Top 20 Child Actors Who Became Successful Adult Actors

Too often, tabloids are littered with tragic reports of former child stars, but not all of them have fallen off the map. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 20 Actors That Became Successful Adult Actors.

For this list, we’re taking a look at child actors who aged the most gracefully, arguably becoming even more successful as adults. While we applaud Ron Howard and Leonardo DiCaprio for their work beyond their tweens, one has seen more glory behind the camera and the other mainly made guest spots on sitcoms in his youth.

The world fell in love with Thomas Sangster’s angelic face the moment he ran through an airport for the girl of his dreams in “Love Actually,” but the actor has left such innocent roles behind. Through his portrayal of a young Paul McCartney in “Nowhere Boy,” Sangster showed that he’s not a little boy anymore. Since then, he’s adopted a hyphenated name and racked up a filmography that nicely balances franchises like “The Maze Runner” with quieter fare like “The Death of a Superhero.” But perhaps most notably, fans will recognize Sangster as Jojen Reed on “Game of Thrones.”

It’s always impressive when an English actor can pull off a pitch-perfect American accent, but being able to do it at such a young age is really something. What’s more, Freddie Highmore appeared to be gambling on what made him popular in roles like “Finding Neverland” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” He quickly shed the lovable English inflection when he took on the role of one of the most disturbed young minds in modern pop culture: Norman Bates in “Bates Motel.” The show would run for five seasons, with the actor receiving great critical acclaim. His small screen success has continued with the complex role of the autistic surgeon Shaun Murphy on “The Good Doctor.”

In the early millennium, we could never imagine the cherubic cast of “Harry Potter” growing up, as if a spell would keep them forever youthful. The actors have grown up in more ways than one, however. Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, went against type, taking on more and more challenging jobs until his signature child role was practically a footnote. Emma Watson has had a similar journey, appearing in indies like Sofia Coppola’s “The Bling Ring.” While she’s not against appearing in more family-friendly fantasies like the “Beauty and the Beast” remake, she’s primarily leaned towards mature roles, such as Meg March in “Little Women.”

It says a lot about your acting chops when you’re getting SAG Award nominations at the age 7. Dakota Fanning hit the mainstream as the daughter of a mentally handicapped Sean Penn in “I Am Sam.” There was little question she had talent, but it was young Fanning’s charm and whimsy that really won us over. We adored her in “Charlotte’s Web” and feared for her in “War of the Worlds.” With her recent roles as Squeaky Fromme in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and the western “Brimstone,” Fanny’s metamorphosis into an adult actress was complete.

One imagines that the goal of any former child actor is to not get typecast in their adult years. If that’s so, Neil Patrick Harris has done well to all but obliterate the years he carried the “Doogie Howser” moniker. Harris tried once in the late 90s with an appearance in “Starship Troopers” as, you guessed it, a science officer. But it wasn’t until “How I Met Your Mother”’s womanizing, sex-crazed Barney Stinson that Harris redefined his career. He subsequently became one of the most popular LGBTQ+ actors working, as well as a sought after awards show host.

Upon growing up, Christina Ricci rid herself of childish things - and clothing - as soon as possible. Little Ricci greeted America warmly in “Casper” and “The Addams Family” movies. But even before she turned 18, she had appeared in more maturely themed works, such as Ang Lee’s “The Ice Storm.” Since then, she’s taken on more and more risque roles, from successes like “Black Snake Moan” and “Monster” to outright flops like “After.Life.” Rest assured, she’s long put the days of Wednesday Addams behind her.

If any Hollywood actor knows the importance of initiative, it’s this guy. You may recognize him as Frodo Baggins from the massively popular “LOTR” trilogy. But he might never have been cast had it not been for the audition tape he took it upon himself to send in. His turn as Frodo made him an international star and helped the world to see him as a man instead of the boy from films like “North,” “The Good Son” and that one scene in “Back to the Future II.” Wood has since shown the world his abilities in breakthrough roles in “Sin City” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” proving he’ll be around for a while.

After starting his screen career as a tyke, Gordon-Levitt became one of the stars of the long- running but underrated sitcom “3rd Rock from the Sun,” in a role that allowed him to show off his stellar comedic timing and know-how as an old man trapped in a youthful body. Once that show came to an end, he tried his hand at more dramatic roles and indie flicks, like “Brick.”
He would almost entirely shed his boyish persona to become a star in big-budget films, such as “Inception,” “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Looper.” Along with Golden Globes nods for “(500) Days of Summer” and “50/50,” Gordon-Levitt founded a collaborative online production company called HitRecord in the mid-2000s.

One of the youngest performers ever to win an Academy Award, Paquin’s early years in the film industry were marked by a playful spirit and an ability to tackle weighty subjects. When it came time to transition to onscreen adulthood, she never missed a beat with excellent appearances in respected films like the “X-Men” series, “25th Hour” and “Almost Famous.” Finally completely coming of age for most audiences thanks to her starring role - and Golden Globe-nominated performance - in the vampire drama True Blood,” Anna poised herself to have a lengthy and celebrated career in the years to come.

