While not all child actors transition from youth to adulthood in the acting industry, you may be surprised that some of your favorite actors and actresses started young. Appearing in hit TV shows and movies as children, their success followed them into adulthood, landing these talented men and women in blockbusters and indie hits. Keep reading to learn about six prominent child actors who have had memorable careers in adulthood.
6. Josh Brolin
Josh Brolin started his acting career at 16 years old, playing Brandon “Brand” Walsh in The Goonies. While he had a couple of attention-grabbing roles while he was young, Brolin did face challenges, including a hiatus from acting. However, when he returned, Brolin solidified himself as a serious actor, having breakthrough performances in No Country for Old Men and Milk. Brolin continued to make his mark when he landed the role of Thanos in the MCU, and later his role in Dune, ranking sixth on our list of child actors.
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5. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Child stars often make their mark first in television, exactly what Joseph Gordon-Levitt did in 3rd Rock from the Sun. Later, Gordon-Levitt would make his mark in film with appearances in 10 Things I Hate About You and The Third Wheel. Taking a hiatus to focus on his academics, Gordon-Levitt came back with a splash with roles in Brick, 500 Days of Summer, and Inception. His involvement in other innovative projects has cemented Gordon-Levitt as a versatile actor.
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4. Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood earns the fourth spot on our child actors list, with his success marked by talent and career choices. Wood broke into the acting world with The Good Son and The Ice Storm. His true claim to fame was his portrayal of Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings series. After, Wood has had his pick of roles, including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Sin City, dipping into both mainstream and indie projects.
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3. Natalie Portman
Coming in second on our child actors list is Natalie Portman. Debuting in Léon: The Professional, Portman’s maturity on the screen propelled her into The Phantom Menace, becoming Queen Amidala in the Star Wars prequels. Portman transitioned into adult roles with Closer and Garden State, but her performance in Black Swan cemented her in the industry and got her an Academy Award. She continues to portray nuanced and blockbuster characters to show her versatility.
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2. Zendaya
One of the most recognizable child actors on our list is Zendaya. Starting as a child model and backup dancer, she made her debut on the Disney Channel show Shake It Up. She also later appeared on K.C. Undercover. Zendaya’s feature film debut came in 2017 with her role as MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming, reprising her roles for both sequels Far From Home and No Way Home. Other notable credits include HBO’s Euphoria, The Greatest Showman, Challengers, and Dune: Part One and Two.
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1. Christian Bale
Last but not least on our list of child actors is Christian Bale. Starting at the age of 13, Bale earned success in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. Taking a brief hiatus from the spotlight, Bale returned and dived into adult roles. These included American Psycho, The Machinist, and Equilibrium. His commitment to characters as a method actor has won him several awards and blockbuster hits, including The Dark Knight trilogy and Vice.
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