15 Actors Who Went from Awkward Kid to Cultural Icon

Being a child actor means having your awkward years documented for millions of people to see. Most of us get to hide our questionable haircuts and embarrassing school photos, but these performers had entire movies and television episodes preserving theirs. Some became famous before they were old enough to drive, while others spent years playing minor roles before anyone knew their names. Growing up on camera doesn’t guarantee a lasting career, either. Yet a handful managed to leave their childhood characters behind and become some of the biggest names in entertainment. Here are 15 actors who went from familiar young faces to genuine cultural icons.

Leonardo DiCaprio Was Once a Sitcom Kid

Before Titanic and his Oscar-winning performance in The Revenant, Leonardo DiCaprio played Luke Brower on Growing Pains. His early television work hardly hinted at the Hollywood career ahead.

Drew Barrymore Was Already Famous at Seven

Audiences fell in love with Drew Barrymore as Gertie in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Decades later, she had become a romantic-comedy favorite, producer, and daytime television host.

Christian Bale Was a Teenage Spielberg Star

At 13, Christian Bale led Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. The former child actor eventually became Batman and won an Oscar for The Fighter.

Jodie Foster Grew Up in Front of Movie Cameras

Jodie Foster was appearing on television before kindergarten and earned an Oscar nomination for Taxi Driver as a teenager. Two Best Actress Oscars followed in adulthood.

Ryan Gosling Started Out Alongside Future Pop Stars

Long before La La Land and Barbie, Ryan Gosling appeared on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club alongside young performers who would become major music stars.

Natalie Portman Made Her Film Debut at 13

Natalie Portman made an immediate impression in Léon: The Professional. She later joined the Star Wars universe and won an Academy Award for Black Swan.

Kirsten Dunst Played a Vampire Before Playing Mary Jane

Kirsten Dunst was just 12 when she appeared in Interview with the Vampire. Her career later included Spider-Man, Marie Antoinette, and The Power of the Dog.

Daniel Radcliffe Grew Up as Harry Potter

Daniel Radcliffe was 11 when filming began on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. After eight movies, he traded the wizarding world for unusual films, theater, and a Tony Award.

Zendaya Went From Disney Channel to Emmy Winner

Zendaya got her big break playing Rocky Blue on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up. Years later, Euphoria earned her two Emmys, while Spider-Man and Dune made her a major movie star.

Scarlett Johansson Was Acting Long Before Marvel

Scarlett Johansson made her film debut in North at age nine and gained attention in The Horse Whisperer. She later became Black Widow and earned two Oscar nominations in the same year.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Was the Kid From 3rd Rock From the Sun

Joseph Gordon-Levitt spent his teenage years playing an alien disguised as a human on 3rd Rock from the Sun. As an adult, he found success in Inception and 500 Days of Summer.

Emma Watson Turned Hermione Into Just the Beginning

Emma Watson was only nine when she was cast as Hermione Granger. After the Harry Potter films, she starred in The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Elijah Wood Went From Child Roles to Middle-earth

Elijah Wood appeared in movies like The Good Son and The Adventures of Huck Finn before becoming Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings, a role that made him instantly recognizable worldwide.

Christina Ricci Made Wednesday Addams a Childhood Icon

Christina Ricci was just 11 when she played Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family. She went on to build an eclectic adult career, including memorable roles in Yellowjackets and Monster.

Kristen Stewart Left Her Twilight Years Behind

Kristen Stewart appeared in Panic Room at 11, years before playing Bella Swan in Twilight. She later earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Princess Diana in Spencer.