Catching up with these iconic Hollywood child stars: Where are they now?

As the adult actors strut on the red carpets and pose in front of thousands of cameras, the other side of the arc has a chance to get lost in the frames. Many of the child actors gathered the courage to star in the projects with massive budgets along with the adults, raising themselves against the scrutinising media. After the clock ticks, a sudden photo pops up in the magazine and prompts a reaction from the audience of ‘Weren’t they a silly 9-year-old a couple of seconds ago?’ So, here’s a closer look at the Hollywood child stars and what they are doing right now!

Debuting alongside Tom Cruise in ‘Jerry Maguire,’ Jonathan Lipnicki struck a chord with the audience with his level of charm at the age of 6. Furthermore, he went on to act in the ‘Stuart Little’ – appealing fans with his darling chemistry with a mouse. After taking a break from the entertainment industry to have a normal high school experience, he joined the showbiz as an adult and currently serves in the cinema. The 34-year-old had previously opened up about bullying and negative comments he courted for his career, but Lipnicki has stayed strong. Recently, he worked on the horror film, ‘Camp Pleasant Lake,’ directed by Thomas Walton, according to E! News.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ actor, debuted at the age of 14 in 1996 on ‘3rd Rock From the Sun,’ and played Demi Moore’s son in the thriller ‘The Jury.’ While he impressed the audience with his ‘good boy’ roles in many films as a teen, his films as an adult, including ‘500 Days of Summer,’ ‘Inception,’ ‘50/50,’ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ made a significant impact in the cinema industry. As he stays away from the speculative media, the 44-year-old actor has been quietly achieving success and presenting his perspectives to the world.

Natalie Portman has been giving blockbusters and artistic films since she firmly stood in front of the cameras at the age of 12. Debuting in 1994, she worked in ‘The Professional’ and earned the crown of having certain gravitas at an early age. Along with indie films such as ‘Beautiful Girls’ and ‘Garden State,’ the 44-year-old actress also played a role in the Avengers franchise. The Oscar-winning actress has a couple of films in the upcoming release list and lives a quiet life after divorcing Benjamin Millepied, with whom she shares two children.

film ‘Mermaids,’ and proceeded to carve out a slice of fame for herself with the role of Wednesday in ‘The Addams Family’ in the following year. The trail of complicated characters started from the iconic film, and Christina Ricci hit the ball out of the stadium with each one of them. Recently, she gave a tribute to the character by playing the villain Tim Burton’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 1 and Season 2 Part 1 alongside Jenna Ortega.

Macaulay Culkin had been working hard since the age of five, before getting the unforgettable role in ‘Home Alone.’ However, he took a break from the entertainment industry after 1994's ‘Richie Rich,’ but he used to play roles in small films with a huge cultural impact. Recently, he played a significant role in the 10th season of ‘American Horror Story’ in 2021. Culkin is married to Brenda Song and shares two sons with her.

Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning, the exceptional actresses, have been acting in front of the cameras since an early age. They debuted in ‘I am Sam,’ where the latter played an even younger version of the sister, who was playing the 5-year-old self of Ally McBeal. The sisters have been achieving individual success and appreciation from their audience for their contributions to cinema. Their first ever on-screen collaboration is in their upcoming release, ‘The Nightingale.’

The twin sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashley, won hearts with their portrayal of Michelle Tanner in ‘Full House.’ Furthermore, they turned their success into an empire by starting a production company, kids' clothing lines, books and other products, along with a musical band. They have been living under the radar, but have always been appreciated for their skills and coordination. They have a younger sister, Elizabeth Olsen, who is widely renowned for her role as Scarlet Witch in the MCU.

nine. The English actress moved on to do films like ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Little Women,’ and ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower.’ However, she has been advocating for women's empowerment and gender equality, taking a step back from the entertainment industry and acting. Watson also voiced out her concerns about the toxicity towards children, especially women in the industry.

The most famous child actor, Daniel Radcliffe, worked as the lead character, ‘Harry Potter,’ in the widely known franchise. The 36-year-old moved on to do a couple of films, including ‘The Lost City,’ ‘Kill Your Darlings,’ and ‘Jungle.’ Meanwhile, his crime thriller film ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don't’ will be released on November 14, 2025. In his personal life, Radcliffe welcomed a son along with his longtime partner, Erin Darke.