Most individuals may recall a time when they were a little uncomfortable in their adolescence. Instead of later in high school, as it did for me, it should have occurred in elementary or middle school. (Gosh, those were hard years.) But fortunately for you, you’re not famous (or are you?) and you don’t spend half of your time in front of the camera. Why, you inquire? Well, overexposure comes along with wealth. Thank you, paps! Your uncomfortable period will only live on in certain personal recollections and photographs, while young superstars have their ugliest looks permanently captured in photographs. Naturally, as people age, they lose their young appearance and leave all of the awkwardness behind. These awkward kid actors may now, like us, look back fondly on their youthful selves and be in awe of who they have become. (What, you don’t admire what you’ve become into? Only us? OK…)
Look at these amazing changes that have taken place right before our eyes. Do you recall each of these famous kids from your youth? Take a journey down memory lane as we showcase the most stunning caterpillars who evolved into butterflies and are currently Hollywood A-listers, as well as other individuals who have battled to achieve popularity since their prepubescent years.
Kylie Jenner
These days, Kylie Jenner hardly needs an introduction. Thanks to the well-liked Bravo series and her hordes of social media fans, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is well-known everywhere. However, before becoming the fashion icon that she is today, Kendall Jenner was just a shy little girl living in relative obscurity. She owes her fame to her older sister Kim Kardashian.
Danica McKellar
On The Wonder Years, she was the object of many young boys’ crushes. After the performance, Danica McKellar shied away from the spotlight, virtually leaving Hollywood for the majority of the early twenty-first century. But she has consistently done voiceover work and acting in recent years.
Jonathan Lipnicki
The three most memorable quotes from Jerry Maguire were “Show me the money” by Tom Cruise, “You had me at hello” by Renée Zellweger, and Jonathan Lipnicki’s portrayal of Ray Boyd, who is inexhaustibly cute. As a young actor, Lipnicki took use of the movie’s success to earn a number of additional roles, including one in Stuart Little, but his adult acting career hasn’t been very noteworthy. But because he’s still young, perhaps things will improve in time.
Alexa PenaVega
Previously known as the elder child spy in Spy Kids, PenaVega’s appearance is no longer a covert operation. She has worked primarily on television, but she has also appeared in select films. After being divorced from her first husband and marrying actor and singer Carlos Pena Jr., PenaVega also had a rather prominent personal life. The pair runs a well-liked YouTube video show.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Over the past few years, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has emerged as a favorite of indie film, but the young actor’s rise to stardom was aided by a well-liked comedy from the 1990s. In the NBC comedy 3rd Rock from the Sun, Gordon-Levitt costarred with actor Jon Lithgow as a nervous teenage extraterrestrial who resembled a human. For a while, Gordon-Levitt faded from view, making few TV or movie appearances, but two independent parts in Brick and 500 Days of Summer got people’s attention once more. He has also starred in a number of high-profile movies, most notably as Detective Blake in the last Batman trilogy installment The Dark Knight Rises.
Lindsay Lohan
We loved Lindsay Lohan’s freckles in The Parent Trap, but she quickly proved that she is more than just her red hair and freckles. She first rose to fame in Freaky Friday before achieving stardom in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen and Mean Girls in 2004. Although Lohan’s popularity has declined recently, it would be an understatement to suggest that we will always look back on her earlier years with nostalgia.
Tatyana Ali
Since her time on Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Tatyana Ali has maintained her youthful appeal and has continued to appear in movies and television shows. She subsequently got a part on The Young and the Restless, then Love That Girl!, and most recently the TV show Fly. Prior to that, she had regular roles on Fresh Prince and Sesame Street.
Daniel Radcliffe
You’re largely right if it seems like you’ve known Daniel Radcliffe your entire life. As the adored “Boy who lived” in the seven successive installments of the Harry Potter film series, Radcliffe quickly became a household name. Warner Bros. divided Book 7 into two motion pictures. Since eventually putting down the magic wand, Radcliffe has continued to work steadily in cinema, television, and even the stage.
Lacey Chabert
If the cancellation of the popular television series Party of Five sent you spiraling into a pit of despair with nothing left to live for, you may be excused for not knowing that young Claudia Salinger grew up to be a stunning young woman. After Party of Five, Lacey Chabert didn’t truly disappear; instead, she merely turned her attention to voice acting before appearing in Mean Girls on the big screen, which had every male in the cinema asking, “Wait, that’s who now? We’re all delighted that Chabert decided against quitting acting permanently.
