Top 10 2000s Child Stars That Have All Grown Up

Born to parents who worked in Hollywood, Kristen Stewart seemed destined for show biz. She began her acting career at the age of eight and worked consistently, earning parts in film and television. Stewart’s big break came when she landed a role in the thriller “Panic Room”, opposite former child actor, Jodie Foster. Years later, she won the coveted role of Bella Swan in the on-screen adaptation of the book series "Twilight." A true pop culture phenomenon, the movies launched her into the global spotlight, where she has remained ever since. Racking up a slew of high-profile credits, she most recently earned her first Oscar nom for playing Princess Diana in the film "Spencer."

Before she could even walk, Hayden Panettiere was already starring in commercials. She made the leap from ads to daytime television when she was cast on the soap opera “One Life to Live.” In the early 2000s, Panettiere began to blossom on the big screen, with appearances in titles such as “Remember the Titans” and “Raising Helen.” But it was in 2006 that her career really soared to great heights. After starring in “Bring It On: All or Nothing,” she became a huge TV star with her portrayal of indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s “Heroes.” When the series ended, Panettiere appeared in “Scream 4” and later received acclaim for her role in ABC's country musical series “Nashville.”

Right from his teenage years, Joseph Gordon-Levitt had always sought roles that were out of this world. At 14, he joined the cast of the sitcom “3rd Rock from the Sun” as part of a family of aliens pretending to be regular humans. He then went on to star in flicks such as “Mysterious Skin” and “Brick.” In his adulthood, Gordon-Levitt made an even bigger name for himself when he appeared in the quintessential late 2000s rom-com “(500) Days of Summer.” Since then, he has added writer, director and producer to his resume, heading projects such as the 2013 film “Don Jon” and the Apple TV+ series “Mr. Corman.” He also created the online community, HitRecord, which provides collaboration opportunities for artists worldwide.

Like many other child stars, Abigail Breslin’s career began as a toddler in the world of TV commercials. She then made a pivot to the big screen with her first movie role in M. Night Shyamalan’s “Signs.” Breslin’s breakthrough performance came in the 2006 film “Little Miss Sunshine,” which earned her an Academy Award nomination and put her on the path to superstardom. That led to parts in comedies such as “Definitely, Maybe” and the modern cult classic “Zombieland.” She reprised her role in the latter’s 2019 sequel “Zombieland: Double Tap.” These days, Breslin maintains steady work, appearing in the crime drama “Stillwater” and the comedy horror film “Slayers.”

The older of the Fanning sisters, Dakota Fanning has graced our screens since the tender age of five. Just two years into her career, she amazed audiences with a gripping performance in "I Am Sam," playing the daughter of Sean Penn's character. The role brought her significant attention, creating the opportunity to work in everything from the action-packed "War of the Worlds" to the creepy animated delight "Coraline." She even won a guest-starring role on the final season of "Friends." After earning a degree in Women’s Studies from NYU in 2014, Fanning continued to pick up notable roles on the big and small screen. She starred in the TNT series “The Alienist” and appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”

Born in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, Frankie Muniz’s life flipped upside down when he was discovered at a local talent show at the age of eight. He moved to California with his mother where, in 1999, he was cast as the titular character in the Fox sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle.” The show became an instant success, making Muniz a household name and one of the most bankable teen actors in Hollywood. His star quality wasn’t limited to TV alone, as the Emmy-nominated actor also starred in films like "Big Fat Liar" and "Agent Cody Banks." Muniz pumped the brakes on his acting career in 2008 to focus on open-wheel racing. But he made a surprising return to the screen on the 25th season of “Dancing with the Stars.”

While most of their mates were still learning to crawl, Dylan and Cole Sprouse were already in front of the camera. The Italian-born twins began starring in commercials, before landing the single character of Patrick Kelly on ABC’s “Grace Under Fire.” Often sharing roles, the twins got an opportunity to appear on-screen simultaneously when Disney cast them in "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" and its sequel series “The Suite Life on Deck.” Both shows made the boys international sensations, attracting a large preteen and teenage fanbase. In 2011, they stepped away from the spotlight to attend NYU and earned their degrees four years later. Cole returned to the screen with "Riverdale" while Dylan currently juggles acting with operating his own meadery.

Lindsay Lohan’s tumultuous career began when she was just three years old, working as a child model. She pivoted to acting and soon landed her breakout role as identical twins in the 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap.” Her dual performance shot her into the limelight and led to appearances in movies like "Freaky Friday" and "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen." Then came the high school comedy "Mean Girls," which transformed Lohan from a teen celeb to Hollywood's new IT girl. However, she however suffered a series of setbacks that made her an easy target for the tabloids. Following a hiatus from the big screen, Lohan made a comeback with 2022’s “Falling for Christmas.”

These days, he’s known for his starring roles in A&E’s “Bates Motel” and the ABC medical drama “The Good Doctor”. But Freddie Highmore’s acclaimed performances as an adult aren’t in any way surprising, considering how much promise he showed as a child actor. Highmore began his journey with guest TV appearances, but first garnered significant attention in 2004’s “Finding Neverland.” His award-winning performance opened the door to the star-making titular role in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” As he matured, Highmore dabbled in voiceover work, before largely transitioning from movies to TV. With two hit series under his belt, so far, the Golden Globe-nominated actor shows no signs of slowing down his dynamic career.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

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Although she already had a few credits to her name, Hilary Duff's career really took off when she won the title role of "Lizzie McGuire" in the hit Disney series. The relatable character quickly endeared her to audiences and brought along international recognition. After bidding a fond farewell to her onscreen counterpart with "The Lizzie McGuire Movie," Duff branched out with lead roles in movies like "A Cinderella Story." She also ventured into music and launched her own fashion label. In more recent years, Duff seems to have returned to her roots, starring as endearing characters in relatable comedy shows, from “Younger” to the Hulu sitcom “How I Met Your Father.”