Child stars don’t have it easy.
Early exposure has driven the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Justin Bieber and Amanda Bynes to fall out of night clubs and into prison cells, almost on a weekly basis.
But what about those who have grown old gracefully?
Harry Potter star Emma Watson celebrates her quarter century and Game Of Thrones actress Maisie Williams reaches pint purchasing age today (April 15).
Both actresses have reached womanhood without egging a neighbour’s house or flashing anything embarrassing to the paps.
To celebrate, here’s a shout out to the celebrities who have escaped the curse of the child star.
1. Emma Watson
Then: Emma Watson should write a text book on how to keep sane for future child stars. She was a mere 10 years old when she won the part of Hermione Granger, a role she played for all eight instalments in the franchise, while achieving 8 A* GSCE grades and getting a place at prestigious Brown University.
Now: She’s got an English literature degree from Brown, is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, certified yoga instructor and Burberry model.
All of which are side projects – Emma has kept up acting, appearing in films such as The Perks Of Being A Wallflower and The Bling Ring. With a schedule this packed, it’s no wonder she hasn’t had time for a scandal.
2. Maisie Williams
Then: Maisie was catapulted to fame aged 13 as headstrong Arya Stark in Game Of Thrones – a show that likes to lay on the incest, nudity and violence pretty thickly.
Now: In spite of this early exposure to the dark arts, Maisie has kept her feet on the ground. When asked by vlogger Caspar what the best advice for a hangover is, she answered: “I wouldn’t know, because I am 17.”
An impressive CV is already accumulating outside of Game Of Thrones too. She appeared in Channel 4′s Cyberbully, can be seen having fainting fits in The Falling (out on April 24) and is set to guest star in Doctor Who.
3. Jodie Foster
Then: Jodie was barely out of nappies when she began starring in commercials. The big breakthrough came in her early teens, playing a child prostitute in Taxi Driver – her older sister having to step in as a body double in some of the racier scenes – and minxy Tallulah in gangster musical Bugsy Malone.
Now: Jodie must have one heck of a mantelpiece to fit all the Oscars, Baftas and Golden Globes she has amassed with performances in The Silence Of The Lambs, Panic Room and Inside Man.
Not content with success in front of the camera, Jodie is now moving into directing. In 2013 she was nominated for an Emmy for her direction of an episode of Orange Is The New Black.
4. Leonardo DiCaprio
Then: DiCaprio proved he was more than just a pretty face with gritty early performances as an abused child in This Boy’s Life and as Johnny Depp’s autistic brother in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
Now: He’s played Shakespeare’s finest romantic lead, a Rhodesian smuggler, a 1930s Prohibition millionaire, a dwarf-throwing Wall Street financier, to name but a few … can someone please get this man an Oscar already?
5. Dakota Fanning
Then: Since her breakthrough performance aged seven in I Am Sam, Dakota was plastered everywhere. Friends, War Of The Worlds, Coraline, Charlotte’s Web, Twilight – she was Hollywood’s go-to child star.
Now: In spite of being the hardest working child in Hollywood, Dakota has not run out of steam, most recently appearing in The Last Of Robin Hood and Effie Gray.
6. Scarlett Johansson
Then: Acting since the age of nine, her breakout role was playing social outcast teen Rebecca in 2001 film Ghost World.
Now: After her nuanced performance in Ghost World, Scarlett’s graduation into adult roles came in 2003 film Lost In Translation. A genre bending career has seen her go superhero in Iron Man, Tudor chic in The Other Boleyn Sister and play a seductive computer in Her.
7. Ryan Gosling
Then: Ryan was boosted into the spotlight aged 13 in the Mickey Mouse Club, alongside Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera.
Now: With mouse ears nowhere to be seen, The Notebook star has turned his hand to directing. His directorial debut, Lost River, received mixed reviews.
8. Claire Danes
Then: Claire was a well-known face on US sitcom My So-Called Life, before making her breakthrough aged 16 opposite fellow child star Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo+Juliet.
Now: After temporarily attending Yale, Claire dropped out to return to acting. She is back on TV screens playing irrepressible CIA agent Carrie Mathison in thriller series Homeland.
9. Sarah Jessica Parker
Then: Before SJP was splashing around New York puddles in a tutu, she was a real-life ballet dancer and Broadway star, appearing as Annie aged 13. She continued to throw some serious shapes with her first film roles in Footloose and Girls Just Want To Have Fun.
Now: Fast forward to the nineties and the leg warmers were replaced with Manolos. Carrie Bradshaw, the cosmo drinking sex columnist sashayed onto our screens in era-defining show Sex And The City. While Ms Bradshaw aired her dirty laundry for a living, Sarah has maintained a cool distance from scrutiny about her private life.
10. Natalie Portman
Then: Success was written in the stars early for Natalie. She was the first choice for Juliet in Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo+Juliet, only to be deemed too young. She went on to play Padme Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy while still in high school.
Now: Much like Emma Watson, Natalie did not let fame distract her from her studies, even missing the premiere of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace so she could study for her high school final exams. She went on to get a psychology degree from Harvard and build a distinguished body of work with performances in Closer, V For Vendetta and Black Swan.
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