Top 10 Most Successful Child Stars of All Time
#10: Daniel Radcliffe
London-born actor Daniel Radcliffe was only 12 when he starred as Harry Potter in the first installment of the popular film franchise. That marked the start of an eight-film run that catapulted Radcliffe to superstardom and made him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. After the “Harry Potter” series concluded, Radcliffe transitioned into more mature roles, alongside his co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. While Watson played Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” and Grint nabbed a lead role on the Apple TV+ show “Servant”, Radcliffe initially starred in independent projects. His subsequent performances in films like “Swiss Army Man” and “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” as well as multiple stage productions, have received particular praise from critics.
#9: Saoirse Ronan
It’s no small feat to have received four Oscar nominations at the age of 25. But that’s what happens when you’re as phenomenal an actress as Saoirse Ronan. Ronan’s feature film debut came in 2007’s “I Could Never Be Your Woman,” but it was “Atonement” that shot her into the limelight. Her turn as Briony Tallis earned her an Academy Award nod at age 13, making her one of the youngest actresses to achieve that feat. Since then, Ronan has found success starring in period dramas such as “Brooklyn” and “Mary Queen of Scots,” as well as comedies like “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “See How They Run”. For such a young actress, Ronan’s diverse portfolio is only proof of her undeniable star quality.
#8: Drew Barrymore
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Born into the Barrymore acting dynasty, Drew Barrymore seemed destined for the big screen. Even before she could walk unaided, Barrymore was already landing gigs appearing in TV commercials. Her first major film role came in Steven Spielberg’s “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”. The wildly successful movie paved the way for Barrymore’s dominance on the big screen throughout the ‘80s. But as her popularity rose, the actress gained a notorious reputation for her wild lifestyle and struggle with addiction. Nevertheless, she was able to overcome these and soon became a leading lady in projects such as “Charlie’s Angels” and “50 First Dates”. In 2020, she began hosting her own syndicated talk show, which has earned her multiple Daytime Emmy nominations.
#7: Ryan Gosling
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Today, he’s a Hollywood A-lister whose films have grossed billions of dollars at the box office. But back in the early 1990s, a fresh-faced Ryan Gosling landed a role on Disney Channel’s “The Mickey Mouse Club”. Gosling appeared on the show for two years, alongside future stars like Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. After struggling to find his footing in his adolescence, Gosling was eventually propelled to the limelight with 2004’s “The Notebook”. He followed that up with multiple critically acclaimed performances, gaining his first Oscar nomination in 2007. Throughout the 2010s, Gosling established himself as a box office draw, racking up lead credits in movies like “La La Land” and “Blade Runner 2049,” the former of which earned him a second Oscar nomination.
#6: Jodie Foster
The 1976 classic “Taxi Driver” has been hailed by many publications as one of the greatest and most culturally significant films ever made. It was also the vehicle with which a then 12-year-old Jodie Foster was introduced to the world. Although the filmmakers received criticism for casting Foster, she received critical acclaim for her performance and was nominated for an Oscar. Her transition into adult roles was rocky at first, but that all changed with 1988’s “The Accused”. The movie won her her first Academy Award and set her up for another Oscar-winning turn in “The Silence of the Lambs”. Over the decades, Foster has remained in the spotlight, taking her extraordinary talents behind the camera as a director.
#5: Leonardo DiCaprio
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Throughout his phenomenal acting career, Leonardo DiCaprio has gone from child star to teen heartthrob and now, Hollywood’s leading man. Like most child stars, DiCaprio got his start on commercials, before picking up parts in multiple TV shows. His big break came in the 1993 film “What's Eating Gilbert Grape,” which gave him his first Academy Award nomination. He became a heartthrob in the mid-90s, with his roles in films such as “Romeo + Juliet” and “Titanic,” which introduced him to wider audiences. Since then, he has done everything from rom-coms to crime thrillers to biopics, proving to be one of the most versatile actors of his generation. For his turn as Hugh Glass in “The Revenant,” DiCaprio received a long-awaited Best Actor Oscar.
#4: Christian Bale
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From a pool of more than 4,000 child actors, Christian Bale was selected to play the lead role in Steven Spielberg’s 1987 war epic “Empire of the Sun”. At the age of 13, the actor wowed audiences with his acting chops and garnered a lot of attention for the role. However, that proved too much for the young Bale, who began closely guarding his private life. After picking up a string of supporting roles throughout the ‘90s, Bale opened the new millennium with a spellbinding performance in “American Psycho”. He gained further recognition for “The Dark Knight Trilogy” and “The Fighter,” which earned him an Academy Award. From his debut to date, Bale has always remained a force to be reckoned with.
#3: Elizabeth Taylor
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If there’s one Hollywood legend who truly sparkled, it was Elizabeth Taylor. The London-born actress began her career in 1942, but first gained prominence two years later with “National Velvet”. The film established her as a teen idol and kicked her career into gear. With her stunning violet eyes and magnetic charisma, Taylor easily transitioned from child actress to Hollywood screen legend. Her most memorable film roles came in the ‘50s and ‘60s, with Taylor winning the Best Actress Oscar twice for “BUtterfield 8” and “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”. At the peak of her career, Taylor was one of the biggest stars in the biz, with legions of fans adoring her every move. Without a doubt, her legacy continues to inspire today.
#2: Judy Garland
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Judy Garland’s rise from a tiny tot in “The Wizard of Oz” to one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars was nothing short of meteoric. Garland got her start performing in a vaudeville troupe with her older sisters before signing with MGM in 1935. She remained with the studio for 15 years, churning out classics like “Meet Me in St. Louis” and “Easter Parade”. Garland’s success was unparalleled, with her name on every movie marquee and her sold-out concerts breaking records. She also released multiple studio albums and became the first woman to win the Album of the Year Grammy. Even decades after her passing, Garland continues to delight audiences around the world, making us believe that somewhere over the rainbow, dreams do come true.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Dakota Fanning
The “I Am Sam” Actress Is Certainly No Alien to On-Screen Stardom
Miley Cyrus
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Macaulay Culkin
The “Home Alone” Franchise Took This Actor From Obscurity to Being One of Hollywood’s Biggest Stars
Sean Astin
A True Goonie at Heart, Sean Astin Has Weathered the Storm of Hollywood and the Upside Down
Neil Patrick Harris
The “Doogie Howser, M.D.” Star Has Gone From Child Prodigy to Exceptional Triple Threat
#1: Shirley Temple
After making her film debut in 1931, Shirley Temple was propelled to stardom with 1934’s “Bright Eyes”. The film marked the start of the young girl’s highly successful streak, during which she was Hollywood’s number one box-office attraction for three years. She even received an Honorary Academy Award in 1935 for her outstanding contributions to the movie industry. Temple however took a step back from the big screen in 1950, eventually making a smooth transition to politics. She served as the U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and later as America’s first female Chief of Protocol. From child star to diplomatic powerhouse, Temple proved that with talent, hard work, and determination, anything is possible, surely.
