My heart breaks every time I hear news of former child stars who are trashing their lives for all the world to see. Lindsay Lohan was once an adorable kid in the "Parent Trap" and then, she partied too much and committed a couple of offenses that could break any movie fan's heart. I don't even want to name the others because they just add to the list of bad news. So, let me just share seven child stars who've matured into fine young men and women and are still in the game to give us the best of their talents and skills:
1 Natalie Portman
Even before she won an Academy Award as Best Actress for her role as the ballerina Nina in the Black Swan, Natalie Portman was already considered one of those child stars who has made a remarkable name for herself in the industry. She graduated with a psychology degree from Harvard University in 2003 and can speak seven languages. Fine woman, isn't she?
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2 Emma Watson
This English lass rose to prominence playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. We saw her grow up onscreen as we followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione's adventures in the wizarding world. Outside the Potter films, she has grown to be a woman imbued with substance and confidence. On May 2014, she graduated with a degree in English Literature from Brown University.
3 Joseph Gordon-Levitt
He had me at 500 Days of Summer with Zooey Deschanel. In that movie, he looked so adorable and an overall nice guy. A few weeks after watching 500 Days, my brother showed me a 1991 soap opera called "Dark Shadows" and I noticed that the boy who played the roles of Daniel and David Collins looks just like him. It was him! The guy is a writer, producer, director, and...he plays the guitar and sings quite well. Yes sir, I am inlove!
4 The Olsen Twins
Well, these two don't have acting awards and trophies to boast of, but the way they have managed their business empire is exactly the inspiration that other child stars need in matters relating to financial management. These two first graced television as Michelle Tanner in the sitcom "Full House." Other projects came after that until the twins' reached teenage. They are considered successful businesswomen and top fashion icons.
5 Anna Paquin
At the age of 11, Anna Paquin - and that cute, little smile of hers - won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her first film, The Piano. Appearing as Rogue in X-Men and acting as Stookie Stackhouse in HBO's True Blood (that earned her a Golden Globe award), Anna Paquin continues her steady presence in the industry - a proof that not all child stars goes on a downhill slide after hitting it big while young.
6 Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood made his film debut in Back to the Future II as "Video Game Boy # 2" but has since landed roles that defined him as an actor. I love how he turned out in the critically acclaimed film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind that was headlined by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. And who could ever forget him as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings?
7 Jodie Foster
Who doesn't know Jodie Foster? She started as a commercial model at the age of 3. This woman had four Academy Award nominations, two of which (The Accused in 1989 and Silence of the Lambs in 1992) she won as Best Actress. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Literature from Yale University.
The list of former child stars who have matured as fine men and women is longer. What do you think of these actors and actresses? Anyone you want to add in the list?
