film darling Russell's collaborations with John Carpenter ensured he remained relevant to a whole new generation of action flick fans meanwhile the 2010 saw him appear a number of huge flicks like The Fast & Furious franchise guardians of the galaxy vol 2 and more than one Quentin Tarantino film and I can't afford to hire a bunch of guys and smoke cigarettes and sit around talking to each other all day on the chance that I might use them I got a four man team here Rick number five Drew Barrymore when she first came to prominence as a child star in et to say she was adorable seems like we're woefully understating things in one of the most successful movies of all time drew managed to shine even though her role easily could have been forgettable in the hands of most young actors but the pressure of stardom and being part of one of America's most famous acting dynasties finally got to her and it seemed as though she might end up like so many child stars whose lives hit the skids fortunately she began rebuilding in the late 90s and has continued to reign as a very bankable star as evidenced by her roles and rom-coms the Charlie's Angels franchise and more hello yes this number for Judy Garland [Music] the legend goes that Judy Garland changed the lyrics to the final verse of have yourself a merry little Christmas because it was too sad [Music] Oh in retrospect she may have feebly been trying to edit her life which was filled with tragedy studio executives who didn't find her attractive manipulated her body and physical appearance although her life ended with a fatal barbiturate overdose in 1968 Garland's later years are just as treasured as the day she walked the yellow brick road repeating we're not in Kansas anymore and the final year saw an Oscar nomination for judgment at Nuremburg will you please state your name to the tribunal Irene Hoffman Varla that's not strength in the face of adversity we don't know what is number three Natalie Wood at least garland fans received some sort of closure when she passed away Natalie woods untimely drowning is drenched in controversy and unanswered questions her life however was one of a unique talent on display at an early age by Kris Kringle I'm Santa Claus wood became America's little girl when she sat on Santa's lap in Miracle on 34th Street amazing do you have to have of spammies her years in Hollywood some argue can be viewed as the maturation of the American woman taking early child roles to coveted rare middle-aged roles right up until her death it's a scene marry if her legacy is that of a girl who managed to steal the hearts of the country's parents and the neighborhood rebel without a cause it's one that's hard to live down number two Jodie Foster I understand it means a massively talented and respected actress who first earned an Academy Award nomination at 15 after a long list of performances you have to make damn it don't you want to get out of here and took home the trophy twice over the following 15 years Foster earned her place in Hollywood well we don't know it might be some type of advanced communication device or it could be a teaching machine of some kind or it might turn out to be some kind of a transport after making her screen debut at the age of three she has finally transitioned to the director's chair and her peers hold her in such a steam that she seems to make whatever projects she spearheads a reality including a film about a man and his beaver puppet there are few actors who have created as many well-remembered characters as Miss Foster who has since expanded her acting career with the directing one you spook easily Starling yes before we continue be sure to subscribe to our Channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them if you're on your phone make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications number one Elizabeth Taylor in setting a bidding war in the era of movie studio contracts Elizabeth Taylor had both Universal and MGM banging down her door due to their belief that she was a star in the making I hate him you know too much about them that's when you really hate something when you know too much about it perhaps you're just scared by horses you will stay won't you my to say that they were right is an understatement you come here then running over with wine and self-pity to conquer seas appearing more serious and somehow older than many of her similarly aged counterparts Elizabeth's focus eventually became one of her most priceless strengths oh well please don't mind me do go a woman whose power was so strong she remained a highly sought-after celebrity years after her acting career went mostly dormant it's really Taylor's beauty and acting chops played as a child and as an adult some men would get that right arm for the chance do you agree with our picks check out this other recent clip from WatchMojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our 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Keywords: child actors who turned into successful adult actors, successful child actors, child actors who became successful, best child actors of all time, child actors, child actors who grew up, child actors who are still working today, child stars, scarlett johansson, drew barrymore, kurt russell, natalie portman, judy garland, emma watson, dakota fanning, neil patrick harris, elijah wood, anna paquin, mickey rooney, christian bale, watchmojo, mojo, list, top 10

Id: wVdtqNxvl3Y

Length: 19min 58sec (1198 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 11 2020