35 Stars Who Started Their Careers as Child Actors
The story of the child star isn't always a positive tale in Hollywood.
Oftentimes, young actors find success in their childhood years, only to grow up and lose it all due to their bad behavior. But other times, child stars grow up to become equally as successful adults. In fact, some of your favorite celebs started their careers at an impressively young age.
Keep scrolling for 35 stars who started their careers as child actors.
(The Professional via Gaumont Buena Vista International)
Ryan Gosling
Yes, hunky Ryan Gosling first entered the entertainment scene when he was just a child. In 1993, Gosling landed a two-year contract with The Mickey Mouse Club. At just 12 years old, Gosling packed up and moved from his home in Canada to Orlando, Florida to shoot the show. However, his first acting job wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Gosling later said that he wasn't as talented as many of the other kids on the series, so he was given far less screen time. Thankfully, he was able to hone his talents over time and is now one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
(La La Land via Lionsgate)
Justin Timberlake
How could we mention Ryan Gosling's time on The Mickey Mouse Club without mentioning his best buddy, Justin Timberlake? Timberlake starred on the kids' show at the same time as Gosling. The series was his first big acting job. He later turned his attention to music and became a worldwide star as a member of the boyband N'Sync. After his musical success, he found his way back to acting and starred in many big films, including Friends With Benefits, The Social Network and Trouble With the Curve.
(Friends With Benefits via Sony Pictures Releasing)
Kristen Stewart
Before Kristen Stewart starred as moody Bella Swan in Twilight, she was just a child actress trying to make it big in Hollywood. At age 12, Stewart starred opposite Jodie Foster in Panic Room, a 2002 thriller directed by David Fincher. The movie kickstarted a successful career for Stewart, who now has dozens of acting credits to her name at just 30 years old. While she took a step away from mainstream entertainment after the success of Twilight, it's obvious the actress has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
(Panic Room via Sony Pictures Releasing)
Ashley Benson
Ashely Benson is best known for her role as Hanna in the Freeform drama series Pretty Little Liars. But before she spent her time running away from "A," Benson starred on Days of Our Lives. In the long-running soap opera, Benson played Abby Deveraux, the oldest child of Jack Deveraux and Jennnifer Horton. At the time, Benson was 15 years old. Her time on the soap launched her career, and just six years later she landed the role of Hanna.
(Days of Our Lives via NBC)
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman first turned heads in the entertainment world when she starred in the 1994 film The Professional at just 13 years old. Over the next few years, she continued working in Hollywood before landing the role that made her a household name: Padmé in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Since then, Portman has continued to make a splash in Hollywood. She even earned an Oscar for Best Actress for her work in Black Swan.
(The Professional via Gaumont Buena Vista International)
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio was always meant to be a star. At just five years old, he appeared in the children's television series Romper Room. After that, he became a regular on other popular television series like Growing Pains and Parenthood. Soon after his 18th birthday, DiCaprio starred in the movie This Boy's Life opposite Robert DeNiro. A year later, he was nominated for his first Oscar for his work in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. From his time on the small screen to his huge Hollywood roles, DiCaprio has continued to establish himself as one of Hollywood's most impressive talents.
(Growing Pains via ABC)
Kiera Knightley
Kiera Knightley started her career in entertainment across the pond in her home country of England, where she starred in a few British television series starting at just 8 years old. But when she turned 14, she landed a role in Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace as Padmé's bodyguard. That role forced Hollywood casting agents to take notice of her talent, and two years later she starred in The Hole. She then moved on to land a role in Bend It Like Beckham, which vaulted her into her illustrious Hollywood career.
(Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace via 20th Century Fox)
Jake Gyllenhaal
Jake Gyllenhaal is another hunky Hollywood man who got his start in entertainment far before women across the world were swooning over his good looks. In 1990, Gyllenhaal starred in the comedy City Slickers. At the time, he was 11 years old. He continued acting for the next ten years, playing small parts here and there, before he finally landed his big breakout role in Donnie Darko. After that, Gyllenhaal continued to show off his talent as a huge Hollywood star.
