Top 10 Greatest Triple Threat Child Stars
#10: Neil Patrick Harris
Before he was Barney on “How I Met Your Mother,” he was performing surgery at the ripe age of 16. Harris landed a role as the titular character in “Doogie Howser, M.D.” as a teen, but we only found out later that his skills included more than just medical acting. As an adult, Harris has starred in musicals like “Company” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” the latter of which won him a Tony. He has also hosted the Broadway-based award show multiple times, showing off his triple threat talents in openings that will blow your mind.
#9: Ryan Gosling
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While so many didn't become fully aware of Ryan Gosling until 2004’s “The Notebook,” he was working as a child performer for quite some time before starring in that romantic film. Along with fellow child star Justin Timberlake, Gosling starred in “The Mickey Mouse Club” in the 1990s, showing off his incredible vocal and dancing skills. Even though Gosling is clearly adept in both mediums, he didn’t really show off his musical talent much until late in his adult career. In 2016, he starred alongside Emma Stone in “La La Land” and impressed a wider audience. But the OG fans knew from the beginning.
#8: Ariana Grande
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While most of us know Ariana Grande for her pop star career, kids who were watching Nickelodeon in the early 2010s knew she had the acting bug as well. Grande starred as Cat Valentine in the sitcom “Victorious,” wowing us all with both her vocals and comedic timing. The character was so beloved, she even went on to star in a spin-off alongside fellow Nickelodeon alum Jennette McCurdy. Grande has mostly stuck to singing and dancing since, but don’t count out acting yet. She had a small but memorable role in 2021’s “Don’t Look Up,” and is set to star in the upcoming “Wicked” movie as Glinda.
#7: Anna Kendrick
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“Pitch Perfect” is one of the most successful musical film franchises of all time. It put Anna Kendrick on the map as far as being a triple threat we should all be watching. However, you might be surprised to know that Kendrick has been a triple threat since the age of 12. In 1998, she was nominated for a Tony award for her role in the musical “High Society.” While she ultimately didn’t win, getting nominated at such a young age is ridiculously impressive. Since that honor, Kendrick has continued to prove her talents in acting, singing, and dancing well into adulthood.
#6: Vanessa Hudgens
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In the 2000s, “High School Musical” was basically a breeding ground for talented young actors. You, of course, had Zac Efron who continues to crush it to this day. The other half of that pairing comes in the form of one Vanessa Hudgens. As Gabriella Montez, Hudgens rose to prominence and proved herself as a capable actor, singer, and dancer. In her later years, she has only continued to raise the bar. From starring in “Grease Live” to taking on a supporting role in “Tick, Tick … Boom!” Hudgens positively bolsters whatever she is in.
#5: Zendaya
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Through her appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and HBO’s “Euphoria,” it may seem like Zendaya has been around for forever. But, of course, her talents appeared on screens for the first time when she was just fourteen years old in Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up.” She didn’t end up just another dime a dozen Disney star, however. She proved that she had the triple threat talent necessary to make it big. Zendaya has won numerous acting awards and continues to work with dynamite directors like Denis Villeneuve. But, she also pops up in big-budget musicals like “The Greatest Showman” to remind us all how strong her singing and dancing is.
#4: Janet Jackson
We always talk about how talented Michael Jackson was as a child, but let’s spend some time talking about his sister. Janet Jackson started performing from an incredibly young age, acting in her family’s variety show in the 1970s. She was always a triple threat performer, but as she grew up, she began to solidify herself as a star away from her family. A phenomenon throughout the 1990s and beyond, Jackson was known for her over-the-top, spectacular shows and her phenomenal dancing. Meanwhile, outside of pop stardom, she was taking the time to star in great movies like “Poetic Justice,” proving to everyone that she really had it all.
#3: Tom Holland
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If you’ve seen Tom Holland’s “Lip Sync Battle,” then you already know he’s got moves for days. But, you might not know that the “Spider-Man” star actually got his start because of those moves. When Holland was just nine years old, he was chosen to star in “Billy Elliot the Musical” in London, which vaulted him into the industry. His first big screen appearance came just a few years later, where he proved himself capable against the likes of Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor in “The Impossible.” The actor is such a triple threat, one of his next projects has him portraying who else but triple threat extraordinaire, Fred Astaire.
#2: Judy Garland
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Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney were some of the 1930s and ‘40s biggest young stars. They starred in a series of musicals together that catapulted them both to celebrity status. Garland has extensive discographies and filmographies, and far too many accomplishments to list. But she is, of course, best known for her role as Dorothy in the 1939 “The Wizard of Oz.” Her magnificent voice set her apart from others of her ilk. That, combined with her vulnerable acting style and slick dance moves, is what makes us remember her so fondly all these years later.
#1: Shirley Temple
A child star so famous, they named an entire drink after her! Shirley Temple ruled the box office in the 1930s, churning out hit after hit and becoming a mainstay in popular American culture. Temple was extremely young when she began acting – as in, only-been-alive-for-three-years young! She captured the hearts of the nation with her affability, her bright voice, and her adorable dance moves. Temple’s career waned as she got older, and she retired from the industry at the ripe age of 22. Still, we’ll always fondly remember the little girl who told us to put animal crackers in our soup.