Beginning acting at the ripe old age of 6, Mickey Rooney the rest of his 93 years on this planet making appearances in front of the cameras, and though his star may have passed away his legacy lives on. One of the last living silent film era stars, and a Hollywood heavyweight with one of the longest careers going, Mickey proved his skills with acclaimed roles including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at age 15 and an Academy Award nominated performance at almost 60 in “The Black Stallion.” Mickey Rooney won awards, receipts and hearts over the course of a multi-decade career with his humor, charm and genuine talent.

Scarlett Johansson is best known nowadays for playing Natasha Romanoff in the MCU, although her breakthrough role was far different from Black Widow. The deeply cynical “Ghost World” may have transformed her career, but she had a reputable stack of child roles leading up to it. Though she received an “introducing” credit in “The Horse Whisperer,” she had already appeared in several other films. Just as well, though, as director Robert Redford sang praises of her maturity, calling her “13 going on 30.” By the time a movie carrying that tile rolled around, she already had a Golden Globe nomination.

Kirsten Dunst, without realizing it, may epitomize this list as the girl Hollywood didn’t want to grow up. After she appeared as the young vampiress opposite Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in “Interview with the Vampire,” audiences couldn’t picture her as an adult. Dunst has aged, however, starring in everything from blockbusters like the “Spider-Man” trilogy to experimental films like “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Dunst has also pursued more challenging, risky roles with controversial filmmakers such as Lars von Trier and prestige names like Sofia Coppola.

Viewers were introduced to Ms. Portman when she was barely in her tweens, but even then her skills made her an acting heavyweight who was wise beyond her years and as mature as her co-stars Gary Oldman and Jean Reno in “Leon: The Professional.” Ironically, when she was finally awarded an Oscar for her work, it was for her role as a woman who in many ways was childlike and repressed, living under the thumb of her mother. Whatever her age or whichever emotion she’s evoking, Natalie Portman is a talented actress of the highest regard who’s transitioned from child star to adult star with grace.

When viewing the intense, often angry performances of Christian Bale’s recent years it’s difficult to believe he was once a cute child actor or a singing and dancing teen, but we have the movies to prove it. If you can get past his baby face and instead focus on the gravitas he brought to his characters at such an early age, his current trajectory makes perfect sense. You can see the kind of passion even then that could lead an actor to lose and gain weight for roles, even to the detriment of his health, and can catch glimpses of a thespian who could later lose himself entirely in his work.

A legendary Hollywood star who had his first film role beside Elvis Presley at the age of 11, Kurt Russell’s career has spanned five decades – and his success has remained relatively constant. An actor who, according to some sources, was Disney’s top star of the 1970s, Russell transitioned easily from more family-friendly fare to more mature or straight-up badass roles. An A-list actor who’s also become a cult film darling, Russell’s collaborations with John Carpenter ensured he’d remain relevant to a whole new generation of action flick fans. Meanwhile, the 2010s saw him appear in a number of huge flicks, like the Fast & Furious franchise, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and more than 1 Quentin Tarantino film.

When she first came to prominence as a child star in “E.T.,” to say that she was adorable seems like we’re woefully understating things. In one of the most successful movies of all time, Drew managed to shine even though her role easily could’ve been forgettable in the hands of most young actors. But, the pressure of stardom and being part of one of America’s most famous acting dynasties finally got to her, and it seemed as though she might end up like so many child stars whose lives hit the skids. Fortunately, she began rebuilding in the late-‘90s, and has continued her reign as a very bankable star as evidenced by her roles in rom-coms, the Charlie’s Angels franchise and more.

The legend goes that Judy Garland changed the lyrics to the final verse of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” because it was too sad. In retrospect, she may have feebly been trying to edit her life, which was filled with tragedy. Studio executives who didn’t find her attractive manipulated her body and physical appearance. Although her life ended with a fatal barbiturate overdose in 1968, Garland’s later years are just as treasured as the days she walked the yellow brick road. And the final years saw an Oscar nomination for “Judgment at Nuremberg.” If that’s not strength in the face of adversity, we don’t know what is.

At least Garland fans received some sort of closure when she passed away. Natalie Wood’s untimely drowning is drenched in controversy and unanswered questions. Her life, however, was one of a unique talent on display at an early age. Wood became America’s little girl when she sat on Santa’s lap in “Miracle on 34th Street.” Her years in Hollywood, some argue, can be viewed as the maturation of the American woman, taking early child roles to coveted, rare middle-aged roles right up until her death. If her legacy is that of the girl who managed to steal the hearts of the country’s parents and the neighborhood rebel without a cause, it’s one that’s hard to live down.

A massively talented and respected actress who first earned an Academy Award nomination at 15 after a long list of performances, and who took home the trophy twice over the following 15 years, Foster earned her place in Hollywood. After making her screen debut at the age of three, she’s finally transitioned to the director’s chair, and her peers hold her in such esteem that she seems to make whatever project she spearheads a reality, including a film about a man and his beaver puppet. There are few actors who’ve created as many well remembered characters as Ms. Foster, who has since expanded her acting career with a directing one.

Inciting a bidding war in the era of movie studio contracts, Elizabeth Taylor had both Universal and MGM banging down her door due to their belief that she was a star in the making. To say they were right is an understatement. Appearing more serious and somehow older than many of her similarly aged counterparts, Elizabeth’s focus eventually became one of her most priceless strengths. A woman whose star power was so strong she remained a highly sought-after celebrity years after her acting career went mostly dormant, Taylor’s beauty and acting chops played as a child and as an adult.