(City Slickers via Columbia Pictures)
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds also got his start in acting at a young age, though he didn't star on American screens. Instead, Reynolds first pursued a career in entertainment in his home country of Canada. At 14, Reynolds starred in the Canadian television series Fifteen. Now, he's one of the biggest names in Hollywood known for his funny characters and equally as humorous social media. Although Reynolds started acting as a child, he has said that he doesn't want the same for his own children.
(The Proposal via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Emma Watson
No one could ever forget Emma Watson's childhood acting days. Watson played the iconic role of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series, which first released when Watson was just 11 years old. When the films ended, Watson continued to pursue a career in acting, playing big parts in movies like My Week With Marilyn, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Noah. She even starred as Belle in the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast.
(Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone via Warner Bros.)
Scarlett Johansson
A huge name in entertainment today, Scarlett Johansson has had a long, illustrious career in Hollywood. She landed her first role when she was just 9 years old. At that time, she played Laura Nelson in the 1994 movie North. After that, her career in Hollywood continued on an upward climb. Most recently, Johansson was nominated for Best Actress for Marriage Story and Best Supporting Actress for JoJo Rabbit at the 2020 Oscars.
(North via Columbia Pictures)
Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst earned plenty of recognition for her childhood roles. After earning a few smaller parts in television series, she established herself as a true Hollywood talent through her 1994 role in Interview With the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles. She starred in the film alongside other big Hollywood names like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Just a year later, at 11 years old, Dunst starred with Robin Williams in Jumanji. As she grew older, she continued to work as an actress, starring in recognizable films like Spider-Man, Bring It On and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
(Jumanji via Sony Pictures Releasing)
Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon found success in the entertainment world at just 15 years old when she landed the starring role in The Man in the Moon. Two years later, she again earned the main role in a film, this time for A Far Off Place. After establishing her talent, Witherspoon had no problem finding work. Today, she is still one of the most in-demand actresses in all of Hollywood.
(The Man In the Moon via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore got a big start in Hollywood when she landed the role of Gertie in the blockbuster film E.T. At that time, she was just 7 years old, but her talent was undeniable. Two years later at age 9, Barrymore starred in the Stephen King classic Firestarter. After that, the roles just kept coming. Despite issues with substance abuse in her teens, Barrymore continued to find success in the acting world and still appears on both the big screen and the small screen today.
(E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial via Universal Pictures)
Joseph Gordon Levitt
Hollywood sweetheart Joseph Gordon Levitt was only 11 when he first got his start in the business. At that age, he was cast in A River Runs Through It opposite Brad Pitt. He was a massive success in that film and went on to become a huge child actor, starring in movies like Angels in the Outfield and the TV series 3rd Rock From the Sun. As he has grown up, he continues to be an often-seen face in Hollywood, starring in notable movies like (500) Days of Summer, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and many, many more.
(A River Runs Through It via Columbia Pictures)
Neil Patrick Harris
Although Neil Patrick Harris became a household name when he played the role of Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, he was in the entertainment game long before he landed that role. In fact, Harris got his start at a young age when he was cast in the television series Doogie Howser, M.D. But he truly established his talent when he starred in the movie Clara's Heart alongside Whoopi Goldberg at age 15. Harris went on to play a variety of different roles that showed off his acting range. Throughout his many years in the entertainment industry, he has established himself as a talented actor, as well as a noteworthy singer and dancer.
(Clara's Heart via Warner Bros.)
Jason Bateman
Jason Bateman is a huge name in Hollywood today. Even though he's well known, most fans aren't aware that he got his start playing James Cooper Ingalls on the television series Little House on the Praire at 12 years old. Two years later, he starred in the hit sitcom Silver Spoons. He has continued to show off his acting chops throughout his life in movies like Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Identity Thief and Game Night.
(Ozark via Netflix)
Naya Rivera
Before she starred as the iconic Santana Lopez in Glee, Naya Rivera worked as a child actress on the comedy Family Matters. But before even making a name for herself in that role, Rivera starred in the 1991 sitcom The Royal Family. Although Rivera passed away earlier this year, her long history in Hollywood made her a beloved actress that will be fondly remembered in fans' minds.
