Growing up as a child star has its ups and downs. Due to the pressure, being around adults most of the time, and coming into good fortune at a young age, many child stars have issues being in the spotlight by the time they are an adult. Some child actors leave the acting world before growing up, having had their fill and preferring to do other things as an adult. Child stars that were able to make it through the rough patches are far and few between, but these 10 stars were able to make it happen.
These stars are older now and have incredibly successful careers, but they were once coming up in the acting world and had small roles in very popular shows that are often forgotten.
Millie Bobby Brown - Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is about to enter its 17th season this November. The show has won countless awards and made its main cast wealthier than their wildest dreams. With over 360 episodes to its name, it's no surprise that fans have seen famous guest stars over the years.
Millie Bobby Brown is one young actress who made it big with her Netflix hit, Stranger Things, but she had an appearance on Grey's Anatomy. She was in the episode "I Feel the Earth Move," as a young girl named Ruby. Fans can currently see Millie Bobby Brown in the titular role of the hit Netflix film, Enola Holmes.
Yara Shahidi - Imagine That
Imagine That is a comedy starring Eddie Murphy that got lost in the fray. The family-friendly film was released in 2009 and was about an over-worked dad who found the secret to success, thanks to his daughter's imagination.
Murphy's daughter, Olivia, was played by actress Yara Shahidi when she was not even 10 years old. Black-ish and Grown-ish fans may recognize Olivia because she's now the young Zoey Johnson in both shows. Yara has also been on the big screen, in the movies Salt and Alex Cross.
Ryan Reynolds - Hillside
When people think of Ryan Reynolds, they think of Deadpool, Green Lantern, and Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. What many don't realize is that Ryan was a young child star, before he made it big.
In the 90s, he had his first role in a TV series called Fifteen, before making an impact on the Canadian soap opera Hillside. He continued to make appearances on TV shows before eventually landing the role of Van Wilder in Van Wilder: Party Liaison.
Regina King - 227
When Regina King was 14 years old, she landed a main role in the show 227 as Brenda Jenkins. The show starred big names like Jackée Harry, Helen Martin, and Marla Gibbs, and gave King a foot in Hollywood's door.
These days, King fans think of her time as Marcee in Jerry Maguire, Sam Fuller in Miss Congeniality, and as Riley Freeman in The Boondocks (among many other roles). King has been in the spotlight for far longer than she's given credit for.
Fergie - Sally From Peanuts
These days, Fergie is a solo artist and known for time with the group Black Eyed Peas, but did you know she used to be a young actress? In the 80s, Fergie (then known as Stacy Ferguson) was the voice of Sally from Peanuts. She was in It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown, Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown, and The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show.
Fergie also did work in front of the camera. From 1984 to 1989, she was Stacy in Kids Incorporated. As years went on, Fergie continued to act before realizing music was her true passion.
Lana Condor - X-Men: Apocalypse
Lana Condor became an overnight success with her Netflix movies To All The Boys I've Loved Before. Fans of the films were wondering where else Lana can be seen, due to her sheer talent on screen. As it turns out, Lana's first professional project was a big one and many fans didn't even notice.
In 2016, Lana landed the role of Jubilee in X-Men: Apocalypse. These days, Lana is continuing with more To All The Boys spinoffs, along with other works that are currently in post-production.
Camilla Belle - Practical Magic
Camilla Belle has been a rising star for quite some time. In 1993, she made her first appearance in the TV movie Trouble Shooters: Trapped Beneath the Earth. However, her biggest role as a kid was in The Lost World: Jurassic Park, as a young girl named Cathy.
From there, she snagged the role of young Sandra Bullock in Practical Magic, before getting the main role in Disney's Rip Girls. At 34, Camilla is still acting, with her latest project as Melyssa in Dollface.
Michael B. Jordan - The Sopranos
Michael B. Jordan seems to be everywhere these days and there's no role he can't ace. But before he made it big with Black Panther, Creed, and Gen: Lock, Michael was in a few episodes of The Sopranos, as a kid. He continued in the late 90s when he joined Cosby and Hardball, before landing a recurring role on The Wire and All My Children.
Michael has grown a lot over the years and has proven to be a legendary actor with more to give. According to IMDb, he's currently preparing for Creed III and Tom Clancy's Without Remorse.
Joey King - The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody
At just 21 years old, Joey King is an actress with over 60 credits to her name, thanks to her childhood acting roles. At the age of seven, Joey had her first role in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as Emily.
From there, she lent her voice to Horton Hears a Who! and made appearances on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Ghost Whisperer, and Crazy, Stupid, Love, before becoming a young adult and taking on more mature roles. Joey's stardom reached new heights with her role Gypsy Rose Blanchard in Hulu's The Act and Netflix's The Kissing Booth.
Chloë Grace Moretz - Amityville Horror
Chloë Grace Moretz is on the move in Hollywood after a long, successful career as a child actress. She joined Ryan Reynolds in Amityville Horror, as his daughter, Chelsea Lutz. She later made appearances in My Name Is Earl, Desperate Housewives, 500 Days of Summer.
As Chloë got older, she joined forces with the cast of 30 Rock and Neighbors 2. Most recently, Chloë was in Shadow in the Cloud and has four projects in the works for the near future.