Success on the red carpet of Hollywood is a once-a-lifetime dream for many young actors and actresses. However, reaching the status has never been easy, requiring a huge amount of time, effort, and money. While some celebrities have only shot to fame recently, various other stars have been building their careers for many years. This list looks at Hollywood celebrities who used to be child actors and actresses, before becoming households name today.
The 40-year-old award-winning actress began her acting career at age twelve when she starred in the action-drama film Léon: The Professional. Her exceptional performance in the film earned her various following roles in Heat (1995), Beautiful Girls (1996), and Mars Attacks. The actress is about to release her latest coveted movie, Thor: Love and Thunder.
The black widow made her motion picture debut at age 9 with a minor role in the fantasy comedy North, which garnered positive reviews from critics and earned her the first leading role in Manny & Lo three years later. Today, she's one of the most sought-after celebrities in Hollywood.
At 33, Mae Whitman has been active in her career for nearly three decades, making her one of the most experienced young stars. The American actress made her commercial debut at the age of six, starring in When a Man Loves a Woman. She shot to fame as a child star with the following roles in Independence Day and One Fine Day.
Today Oscar-winner Christian Bale made his commercial debut when he turned 10 years old in the television film Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna. He's now one of the most talented actors Hollywood ever boasts, with remarkable roles in Vice, Ford vs Ferrari, and American Hustle.
The American actor may be best known for his romantic comedy-drama film 500 Days of Summer, but he's been active in Hollywood for a long time. Joseph's career found its turning point at age 11 when he starred in A River Runs Through It (1992).
As the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black went viral, Natasha Lyonne became a household name in the entertainment world. However, she actually made her debut many years ago at the age of six, in Pee-wee's Playhouse.
Today, Ryan Reynolds is one of the world's most popular men, thanks to his roles in blockbusters such as Green Lantern and Deadpool. His glorious acting career started a long time ago, though, when the American actor was cast in the Canadian-produced teen soap opera Hillside.
Kirsten Dunst is a familiar name to avid fans of Hollywood with impressive roles in Marvel blockbuster Spider-Man and Lars Von Trier's Melancholia. The 40-year-old actress was a highly coveted child star since her debut in Interview With A Vampire (1994), alongside Tom Cruise.
The English actress garnered attention when she made her debut in a TV series called Dark Season. However, it was not until she starred as Rose in James Cameron's blockbuster Titanic (1997) that she became a household name.
The Marvel actor is now one of the most highly-paid actors in Hollywood. Before getting his signature role in Ant-man, however, the American actor made his acting debut in 1992 with the television drama Sisters.
Impressive roles in such romantic films as The Notebook, Blue Valentine, La La Land have earned Ryan Gosling a firm status in Hollywood. However, his career has been built from a very young age. The American actor began acting at age 12 on the American show The Mickey Mouse Club.
Jessica's motion picture career started in 1994 when she was just 13 years old, making her feature film debut in Hollywood Pictures' comedy Camp Nowhere (1994). Today, the actress turned entrepreneur is one of the wealthiest celebrities in Hollywood.
Currently starring as Jughead Jones on the Netflix series Riverdale, Cole Sprouse made his debut years ago, along with his twin brother. Remember the legendary FRIENDS series? Sprouse appeared in the series from season 6 to season 8, when he was only 7 years old.
At the age of 15, Reese Witherspoon made her acting debut in The Man in the Moon. Today, she's one of the most successful and highest-paid celebrities in Hollywood, having received various accolades, including an Academy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards.
Today, Jodie Foster is best known for roles in Silence Of The Lambs and The Accused, which earned her two Oscars and three Golden Globes. Her career had lasted for nearly half a century though since she starred in her debut film Napoleon and Samantha.
The American actor became famous for his portrayal of Frodo Baggins in the legendary The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He started acting at the age of 8, with a minor role in Back To The Future II.
The Batman actor began his acting career as a child with a minor part in The Dark End of the Street (1981). He went on to secure various roles throughout his teenage years and has become a prize-fighter with two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Volpi Cup.
The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood actor made his debut at age 14, starring in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.
The Matrix star's career started when he was 12 years old. when he was cast as Joshua Hall on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. Today, he's a three-time Emmy Award and Tony Award-winning actor, with various projects on stage and screen.
Kristen Stewart was only 12 years old when she starred in the thriller Panic Room. However, it was not until she played the portrayal of Bella in the famous Twilight series that she rose to stardom.