Alyson Stoner
Do you recall the cute dancer with the pigtails from Missy Elliott’s “Work It” music video? Well, she is like this today. Thank you very much. Stoner still dances her heart out despite having more than 100 acting and voice-acting credits to her name. In relation to hearts, ours is currently taken.
Matthew Lewis
Matthew Lewis is the pinnacle human illustration of a caterpillar evolving into a stunning, stunning butterfly. In the Harry Potter movie series, the young actor played the clumsy, fumbling Neville Longbottom (He, of course, ended up being one of the main heroes in the end.) Not long after Lewis disappeared from the Harry Potter limelight, he reappeared and elicited all kinds of strange emotions in ladies all around the world. He would most certainly be classified as House Hotness today by the Sorting Hat.
Anna Chlumsky
After playing a tragic character in the movie My Girl, Anna Chlumsky became an instant star. She landed a couple more jobs before almost disappearing in 1998. But in 2007, she made a comeback in a couple movies and TV series, and everyone was like, “Why do I remember this actress?” Following a recurring role on Law & Order, Chlumsky went on to star in the successful Hannibal television series and the critically praised HBO comedy Veep. Five times at the Emmys, Chlumsky has been nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role on the program.
Jaleel White
He was a mainstay of ABC’s “TGIF” comedy program on Friday nights, and he gave rise to the catchphrase “Did I do that?” On Family Matters, Jaleel White portrayed Steve Urkel, the bright but frail boy next door. White rose to fame on a global scale but, regrettably, was unable to do anything to distinguish himself from the persona. White keeps acting, but his geeky typecasting causes him to get parts that don’t amount to much.
Claire Danes
As you can see, Claire Danes’ awkwardness carried over into her actual life since she embodied the stereotypical awkward teen in the adored My So-Called Life. (We’re sorry; this picture just had to be shared.) Danes, however, had the last laugh since her part on Homeland, for which she has won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe, is captivating hearts everywhere.
Nicola Peltz
Short resumes for actors are typically a sign of difficulty in Hollywood. From not in the instance of Nicola Peltz; her scant work history is everything but alarming. Her performance in the holiday comedy Deck the Halls helped her get the part of Katara in The Last Airbender. Then she landed a significant break with a role in Transformers: Age of Extinction and Bradley Martin, the primary character in the well-known Bates Motel TV series. Peltz appears to still be around, and we are okay with that.
Jerry O’Connell
You have to go all the way back to the Rob Reiner movie Stand By Me from 1986 if you want to recall a young Jerry O’Connell on the big screen. The decades were undoubtedly good to O’Connell, who played the bulky and endearing Vern, since he has maintained a consistent Hollywood career in both film and television.
Abigail Breslin
It’s not difficult to argue that Abigail Breslin’s formative years were rather problematic. She portrayed a young uncomfortable girl in the film Little Miss Sunshine, whose only desire is to participate in beauty pageants. Young Breslin received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the movie that made her famous. Breslin took use of her reputation to launch her career into the stratosphere and get top billing in blockbuster movies and television shows.
Afshan Azad
You might not be familiar with Afshan Azad if you’re not a fan of Harry Potter and haven’t seen the movies. When Padma Patil, a Ravenclaw girl, was cast as the young actress’s Padma Patil in The Goblet of Fire, she was just 17 years old. With her appearances in the next four movies, fans got to witness the Bangladeshi-born actress mature. Azad has only been in films in America, so if you want to see more of her, you’ll have to see the movies.
Nicholas Hoult
Ever wonder what happened to the character from About a Boy? No, only us? OK. Nevertheless, Nicholas Hoult, who portrayed the endearing Marcus Brewer in the critically praised movie, would eventually burst into the Hollywood scene with a number of leading parts in high-profile movies including X-Men: First Class and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Amber Scott
The live-action Hook movie starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman is arguably best forgotten by 90s youngsters. Despite the film’s unimpressive ratings from critics, it was a huge hit at the box office. You may recall young Amber Scott from the movie, who portrayed Maggie Banning, if you were a huge fan. Scott was just 7 years old when the movie was being made. Where is she now, then? That is debatable. She never made another live-action picture. (Her sole other appearance is as a voiceover.) A headshot of the adult Scott appeared years ago (see right), but nothing is known about its history or current whereabouts.
