From Child Actors to Superstars
Child actors have always been an essential
part of the entertainment world, in movies as
well as in television. Although some child actors
fail to grow into prominent actors, or later
choose to follow a different path (as did Shirley
Temple who became a successful public
figure and diplomat), many of them flourish
into movie stars and/or singing celebrities.
Famous child actors who have had successful
transitions into the realm of adult actors include
Britney Spears, Drew Barrymore, Lindsay
Lohan, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
Britney
Spears
Since she was very young, Britney Spears knew
she was destined to be famous. Often singing
for family and friends and performing in commercials,
Britney made her first public appearance in
the 1992 version of Star Search at eleven years
old. Although she ultimately lost the competition,
Britney would earn a spot on the Mickey Mouse
Club. After two years on the show, she pursued
other dreams until she became the Princess of
Pop.
Drew
Barrymore
Drew Barrymore began her acting
career before she was able to walk. As a baby,
she starred in TV commercials, and by three
years old, she played her first role on the
big screen. Drew got her big break in 1982 in
one of the most renowned movies of the decade,
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. After playing several
roles as the adorable child, Drew soon began
taking roles depicting troubled teenage characters,
as in the movie Poison Ivy. She excelled in
the 1996 blockbuster Scream. Maturity further
seasoned her talent, as displayed in comedies
such as The Wedding Singer and Fifty Dates.
She also starred with fellow angels in Charlie’s
Angels, an action flick where Drew proved her
abilities at playing a hero. Despite some personal
struggles, she cemented her staying power throughout
her transition from child actor to superstar.
Lindsay
Lohan
Born in 1986 into a family of actors,
Lindsay Lohan began her acting career at a young
age. Although her first auditions did not go
well, she was eventually chosen for some television
commercials and modeling. Her work led her to
a role in the soap opera Another World at the
age of ten. A year later, she made her debut
on the big screen with The Parent Trap. Lohan's
breakout role as a leading actress came with
2004's Mean Girls. She also began her singing
career with the Freaky Friday soundtrack, leading
to a solo album and chart-topping hits.
Mary-Kate
and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are without doubt
Hollywood celebrities. Beginning with their
debut role at seven months old on Full House,
the Olsen twins have grown from the adorable
Michelle Tanner into two young women with obvious
talent. The girls have released countless straight-to-video
movies following their adventures around the
world and produced a wide variety of merchandise
from cosmetics to accessories. The Olsen twins
have shown the world that they are capable of
much more than simply being cute.
Dakota
Fanning
Born in 1994, Dakota Fanning began acting at
an early age in TV commercials. Afterwards,
she played on numerous TV shows, the most recognizable
being the TV drama ER. In 2001, she was chosen
to star opposite Sean Penn in
I Am Sam, a role that enabled
her to prove her talent as an actress. She went
on to appear in Trapped,
Sweet Home Alabama, and Hansel & Gretel.
Starring alongside Tom Cruise in War of the
Worlds brought her international recognition.
From the days of Judy Garland
and Shirley Temple, to our
present day ever-so-popular Dakota Fanning,
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen,
child actors have fulfilled important roles
in the realm of entertainment. Whether they
once played the mischievous kid on a television
show or characterized the hero of a movie, child
actors continue to fascinate and capture our
attention.
Jacklyn Moore is the webmaster for Hollywood
Child Stars.
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