If there’s one thing we know about child actors it’s that most of the time they suck. There are, however, instances when those kids actually know what they’re doing and can act accordingly, without looking like dead tree stumps. And so these lucky and/or talented few will most likely have a bright future and amazing careers. But sometimes we forget that the all-grown-up actors we know and love today also started out small, and usually as child actors. Granted, you’ve heard about big names like Leo DiCaprio, and the Olsen twins starting off as rug rats, but the following 10 celebs will surely surprise you!
1. Alyson Hannigan, “My Stepmother Is an Alien” (1988)
Remember that redheaded witch Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Yup, that’s her! But she started out in “My Stepmother Is an Alien” in 1988.
2. Fergie, “Kids Incorporated” (1983-1990)
Yes, that’s the same Fergie from the Black-Eyed Peas, and, believe it or not, she was a child actress in early 80’s, in a small US kids show, that involved teens and rock music.
3. Jake Gyllenhaal, “City Slickers” (1991)
I’ve never seen or even heard of “City Slickers”, but that’s where Gyllenhaal’s career had started. Did you know he was in it?
4. Christian Bale, “Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna” (1986)
The Dark Knight himself starred in a low-budget TV-movie in 1986 “Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna”. At least his talent didn’t go unnoticed!
5. Nicole Kidman, “Five Mile Creek” (1983-1985)
Probably best known for her role in “Eyes Wide Shut”, Kidman started out in a TV melodrama “Five Mile Creek” in 1983.
6. Milla Jovovich, “Return to the Blue Lagoon” (1991)
Today we know her as Zombie-slaying Leeloo Dallas, but back in 1991, Jovovich was just a teen lost in the “Blue Lagoon”. Great movie, go watch it!
7. Scarlett Johansson, “Manny and Lo” (1996)
Even ScarJo used to be a teen actress, huh? Well I did not see that coming. She played a kidnapper (and a kid?) in “Manny and Lo”. The details are blurry and you probably won’t be watching it anyway, so… NEXT!
8. Megan Fox, “Holiday in the Sun” (2001)
Michael Bay’s bae – Mega Fox, before teen boys started hanging her posters in their rooms, she was a regular old “mean girl” in “Holiday in the Sun”. Can you see the difference between these two?
9. Eliza Dushku, “That Night” (1993)
Dushku was only 11 years old, when she got the fame, after starring in “That Night” 1993. After that she became sort of Joss Whedon’s favorite, and appeared in a lot of his shows like Buffy and Dollhouse.
10. Jessica Alba, “Camp Nowhere” (1994)
Remember her in “Dark Angel”? I sure do, but apparently Alba used to star in a plethora of kids movies in her teen years, like “Camp Nowhere” and “P.U.N.K.S.” to name a couple.