(Family Matters via ABC)
Katherine Heigl
At the height of her career, Katherine Heigl was one of the biggest names in Hollywood. She starred on the television show Roswell and established herself as a true talent in her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on Grey's Anatomy. But before all that success, Heigl was still working away. At 16, Heigl was cast in the 1994 drama, My Father the Hero. She appeared in other Hollywood movies over the next few years before establishing her success on the small screen. After she dominated the television space, she became the go-to star of romantic comedies before taking a step away from entertainment altogether.
(My Father the Hero via Buena Vista Pictures)
Christian Bale
Christian Bale is well-known for his incredible talent. After so many years in Hollywood, he should know what's he's doing! This accomplished actor landed his first role at just 13 in Steven Spielberg's war drama Empire of the Sun. He was an instant success in that movie, but didn't actually enjoy the fame that came along with it. In fact, he absolutely abhorred the following press tour. Thankfully, he managed to work through his frustration and continue his career in Hollywood.
(Empire of the Sun via Warner Bros.)
Hayden Panetierre
Although she is just 31 years old, Hayden Panetierre has had an incredibly successful career. She has roughly 70 acting credits to her name, which makes sense when you consider that she landed her first role at just five years old. At that time, Panetierre starred as Sarah Roberts in the daytime soap One Life to Live. She worked on that show for three years before pursuing other television opportunities. She has continued to work steadily throughout her life on series like Malcolm in the Middle, Heroes and Nashville.
(One Life to Live via ABC)
Alyson Hannigan
Lily from How I Met Your Mother didn't find her first success starring in the hit TV series. No, actress Alyson Hannigan got her first job when she was just 14. Hannigan stared in the 1988 film My Stepmother Is an Alien alongside Kim Basinger. She then went on to claim roles in American Pie and Buffy the Vampire Slayer before taking on another TV role as Lily.
(My Stepmother Is An Alien via Columbia Pictures)
Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood is best known for his role as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. But that movie wasn't his first big Hollywood acting job. In 1994 at just 13 years old, Wood starred with Scarlett Johansson in the movie North. While that was his first big part, his first real role in Hollywood was an unnamed character called "video game boy" in Back to the Future II, which premiered in 1989.
(North via Columbia Pictures)
Kenan Thompson
Today, Kenan Thompson is best known as the longest-running cast member to ever star on Saturday Night Live. Thompson has been a mainstay in the SNL cast for 16 years! But he actually started his career on the big screen in the 1994 film D2: The Mighty Ducks. He followed up that performance with an appearance in the comedy film Heavyweights. After those successful jobs, Thompson moved onto other pursuits, including his cult classic movie Good Burger and self-titled television series Kenan & Kel.
(D2: The Mighty Ducks via Buena Vista Pictures)
Joaquin Phoenix
Today, Joaquin Phoenix is a three-time Oscar-nominated actor for his work in Gladiator, Walk the Line and The Master. But his success started at the age of 8, when Phoenix was cast in popular television shows like Hill Street Blues, The Fall Guy and Murder, She Wrote. At age 12, his performance in the film SpaceCamp only further his reputation as a young Hollywood talent. He continued acting throughout his life and recently appeared in the 2019 film Joker.
(Joker via Warner Bros.)
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt first made her splash in Hollywood on the 1990s TV show Party of Five. But Hewitt was acting before that. In 1990, when Hewitt was 11 years old, she played Robin on Disney's Kids Incorporated. At the time, she only went by Love Hewitt. She re-added her first name to her Hollywood acting gigs when she starred in Sister Act 2 in 1993. Since those early days of acting, Hewitt has stuck to television, playing roles on series like Criminal Minds, The Client List and Ghost Whisperer.
