While some child stars never make it in Hollywood past their 18th birthday, flunking out of the limelight like normal people their age flunk chemistry, a few of them manage to make the transition. Here are 21 child celebrities then and now!
Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes was a delightful child star with a bright career whose hard-partying ways and obvious mental issues have made for many sad headlines in recent years.
Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in The Piano. She went on to play Rogue and Sookie Stackhouse. Not too bad.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan had a bright, bright future when she hit the scene. And then her star went completely out and now she can’t even keep a reality show afloat.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears got her start as a Mousketeer (like a few more faces we’ll see in this gallery). Now she’s a headliner in Las Vegas.
Christina Aguilera
Teen singing rival to Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera was also a Mouseketeer. She managed to keep her nose clean while growing up and landed a job on The Voice.
Christina Ricci
Famous for playing Wednesday Addams, Christina Ricci was a rising star in the 90s. She’s kept an air of mystery through the years.
Dakota Fanning
Dakota Fanning started making films when she was in kindergarten. She eventually landed herself a role on Twilight. Not sure if that’s good or bad.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe was only part of the way through filming the Harry Potter franchise when he decided to shed his child-star image by performing in the nude in Equus. Yep. That’ll do it.
Drew Barrymore
Perhaps one of the most successful child stars to make it as an adult is Drew Barrymore. She’s still setting trends with that hair of hers.
Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood will forever and always be Frodo Baggins no matter what. Unless he pulls a Daniel Radcliffe and gets naked on Broadway. Maybe.
Justin Timberlake
Before he was a sex symbol, Justin Timberlake was a Mouseketeer and boyfriend to one Britney Jean Spears.
Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst is still making headlines these days, though it’s for the controversial things she says and not so much the movies she’s in.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardi DiCaprio is like a fine wine. He just keeps getting better and better with age.
Macaulay Culkin
Once upon a time, Macaulay Culkin ordered pizza while he was home alone. Now Macaulay Culkin eats pizza and sings about it.
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are probably among the absolute most famous child stars ever. EVER.
Neil Patrick Harris
From Doogie Howser to Hedwig to Barney Stinson, Neil Patrick Harris is still amazing.
Rupert Grint
Rupert Grint might be Ron Weasley, but as an adult Rupert Grint is just sort of hot. While he’s not making too many films right now, we certainly have hopes that will change.
Ryan Gosling
Hey, girl. Check out Ryan Gosling as a child star and check out Ryan Gosling’s pecs now.
Shia LeBeouf
So maybe Shia LeBeouf’s success is on the decline, but he sure did have a good run between the time he was a kid and the time he went crazy.
Emma Watson
Emma Watson is working her way up the Hollywood ladder by making smart choices and staying out of trouble. Good girl, Emma!