Danielle Fishel
Millions of males’ high school dreams came true with her. Even though Danielle Fishel’s Topanga days are ended, many males probably still can’t get enough of her because of her attractiveness. Fishel repeated her role for Girl Meets World, but she hasn’t worked on many Hollywood-related projects since.
Zac Efron
As a nerdy teen in Disney’s High School Musical, Zac Efron launched his acting career by hitting all the high notes, but he has since developed into a significant Hollywood A-lister. Efron has been extremely active in recent years, scoring leading roles in The Greatest Showman, Baywatch, Neighbors, and its sequel. And he doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
Neil Patrick Harris
Being a child celebrity is undoubtedly never easy, but Neil Patrick Harris seems to have retained his composure, avoided becoming overwhelmed by his stardom, and continued to pursue a successful show business career throughout. When he was just 16 years old, Harris made his television debut on Doogie Howser, M.D. as the show’s eponymous kid genius. Harris continued performing, although she didn’t get many noteworthy parts. All of that changed when the actor appeared as Barney Stinson, the heterosexual playboy buddy, on How I Met Your Mother. Harris’ career was fully revived by the huge song, and his portrayal was outstanding given that he is an out homosexual man with a wonderful family. (Their Instagram account is seriously too adorable.)
Soleil Moon Frye
Soleil Moon Frye had spunk in Punky Brewster, but she now has a lot more to look forward to. The majority of Frye’s extensive CV consists of voice acting parts in programs like The Proud Family, Bratz, and Planet Sheen. Her most illustrious in-person recurring role was in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
Eric Lloyd
In the 1994 Christmas classic The Santa Clause, he never ceased believing in Santa, but Eric Lloyd’s Hollywood career lacked the same allure. The young actor came back for the follow-up films and scored a number of bit parts in both cinema and television, but he never truly got that breakthrough role. As the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band Radiomason, he also dabbles in music.
Emma Watson
These Harry Potter youngsters are special in some way. It’s not very shocking. We saw each of them mature after first meeting them as child performers. Emma Watson is one of the most socially aware people working for a better world, in addition to being a style icon in Hollywood. She graduated from Brown University, continues to be cast in big parts in Hollywood, has emerged as a vocal advocate for equal rights, and was appointed a UN Women goodwill ambassador.
Shia LaBeouf
These days, Shia LeBeouf is synonymous with the word “mad,” so it’s hard to blame you. The performer seemed to have taken a side trip into lunatic territory. He has engaged in violent altercations with regular people and has recently played dubious parts in movies. It’s incredible to think that LeBeouf was one of the hottest movie stars just a few years ago. His promising early parts developed into A-list billing in an unpopular new Indiana Jones film, followed by the unpopular Michael Bay Transformers films. Perhaps LeBeouf has always taken underwhelming parts.
Michelle Trachtenberg
Are you familiar with Harriet the Spy? If so, you could have an obscure memory of a geeky brunette. Trachtenberg, however, has lost that innocent appearance, which has enabled her to land several high-profile parts in television series over the years, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 17 Again, Mercy, and Gossip Girl.
Daniel Curtis Lee
Daniel Curtis Lee was destined for greatness after landing his big break in Nickelodeon’s Ned’s Declassified and earning a few Young Artist Award nominations for his work. Lee hasn’t achieved much success despite entering the world of Hollywood hotties (yet). His biggest success to far has been a recurring part on Fox’s Glee.
Alyssa Milano
Hey, Alyssa Milano, who is in charge? Since breaking out of her shell as a youngster, she has been the boss of several sets. On Who’s the Boss, Milano developed before our eyes. and then the popular WB program Charmed sent us to “crushville.” The majority of people are unaware that Milano was the little girl in the popular Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Commando.
Freddie Highmore
The reviewers may not have liked Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but at least Freddie Highmore can say it was a career-starter for him. Alongside Johnny Depp, Highmore as Charlie Bucket’s primary kid. Highmore has since garnered praise for a variety of roles, including Bates Motel, and he was nominated for a Golden Globe for the ABC sitcom The Good Doctor.
