15 Child Stars Who Grew Into Hollywood Legends

Icons Who Grew Up Famous

Catching people’s attention and fame at a young age is an undeniable talent. It isn’t easy to grow up in the spotlight, but some stars defy that fact.

One of the most well-known icons is Dakota Fanning. She plays many roles, making herself a young legend. She captured attention as a child in, I Am Sam. She grew into a successful actress, achieving roles in The Twilight Saga, The Alienist, and many more.

Read more to see how young icons grew up in the film industry and amazed people by being multi-skilled at a young age.

Zendaya

After becoming well-known on the Disney Channel with programs like Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover, Zendaya made a stunning move to big-budget motion pictures, beginning with her portrayal of Michelle “MJ” Jones in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).

She has showcased her flexibility by performing well in highly praised films like HBO’s Euphoria and DUNE, where her Emmy-winning performance demonstrated her depth as an actor.

Selena Gomez

Before becoming well-known for her famous role as Alex Russo on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place, Gomez began her career as a child performer on Barney & Friends when she was ten years old.

She successfully transitioned into mainstream Hollywood with roles in films like Monte Carlo (2011), Spring Breakers, and many more. She received love and awards for her roles and later she debuted her music career and Selena’s influence grew as a producer as she produced many shows.

Daniel Radcliffe

In the Harry Potter Franchise series, Daniel Radcliffe became a global sensation as Harry Potter at age 11.

After breaking away from his child-star image, Radcliffe pursued diverse roles in famous films like The Woman in Black, Swiss Army Man, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, and many more, this way he proved his skills and versatility.

Chloe Grace Moretz

Chloe Grace Moretz began acting at age 6, making appearances in films, but her breakout role was as a Hit Girl in Kick-Ass.

She transitioned into building her career by doing huge roles in Carrie and The Peripheral, doing an incredible job playing the roles. She also played roles like The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Mother/Android.

Hilary Duff

The star of Disney Channel’s  Lizzie McGuire , Hilary Duff, rose to fame for it by playing a relatable quirky teenager, earned her widespread acclaim and a loyal fanbase. Her success led to the Movie The Lizzie McGuire, and after that, she launched her music career and made a crazy debut.

After playing such roles in Disney, she also took part in mature roles in films like A Cinderella Story and The Perfect Man and a comeback in the TV series Younger.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan became a star with her dual role as the twins in The Parent Trap, gaining fame instantly for her adorable performance. After acting in the industry, she grew into an A-lister with hits like Mean Girls and Freaky Friday.

After taking a big break for a while, she came back and returned to acting, proving her resilience and staying power by still acting out so perfectly.

Emma Watson

Emma Watson gained international fame at just 11 years old with her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series. Along with Daniel Radcliffe and others, audiences loved her acting, which was full of emotions and depth.

After her Harry Potter fame, she took on diverse roles in films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beauty and the Beast , and Little Women , showcasing her versatility as an actress with so many skills and hard work.

Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. began acting at a young age, appearing in films like Pound, directed by his father and gained attention with his breakout role in Less Than Zero.

Despite his early life struggles, he had an insane comeback with his career reaching heights with his role as Iron Man in Iron Man, making himself a Hollywood Legend, and earning acclaim for roles in films like Chaplin and Sherlock Holmes.

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling began his career as a child actor on Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Club. His breakout film role came with The Notebook, which took his name to new heights and made him known.

He mainstreamed successful roles in Drive and La La Land, earning multiple award nominations after the public loved his role in La La Land along with Emma Stone. He gained success and had tons of work afterward.

Kirsten Dunst

Earning a Golden Globe at 12 is rare after Kirsten Dunst made a splash as a child in Interview with the Vampire. It was mindblowing for people as she amazed them very quickly.

Dunst became a household name with her portrayal of Mary Jane Watson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Marie Antoinette, and Melancholia, and many more plays.

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster began as a child star in commercials and films like Taxi Driver at the age of 12, making her earn Oscar nominations at 14. She played more roles in TV shows and films and later on she switched to mature roles.

She won an Academy Award for her performance in The Accused, which can be followed by another Oscar for her iconic portrayal of FBI agent Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs. She kept participating in iconic big-screen shows, making her known from a young age.

Anne Hathaway

Mia Thermopolis in Disney’s The Princess Diaries (2001), where the portrayal of a clumsy teenager started off the career of Anne Hathaway.

Hathaway’s breakout into critical acclaim and the real take off for her debut was when she came with her role as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada (2006), where she held her own alongside Meryl Streep. She earned her first Academy Award nomination for Rachel Getting Married (2008).

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was just 12 when she debuted in the industry by playing an interesting role in Leon: The Professional. She was loved for her roles, and she even won an Academy Award for Black Swan.

Moreover, by appearing in the most popular series like Star Wars and Thor, she developed into one of Hollywood’s most admired actresses.

Did you know celebrities are starting their families in 2024? Find out more in 16 Stars Who Grew Their Families in 2024 .

Scarlett Johansson

A child actor who started early in her acting career, Scarlett Johansson starred in films including The Horse Whisperer and small roles in other films.

However, in the early 2010s, she became famous for her roles as she starred in several hit Hollywood films, such as Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Prestige, Match Point, and many others. Her role in Lost in Translation is her most famous one.

Talking about the child stars making hits, you should check out Famous Stars Who Got Their Start in Horror Films , where you’ll discover how some of Hollywood’s biggest stars launched their careers in horror.

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