Child Stars Who Became Hollywood's Elite Actors
by Jenna GuillaumeBuzzFeedBuzzFeed Contributor
Child stars all-too-often turn into cautionary tales, but for some lucky ones, they not only grow up to continue acting, but actually excel at it. Recently Reddit user Haunting_Homework381 asked people to share examples of "a great child actor who never dropped their game as an adult" — here are some of the top responses...
1.
Christian Bale
Warner Bros, Lionsgate
Christian Bale's breakthrough role was in Empire of the Sun when he was 13, and he continued to work steadily into adulthood, including iconic roles in Newsies, Little Women, American Psycho, and The Dark Knight trilogy.
—suggested by thenga_mol
2.
Dakota Fanning
New Line Cinema, Netflix
Dakota Fanning was a prolific child actor, starring in movies like I Am Sam, Uptown Girls and Charlotte's Web. As an adult, she's done great work in movies like Once Upon a Time In Hollywood and shows like Ripley, The Perfect Couple and All Her Fault.
—suggested by yameteeeeeeeeee
3.
Elle Fanning
Amblin, Hulu
Elle Fanning was first known as Dakota Fanning's younger sister, but soon became a star in her own right in movies like Daddy Day Care, Babel, Super 8 and Maleficent. She's transitioned to prestigious roles as an adult in movies like A Complete Unknown and shows like The Great.
—suggested by sillydoomcookie
4.
Nicholas Hoult
Working Title, Hulu
Elle Fanning's The Great co-star Nicholas Hoult — who has starred in movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Nosferatu, and Superman — also got his start as a child actor, known for About a Boy and then, as a teen, for Skins.
—suggested by Defiant_Passage_7437
5.
Michael B. Jordan
HBO, Warner Bros
As a child actor, Michael B Jordan impressed in roles in Hardball and The Wire, and as an adult he's been nominated and won awards for his work in movies like Fruitvale Station, Black Panther, Creed and Sinners.
—suggested by poetryandpills
6.
Jodie Foster
Bill/Phillips Productions, MGM
Jodie Foster was a well-known child star, appearing in movies like Freaky Friday, Bugsy Malone, and Taxi Driver, for which she was nominated for an Oscar. As an adult she's won two Academy Awards, for The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs.
—suggested by Alarmed-Pangolin-154
7.
Ethan Hawke
Paramount, Columbia
Ethan Hawke made his film debut at age 14 in Explorers, and has gone on to have an extensive adult career, including roles in major movies like Reality Bites, Gattaca, Great Expectations, Boyhood, and the Before trilogy.
—suggested by aquari5lvt
8.
Tyler James Williams
UPN, ABC
Tyler James Williams was a Sesame Street kid and then the lead of Everybody Hates Chris before transitioning into notable adult roles in The Walking Dead, Dear White People and Abbott Elementary.
—Suggested by HoneySea5637
9.
Saoirse Ronan
Focus, Sony
Saoirse Ronan was nominated for an Oscar as a child for her role in Atonement, and has gone on to achieve three more Oscar nominations as an adult, for Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women.
—suggested by Phoebes-Punisher
10.
Daniel Radcliffe
Warner Bros, Roku
He may always be best known for his work as a child actor in the Harry Potter film series, but Daniel Radcliffe has carved out an interesting and somewhat quirky career for himself as an adult in shows like Miracle Workers and movies like The Lost City and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.
—suggested by rousemouse10
11.
Regina King
NBC, HBO
Regina King got her start at age 14 on sitcom 227, and as an adult she's won an Oscar for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk and multiple Emmys for her work in American Crime, Seven Seconds, and Watchmen.
—suggested by lonelyheartsclubband
12.
Natalie Portman
Gaumont, Fox Searchligh
Natalie Portman's breakthrough role was when she was 12 in Léon: The Professional. She won an Oscar at age 29 for Black Swan, and has been nominated for her roles in Closer and Jackie.
—suggested by cheetosurprise
13.
Christina Ricci
Universal, Showtime
Christina Ricci dominated the '90s as a child actor in movies like Mermaids, The Addams Family, Casper and Now and Then. As an adult she's shown her talents in movies like Monster and shows like Z: The Beginning of Everything and Yellowjackets.
—suggested by Impossible_Bet_3986
14.
Elijah Wood
20th Century Fox, Showtime
Christina's Yellowjackets co-star Elijah Wood was also a prominent '90s child actor, with roles in The Good Son and Flipper, and has gone on to an impressive career as an adult, starring in Wilfred, Sin City, and, of course, the Lord of the Rings films.
—suggested by ChairmaamMeow
15.
Sean Astin
Warner Bros, New Line Cinema
Fellow Lord of the Rings actor Sean Astin also got his start as a child actor, notably in The Goonies, before building a solid career as an adult, starring in Rudy, 50 First Dates, and Stranger Things.
—Suggested by Colonel_Gipper
16.
Ke Huy Quan
Warner Bros, A24
As a child, Ke Huy Quan had a scene-stealing role alongside Sean Astin in The Goon