Kids on screen can grab our hearts with cool skills. Some fade as they age, but a few grow and keep a big name. These ten were not just early stars—they made it big. Here are the top kid stars ever, 10 to 1.
10. Daniel Radcliffe
At 12, he was Harry Potter, in a big show for ten years. But he did more next. After school, Radcliffe did off-beat films like Swiss Army Man and weird roles in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. He’s hit the stage on Broadway too, showing he’s not just a kid with a wand—he’s a deep actor.
9. Saoirse Ronan
Ronan shone when she hit the screen in Atonement at 13, getting her first Oscar nod. From then on, she was a star in hits like Brooklyn, Lady Bird, and Little Women. With four Oscar nods by her 20s, her path looks as bright as her past.
8. Drew Barrymore
From a star line, Barrymore won hearts in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Her teen years were rough, but she came back as a rom-com star with hits like Never Been Kissed and The Wedding Singer. Plus, she’s great as a producer and talk show host, a strong figure on and off the screen.
7. Ryan Gosling
From The Mickey Mouse Club to top roles, Gosling’s climb was steady yet cool. Early TV bits led to The Notebook, and he soared from there. In musicals like La La Land or sharp films like Blade Runner 2049, Gosling shows a deep charm and skill.
6. Jodie Foster
Foster wowed us at 12 in Taxi Driver, with an Oscar nod. As she grew, she won two Oscars for The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs. Her smart and deep style also shows in her work as a director.
5. Leonardo DiCaprio
Leo began in ads and TV shows but grabbed hearts—and an Oscar nod—in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. After Titanic, he could’ve just relaxed, but he grew, working with top folks and taking on tough roles in The Revenant and Inception. Now, DiCaprio is one of the most loved actors.
4. Christian Bale
At 13, Christian Bale was great in Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun. His early skill grew into a bold job full of change, from American Psycho to Batman Begins to The Fighter, which got him an Oscar. Bale’s deep work and big changes made him a top star.
3. Elizabeth Taylor
Taylor’s trip started in the 1940s, but it was National Velvet that made her big. As she grew up, her looks and skills got her two Oscars and a spot among the top stars. Known for her help for others and big charm, Taylor was a big star for years.
2. Judy Garland
Garland went from kid stage star to movie legend. The Wizard of Oz made her voice and skill known, but she did more still. She was a star in film and song, winning a Grammy for Album of the Year, and left a mark of grit and skill.
1. Shirley Temple
The big kid star, Shirley Temple, was not just cute—she led films in the 1930s when times were bad. After films, she turned to work as a voice leader and U.S. Chief of Protocol. Temple’s way to change paths while keeping love made her the top kid star.
More stars like Dakota Fanning shone early in I Am Sam. Miley Cyrus went from Disney to pop star. Macaulay Culkin is known for Home Alone. Neil Patrick Harris and Sean Astin moved from kid fame to long careers. They show that kid fame can last—it can start a long, top job.