Child stardom and adult stardom are two very different paths—and it's difficult to move from one to the other. As many former child stars have noted, audiences come to expect a certain look and performance from you that no longer exists after puberty. "Making it" as an adult actor takes time, the right projects, and a whole lot of luck—plus, in some cases, a healthy amount of nostalgia for the roles that made them famous. And yet, a number of grown-up actors have been able to bring their adult selves to acting projects successfully.
This list will probably take you back to some of some of your favorite shows—not to mention, serve as a shocking reminder of how much time has passed since we first fell in love with them—but it'll also be a cool realization when an adult actor you enjoyed in a recent project turns out to be the child actor you remember from so long ago.
