Child actors have the ability to touch our hearts in a way that no other actors can. They are innocent, pure, and often portray characters who are fighting for something good, even if they themselves are going through a tough time.
There have been many child actors over the years, some who managed to transition into successful adult careers and others who disappeared from the public eye. Here are 10 of the most successful child actors of all time:
Quick list of 10 greatest child actors of all times
1. Shirley Temple – Acted in films from 1935-1948, then became a diplomat
2. Haley Joel Osment – Starred in The Sixth Sense and Forrest Gump
3. Mary Badham – Played Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird
4. Jodie Foster – Won an Oscar for The Accused at age 12
5. Amber Tamblyn – Played Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl
6. Anna Paquin – Won an Oscar for The Piano at age 11
7. Macaulay Culkin – Starred in Home Alone and its sequels
8. Danielle Fishel – Played Topanga Lawrence in Boy Meets World
9. Devon Sawa – Had leading roles in Little Giants and Wild America
10. Kirsten Dunst – Won a Golden Globe for her performance in Virgin Suicides
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1. Shirley Temple – Acted in films from 1935-1948, then became a diplomat
Shirley Temple was one of the most popular child actors in Hollywood during the 1930s. She got her start in the film industry at the age of 3, and continued to act in films until 1948. After her acting career ended, she went on to have a successful career in diplomacy. She was appointed as the US ambassador to Ghana in 1974, and served in that role until 1976.
2. Haley Joel Osment – Starred in The Sixth Sense and Forrest Gump
Haley Joel Osment is an American actor who has starred in a number of popular films, including The Sixth Sense and Forrest Gump. He began his career as a child actor, and has continued to work in the entertainment industry throughout his adulthood.
Osment is known for his roles in both dramatic and comedic films. In addition to his work in front of the camera, he has also lent his voice to a number of animated projects. He is a six-time Young Artist Award winner and has also received three Emmy Award nominations.
3. Mary Badham – Played Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird
Mary Badham, the actress who played Scout Finch in the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird, has died aged 76. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1942, Badham was just 10 years old when she was cast in the role of Scout, based on the childhood of author Harper Lee. The coming-of-age story of racism and injustice in the deep south was a critical and commercial success. Badham’s portrayal of Scout earned her an Oscar nomination for the best-supporting actress, making her the youngest person ever to be nominated in that category.
4. Jodie Foster – Won an Oscar for The Accused at age 12
Jodie Foster was born on November 19, 1962, in Los Angeles, California. Foster started her career as a child star at the age of three when she was talent-spotted by a casting director for a commercial. Her first movie role was in the 1967 film Napoleon and Samantha.
Foster won her first Oscar at the age of twelve for her performance in The Accused. She is the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award for Best Actress.
5. Amber Tamblyn – Played Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl
Amber Tamblyn is an actress and author who first came to prominence as a teenager, playing Jenny Humphrey in the hit TV show Gossip Girl. She has since starred in a number of successful films and TV shows, including Two Broke Girls, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, House and Two and a Half Men.
Tamblyn is also a published author, with her debut novel Baby Fat – which she wrote at the age of just 17 – being released in 2004. She has also written for The New York Times, The Huffington Post and other high-profile publications.
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6. Anna Paquin – Won an Oscar for The Piano at age 11
Anna Hélène Paquin, born in 24 July 1982, made her acting debut portraying Flora McGrath in the romantic drama film The Piano (1993), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 11, making her the second-youngest winner in Oscar history.
7. Macaulay Culkin – Starred in Home Alone and its sequels
Macaulay Culkin was born in 26 August 1980 at Manhattan, New York, United States. He is an American actor and musician. Often regarded as one of the most successful child actors of the 1990s, he was placed 2nd on VH1’s list of the “100 Greatest Kid-Stars”. His famous movies includes Home Alone (1990), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), My Girl (1991), and Richie Rich (1994)
8. Danielle Fishel – Played Topanga Lawrence in Boy Meets World
Danielle Christine Fishel was born on May 5, 1981. In 1991, at the age of 10, Fishel was discovered in a community theater where she performed in two productions, The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan. She quickly moved on to do voice-overs and commercials, including several as a Barbie Girl for Mattel. In 1993, at the age of 12, Fishel began her well-known role as Topanga Lawrence-Matthews on ABC’s pilot series Boy Meets World. Originally written as a small part, Topanga became a recurring role.
9. Devon Sawa – Had leading roles in Little Giants and Wild America
Devon Edward Sawa was born on September 7, 1978. He is well known Canadian actor who started his career in acting when he was just a child. Sawa appeared in several films in the 1990s including Little Giants, Casper, Now and Then, Wild America, Idle Hands, and Final Destination. He also played a lead role in famous movies including Little Giants and Wild America.
10. Kirsten Dunst – Won a Golden Globe for her performance in Virgin Suicides
Kirsten Caroline Dunst was born on April 30, 1982 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, U.S. Dunst is an American Actress and model well known since her childhood. She started her career at age of three years only. And she started as a child fashion model in television commercials. She was signed with Ford Models and Elite Model Management. In 1988, Dunst also appeared in Saturday Night Live as the granddaughter of George H.W. Bush.
Hope you liked this amazing list of the top 10 child actors. Comment now and tell us who you like the most and why. Stay Tuned.
