10+ Famous Children Who Grew Up to Rock Our World

These kids may have grown up, but their fame has remained. And they’ve proven to us that they’re capable of even more in their lives — they’re successful, rich, and thriving! These actors and musicians will show us that they can do something more for this world. Let’s remember some of our favorite child stars that changed so dramatically as they grew up, we can barely recognize them these days.

12. Nicholas Hoult

Nicholas Caradoc Hoult is 32 now, and his popularity is growing more and more every year. His great-aunt was one of the most popular actresses of her time, Dame Anna Neagle. So he probably was born to be a celebrity — it’s in his blood.

His first acting gig was in 1996 in the film, Intimate Relations. Many of us remember him as Beast in X-Men. Hoult was included in Forbes’ 2012 list of “30 under 30.” Hoult is very talented and will definitely show he has a lot more to offer this world!

11. Kristen Stewart

Kristen Jaymes Stewart is an American actress, model, and director. She began acting at age 8. An agent noticed her perform in her elementary school’s Christmas play. After a year of auditioning, Stewart earned her first role as a small, non-speaking part in the Disney Channel TV-movie, The Thirteenth Year.

Now she is the recipient of several accolades, including the César Award, of which she was the first American woman to win. Her films have grossed over $4.3 billion worldwide. She was also the highest-paid actress in the world in 2012.

10. Zac Efron

Zachary David Alexander Efron was born in October 1987 in California. His parents noticed his singing ability and helped him to take his first step toward acting at the age of 11. Singing and acting lessons soon led to a production of Gypsy that ran for 90 performances. And that was just the beginning of Efron’s success.

He looks like a prince, behaves like a gentleman, and is very wealthy. Efron’s net worth in 2015 was valued at $18 million!

9. Thomas Brodie-Sangster

A son of 2 actors, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, was born on May 16, 1990, in London. He is well-known for his youthful appearance and his role in Game of Thrones but showed us that he was a talented actor way earlier.

You can spot his cute, little face in films like Love Actually (2003), Nanny McPhee (2005), and The Last Legion (2007).

8. Jack Quaid

Jack Quaid is 29, and he is the son of actors Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid. You could say it was in his genes to become an actor! Nowadays, Quaid is best known for his role in the 2012 science fiction film, The Hunger Games.

Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid encouraged their son to follow in their acting footsteps. While growing up, Quaid spent a lot of time on the sets of movies his parents were appearing in. Later, he attended New York University where he studied drama.

7. Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith is slowly becoming a legend. He is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. This young man is very talented. Smith is the son of Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith. He may be the son of famous parents, but his one role in The Karate Kid (2010) won our hearts over and proved him to be a professional actor!

Smith is not just an actor and a singer, but he also does a lot of good for the environment. He is helping out with the clean water crisis and even serves as a partner in a project called JUST WATER.

6. Matthew Lewis

Yes, Matthew Lewis is that cute boy with the funny smile from Harry Potter! It’s hard to recognize him today and by now, he’s probably broke many women’s hearts. When he was a kid, after he read the first Harry Potter book, he dressed up as Harry and ran around his room. This was before he got the part of Neville, of course.

Lewis continues to act in different movie roles and takes part in theater as well.

5. Emma Watson

Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson is a super successful actress and model. She was born in Paris, attended the Dragon School, and trained as an actress at the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts.

As a child, she became famous after landing her first professional acting role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. Watson earned worldwide fame and around $60 million. Not bad for a young lady, right?

4. Nick Jonas

Nicholas Jerry Jonas is well known for his career as a singer, songwriter, and actor. Jonas began acting in theater at the age of 7. Since an early age, Jonas became used to the celebrity life. In 2002, he had already released his debut single which caught the attention of Columbia Records, and Jonas formed a band with his older brothers, Joe and Kevin, known as the Jonas Brothers. This guy knows what he wants!

Today Jonas is a successful singer and a happy guy in love with the actress, Priyanka Chopra.

3. Josh Peck

Josh Peck began his career as a child actor in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Then his career rapidly sped up and he got many different opportunities.

Nowadays, he is not just an actor but a comedian and a YouTube personality as well. Peck also currently has a podcast called, Curious with Josh Peck produced by Ramble where he interviews celebrities.

2. Josh Hutcherson

This young man started acting in 2002 and gained an impressive list of roles! But we can easily remember him as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games series where Josh acted alongside Jennifer Lawrence who played Katniss Everdeen. In preparation for this film, he had to bleach his hair and gain 15 pounds. But it was worth it!

1. Cole Sprouse

Much of Cole Sprouse’s early career was shared with his twin brother, Dylan due to child labor laws in California. This way, they would be allowed to act in more scenes as one character. Cole has some notable roles including Patrick Kelly in the sitcom Grace Under Fire and the young Pistachio Disguisey in The Master of Disguise. And of course, he gained fame after he appeared in multiple episodes of the television sitcom, Friends as Ross Geller’s son.

After growing up as a Disney Channel star, Cole decided to take a break, go to college, and experience a life he hadn’t known before. He remembers his times on screen as a “little nostalgic bubble”. Now he is back into acting and shows much promise. In 2017, Sprouse starred as Jughead Jones on The CW TV series, Riverdale which boosted his career rapidly.

From their early days in the limelight to becoming influential adults, they have amazed us with their talent and made a lasting impact. Thanks to their charm and beauty, some of them have outshone their celebrity parents, surpassing them in terms of fame.