Emma Watson to Kristen Stewart: Celebrities who started as child stars

Child stars often face challenges to break from the characters that first made them famous.

Some stars fade quietly from the spotlight, while others prove they’re more than just one character.

From 90s heartthrobs legends and beyond, these stars show how to grow, evolve, and shine long after their breakout moments.

Here are some of the actors who started their careers as child stars and later won fanbases in other roles as well:

Daniel Radcliffe:

Daniel Radcliffe began his career at the age of 10 years in David Copperfield. He later rose to fame with Harry Potter, and later made it his mission to break away from the boy wizard mold, and he’s done it brilliantly.

On stage, he wowed in dramas like Equus and The Cripple of Inishmaan, as well as musicals like How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

On screen, he’s been everything from Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in Kill Your Darlings to a flatulent corpse in Swiss Army Man. He also starred as an opioid-addicted doctor in A Young Doctor’s Notebook and most recently entertained audiences in the four-season comedy Miracle Workers. Radcliffe even took on parody legend 'Weird Al' Yankovic in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

Beyond work, Radcliffe’s personal life began surfacing in headlines when he and longtime partner Erin Darke welcomed their first child in 2023.

Emma Watson:

Emma Watson began his career in acting at the age of 10 years. Watson transitioned seamlessly from her years as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise to diverse roles and activism.

She starred in YA favourite The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring, and appeared alongside Tom Hanks in The Circle.

Apart from acting she made a biggest impact a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Watson has dedicated her platform to advancing gender equality. Her “HeForShe” campaign continues to inspire global conversations about women’s rights.

Kristen Stewart:

Kristen Stewart got her big break at just 12 years old playing Jodie Foster’s daughter in Panic Room.

"I remember her thinking there wasn't a chance I'd continue being an actor," Stewart said of Foster, talking to Stellar magazine.

Stewart added, "I really love my job, but I understand why she would have thought that about me as a kid. I love her."

Later, she went on to global fame as Bella Swan in the Twilight saga. After five blockbuster films, she deliberately shifted toward indie and auteur projects, winning France’s prestigious César Award for The Clouds of Sils Maria.

Her diverse credits include Personal Shopper, Seberg, and Spencer, where she earned acclaim for portraying Princess Diana.

While her career evolved, so did her personal life. After high-profile romances, including with Robert Pattinson. In 2025, she married Dylan Meyer.

Dakota Fanning:

Dakota Fanning started his acting career back in 2001 in the short film Father Xmas. She became known for her roles in Uptown Girls, Man on Fire, Hide and Seek, War of the Worlds, Charlotte’s Web, The Secret Life of Bees, and three Twilight films.

Fanning later starred with sister Elle in The Nightingale and in 2025 earned a Golden Globe nomination for her acclaimed role as Marge Sherwood in Netflix’s Ripley.

From child star to award-nominated actress, Fanning has shown remarkable staying power in Hollywood.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas:

Jonathan Taylor Thomas, an American actor, who began his career in 1990 with The Bradys. He then, rose to fame playing adorable middle child Randy Taylor on Home Improvement starting in 1991.

The actor’s big-screen roles that decade included voicing young Simba in The Lion King and starring with Brad Renfro in 1995's Tom and Huck and Devon Sawa in 1997's Wild America.

He left Home Improvement in 2998 to focus on his education but kept acting on his list of extra-curriculars.

He had a recurring role on 8 Simple Rules in 2004 and in 2013 reunited with TV dad Tim Allen to direct and appear in several episodes of Last Man Standing.

But though JTT backed away from the spotlight to live his life, which included graduating from Columbia in 2010.

Thomas doesn't need to be onscreen to cause a splash, on the rare occasions the paparazzi snap him, the sightings go viral.