Top 10 Child Stars of the 2000s
#10: Zac Efron
20 Dark Secrets Revealed by Child Stars
Instead of B.C. and A.D. we prefer B.H.S.M. and A.H.S.M. That’s Before “High School Musical” and After “High School Musical.” to be exact. The success of the DCOM put Vanessa Hudgens firmly into the spotlight. But no one’s star burned brighter than Zac Efron’s. He was a teenager during filming when he became an absolute tween heartthrob. As much as we loved Efron returning for two sequels and the legendary “Bet On It” number, he didn’t just play Troy. He also found success with “17 Again” and “Hairspray.” Since Efron is still getting consistent roles after his stellar start, we have one request to make to Hollywood: Please Let Zac Efron star in more musicals!
#9: Miranda Cosgrove
Top 10 Best Miranda Cosgrove Moments
Whether you knew her as Megan Parker on “Drake & Josh” or Carly Shay on “iCarly,” there was a time in the 2000s when Miranda Cosgrove was inescapable. She first stole the show in 2003’s “School of Rock” as the highly driven Summer. While Cosgrove could’ve stuck with similar roles, she broke out of the mold by playing quirkier characters. Her zany sense of humor lent itself perfectly to bombastic roles. And in between Cosgrove’s beloved parts, she was consistently pushing out music. In fact, her 2000s turned out so well that she was the highest-paid child actor of the year by 2012. Not too shabby for a Nickelodeon kid.
#8: Raven-Symoné
Before she took the Disney Channel by storm, Raven-Symoné starred as Olivia Kendall on “The Cosby Show.” The charm and poise she brought to the ensemble comedy helped prepare her to take on bigger roles in the 2000s. Raven-Symoné further solidified herself as a great child actor with a leading role in “That’s So Raven”. Not only did she show that she could handle outrageous comedy, but she could also fearlessly tackle difficult topics. The same year “That’s So Raven” started, she proved she had vocal chops with “The Cheetah Girls.” If Raven-Symoné had begun her career in the 2000s, few other child stars could’ve compared to her strong beginning.
#7: Hayden Panettiere
Remember the coach’s precocious daughter from “Remember the Titans?” Well, you might not have realized that little girl was “Heroes” star Hayden Panettiere. Her role in that football drama helped jumpstart her prolific child star career in the early 2000s. After the movie was released, Panettiere had lead roles in movies like “Racing Stripes,” “Ice Princess,” and “Tiger Cruise.”. The young actress often came off like she was a veteran because she gave emotionally complex and layered performances. Panettiere’s true talent for the acting craft helped her secure a role in the incredibly popular “Heroes” show just two years after her role in “Tiger Cruise”.
#6: Cole & Dylan Sprouse
The Sweet Life of Cole and Dylan Sprouse
They were double the trouble and double the fun! Cole and Dylan Sprouse were a fantastic acting duo that started their careers early on. On “Friends”, Cole Sprouse appeared as Ross’ son in a few episodes of the television series “Friends.” The brothers also both worked on the 1999 film “Big Daddy” alongside Adam Sandler. They finally took the main roles when they starred together on “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.” Although they played twins who lived in a hotel, they each had distinct personalities that made them relatable. Their amazing comedic timing quickly helped them graduate to a sequel show. Watching this sibling duo grow into even better performers as the years went by was ridiculously sweet.
#5: Hilary Duff
When it came to perfecting the child actor/child popstar combination, no one was doing it like Hilary Duff. She had all the necessary ingredients to be a megastar early on. Duff starred in the incredibly popular “Lizzie McGuire” series from 2001 to 2004. The show spawned a commercially successful movie that many millennials still consider to be a cult classic. Speaking of movies, she was in a plethora of movies like “Agent Cody Banks” and “A Cinderella Story”. Duff also had a fruitful singing career. She delivered bangers like “Come Clean” and “Why Not” on a regular basis. Thanks to Duff’s singing and acting roles, she collected a number of kids' choice and young music awards. She definitely earned every single one.
#4: Frankie Muniz
Whatever Happened to Frankie Muniz?
For a period in the early 2000s, it seemed like having Frankie Muniz in the cast was a guarantee of success. In 2000, he landed a role as the titular son in the hit comedy “Malcolm in the Middle.” Muniz always came off as witty and incredibly endearing. Additionally, he always seemed to carry a maturity that made him seem a bit older than he was. That quality made him perfect for playing incredibly smart kid characters like Jason Shepherd in “Big Fat Liar”. He also convincingly played Agent Cody Banks on the big screen. While Muniz has mostly pivoted to other interests outside of acting, he’ll always be seen as a star of the aughts.
#3: Miley Cyrus
Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Miley Cyrus
In the early 2000s, Disney Channel introduced us to the incredibly talented Selena Gomez through “Wizards of Waverly Place.” While she was a great singer and ensemble lead, there’s no denying that Miley Cyrus was even more popular. The latter actress won over audiences with her role in “Hannah Montana”. Since the show was about a musical talent living a secret double life, Cyrus had plenty of opportunities to demonstrate her immense musical talent. At the same time, she completely dove into absurd comical situations without hesitation. Her work enabled her to see high ratings on her titular show and billboard chart success at the same time. Cyrus also casually led two separate movies. Seriously, how many pop stars can say that?
#2: Daniel Radcliffe
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, The “Harry Potter” series was incredibly popular. When it came time to adapt them into films, Daniel Radcliffe was perfectly cast as the lead. He perfectly captured all of Harry Potter’s internal struggles and determination right out of the gate. At just 12 years old, Radcliffe became one of the most famous children on the planet. In every subsequent film, you could see him become a better and more confident actor. Radcliffe held down the “Harry Potter” franchise until its conclusion in 2011. Since then he’s enjoyed starring in quirky and unique projects. Radcliffe has gone from the boy-who-lived to the actor-who-keeps-on-giving. Before we highlight our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Taylor Momsen Jenny Humphrey, You Will Always Be Famous Freddie Highmore The Good Doctor Before He Was Old Enough to Practice Alexa PenaVega A Super Spy Kid Emma Roberts While She Started Out as Julia Roberts’ Niece, She Became Famous in Her Own Right Kiernan Shipka Before Sabrina, She Starred as Little Sally Draper
#1: Dakota Fanning
Dakota Fanning made a splash at just seven years old as Sean Penn’s daughter in “I Am Sam.” Her command of every line and emotional range made it clear she was meant for Hollywood. From there, she starred alongside famous names like Denzel Washington in “Man on Fire” and Tom Cruise in “War of the Worlds.” However, she also had a bunch of roles in more kid friendly movies like “Charlotte’s Web” and “Uptown Girls”. Her range in the latter role was amazing! If all those weren’t enough demonstrations of her talent, she also lent her voice to projects like “Coraline”. Fanning’s flexibility and complexity made her one of the finest actors of her generation.
