Child stardom can be tough. You become known at a young age for an iconic role—and people will probably recognize you as that character for the rest of time. It can be tricky to transition to adulthood (and adult roles) when people want to remember you as a lovable youngster. And many a young actor has horror stories about how they were treated in Hollywood.
But with some luck, the right people around you, and the right opportunities, it's possible to successfully make the transition from child star to adult actor, as these stories show. Sometimes it takes a period away from the spotlight, and sometimes it takes one special adult role to convince everyone: Oh, that actor I used to love grew up, and they can really act! But when it works, it can make for a lucrative and sustainable lifelong career.