Kristen Stewart
Fortunately, we have had the privilege of seeing Kristen Stewart mature owing to the Twilight series. Unfortunately, Twilight will always be remembered. But if we can obtain more K-Stew, we’ll take it. Few people are aware that Stewart’s most notable breakthrough performance was as Jodie Foster’s daughter in David Fincher’s critically praised film Panic Room. The actress has starred in a number of well-known films and has developed a reputation as a vocal supporter of LGBT rights.
Christina Ricci
Did you ever imagine that emaciated nihilist Wednesday Addams would develop into the endearing blonde Christina Ricci that we are all familiar with today? (If you have, could you share some lottery advice with us?) The intriguing thing about Ricci is that she keeps taking on unconventional parts in both cinema and television, and it hasn’t at all hindered her career. Like tiny Wednesday, Ricci keeps moving in her own direction.
Elijah Wood
It’s reasonable to assume that Elijah Wood’s upbringing wasn’t typical. Wood has been performing continuously since he was 8 years old and has garnered several main parts throughout the years. The round cheeks of youth are now gone, replaced by the sculpted cheekbones and beard of adulthood. His colorful, unconventional roles on television and film make him almost impossible to resist.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato has spent more time than not in the spotlight, similar to Selena Gomez, another member of the Barney and Friends group. Lovato joined the Jonas Brothers in the TV movie Camp Rock a few years after Barney, and she hasn’t looked back since. With several musical nominations and awards, Lovato has established herself as a worldwide phenomenon.
Candice Cameron Bure
After Full House, the oldest Tanner daughter lost her young charm and leveraged her stardom to score a number of modest jobs in movies and television shows. In the current Aurora Teagarden murder-mystery films on the Hallmark Channel, Candice Cameron Bure portrays the main character, and in Netflix’s Fuller House, she returned to the Tanner household.
Alex D. Linz
Alongside George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer in One Fine Day, Alex D. Linz, another young actor from the 1990s who never quite made it big, won hearts. Then he entertained us in Home Alone 3 and Max Keeble’s Big Move, but he never managed to escape the confines of kid fame. Linz’s acting career appears to have ended in 2007.
Alisan Porter
When they learned that one of their favorite competitors on The Voice in 2016 was a former child actor, they were stunned. People couldn’t believe that Curly Sue’s famous brown curls were vanished when Alisan Porter revealed that she was the main character from the 1991 family comedy. Porter has been quite active in the music field despite not having specifically pursued a career in Hollywood. She won season 10 of The Voice and landed the lead role in The Ten Commandments: The Musical.
Evanna Lynch
Evanna Lynch, like her other Harry Potter co-stars, was the ideal mix of nerdy and adorable for the character of Luna Lovegood. Lynch has recently ditched her wizarding garb in favor of playing more relatable parts in movies and television. Although she hasn’t been able to land any big roles, the young actress appears to be only beginning her career.
Bonnie Wright
If you’ve read thus far, you may have noticed a trend among the Harry Potter movie series stars: a lot of the kid actors developed into incredible hotties. Bonnie Wright, a.k.a. Ginny Weasley, is unquestionably no exception. The eight Harry Potter movies kept the redheaded actress busy from 2001 to 2011; she still works on one to two projects each year. Wright appears to have a bright future in her profession.
Justin Berfield
The three main brothers are probably still fresh in your memory if you were a fan of Malcolm in the Middle, which you should be since it’s a darn amazing show. Reece Muniz, the second oldest brother (don’t forget Francis! ), surely didn’t suffer; only Frankie Muniz actually rose to prominence. In recent years, he has been increasingly active behind the camera, producing a number of films. In his free time, he devotes a lot of effort to charity.
Chanel West Coast
Born Chelsea Chanel Dudley, Chanel West Coast is no stranger to fame. Her DJ father would take her to well-known nightclubs when she was growing up in both Hollywood and New York City. Prior to starting to record music, Dudley was cast in a number of MTV shows thanks to these relationships. Dudley doesn’t appear in front of the camera very often these days, so it appears that the music business is where her interest resides. Let’s hope that one of these years she grants us a tasty summer jam.
Josh Peck
Josh Peck may no longer be the chubby, humorous brother from the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh, but many people still remember him from that show. Peck has undoubtedly shed all of his baby weight and seems in excellent condition these days. He still performs as an actor, although the most of his career has been spent on voiceover work, such as playing Eddie in the well-known Ice Age cartoon series.