(Kids Incorporated via Disney Channel)
Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne was yet another actor who started his career early in life. At just 11 years old, Fishburne landed a role on the daytime soap One Life to Live. At the same time, he also starred in the 1975 movie Cornbread, Earl, and Me. After a few years on One Life to Live, Fishburne left to star in the 1979 movie Apocalypse Now. Although he was just 14 at the time, he lied to the director and said he was 16 in order to play the part of a grizzled soldier fighting in the Vietnam War. Fishburne later said the movie, which he filmed from 1976 to 1978, was the training ground he needed to take off in his acting career.
(Akeelah and the Bee via Lionsgate Films)
Regina King
Recently, Regina King won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in If Beale Street Could Talk. But before she was an Oscar-winning entertainer, King starred in the television show 227 at just 14 years old. She played Brenda Jenkins from 1985 to 1990 before moving on to star in other films like How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Enemy of the State and Mighty Joe Young.
(If Beale Street Could Talk via Annapurna Pictures)
Elisabeth Moss
Today, Elisabeth Moss is a recognizable face for her successful roles on Mad Men and Hulu's Handmaid's Tale. But when Moss was just eight, she started her acting career with a part on the television mini-series Lucky Chances. Just two years later, she landed a starring role in the Lifetime movie Midnight Child. Moss went on to find success after success in her acting career before landing the role of Zoey Bartlet in The West Wing. The role skyrocketed her to fame, and she is still a successful actress working consistently to this day.
(Handmaid's Tale via Hulu)
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster first got her start in Hollywood when she starred in the TV series The Courtship of Eddie's Father in 1969. At the time, she was just 7 years old. Around that same age, Foster also starred in another television series, The Doris Day Show. Her initial roles set her up for success and she continued to earn high-profile parts in Hollywood. She also earned the Best Actress Oscar twice for her work in The Accused and Silence of the Lambs.
(Silence of the Lambs via Orion Pictures)
Jerry O'Connell
Before Jerry O'Connell was the attractive man from Billions, he starred in a beloved movie where he looked quite a bit different from his normal, hunky self. At 12 years old, O'Connell played Vern in Stand By Me. A chubby kid, Vern was often the butt of the joke amongst his friends. But O'Connell grew up and made everyone eat their words when he shed all his baby fat.
(Billions via Showtime)
Ethan Hawke
Today, Ethan Hawke is known for his roles in big movies like Sinister, Training Day, and The Purge. But before Hawke lent his smoldering expression to dramatic movies, he starred in the 1985 film Explorers. At the time, he was just 15. While Hawke did well, it wasn't until he starred in Dead Poets Society in 1989 that he truly made a splash in Hollywood. Since then, he has continued to find success on the big screen, and is even a published author and director.
(Sinister via Summit Entertainment)
Keri Russell
Keri Russell earned her first taste of true Hollywood success in the television series Felicity as the titular character. But before that, Russell was also a Mousketeer on The Mickey Mouse Club from 1991 to 1993. Before she starred in Felicity, she also played Mandy in the 1992 film Honey, I Blew Up the Kids. After Felicity, Russell continued to earn a steady stream of acting jobs. Today, she stars as a Russian spy on the FX series The Americans.
(Felicity via The WB)
Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin found incredible success as child actor. In fact, in 1993, Paquin won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her work in The Piano. She was just 11 at the time, making her the second-youngest star to ever take home the award. After that, Paquin starred in films like Fly Away Home, A Walk on the Moon and Almost Famous. She later went on to star in the television series True Blood as an adult.
(The Piano via Miramax Films)
Seth Green
While Seth Green has had a long career in Hollywood, he is probably best known for his role as Scott Evil in the Austin Powers films. However, his career started when he was just 10 years old. At that time, Green starred in the 1984 film A Billion For Boris. That same year, Green also starred alongside Rob Lowe and Jodie Foster in the movie The Hotel New Hampshire. Since then, Green has gone on to star in various movies and TV series, including Family Guy and Robot Chicken.
(Austin Powers: Internation Man of Mystery via New Line Cinema)
Looking for more info on your favorite stars? Click HERE for 35 celebrities you never knew were left-handed.