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Celebs You Forgot Were Child Stars

Celebs You Forgot Were Child Stars

You may not have heard the names of some of these TV shows and movies in years, but once you put the name and face together, you won't believe that someone such as Christian Serratos was once a Nickelodeon star.

Keep reading to discover which celebs were child stars.

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Regina King: Then

Regina King Then. The California-born actress played main character Ned Bigby’s crush and classmate, Suzie Crabgrass, on the 2004 Nickelodeon TV series.



After Nickelodeon, the actress played Bella Swan’s friend Angela in Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1. The former TV middle schooler graduated to playing TV high schooler Raven on The Secret Life of the American Teenager from 2011 to 2012.


Christian Serratos: Now

Christian Serratos Now

The former Nickelodeon star played the late singer Selena Quintanilla in a 2020 Netflix series. The Latinx artist on the rise portrayed Quintanilla’s life and her legacy as she comes of age and has to make tough choices to hold on to family, true love and music.


Brenda Song: Then

Brenda Song ThenThe Social Network or as ditzy hotel heiress London Tipton on Disney's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, but this California-born actress has been on the small screen since 1994. She's had roles on some of your childhood favorites, including Small Talk, MADtv, 7th Heaven and The Bernie Mac Show.



Throughout her teen years, Song starred in many Disney original movies and TV series including Get a Clue, Stuck in the Suburbs, Phil of the Future, Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior and Yay Me! Starring London Tipton.


Brenda Song: Now

Brenda Song Nowtold ET at Disney Channel's fanfest at California Adventure Park in 2019.



In 2021, Song had her first child with boyfriend Macaulay Culkin. 


Raven-Symoné: Then

Raven-Symoné Then and in the 1998 movie Doctor Dolittle. She became widely known for her performance as Raven on Disney Channel's series about a teen psychic called That's So Raven, and for her work in The Cheetah Girls films.



The actress’ early career is largely defined by her Disney work, which includes many titles such as Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, The Proud Family, Zenon: Z3, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Kim Possible, and the That’s So Raven spinoff series Cory in the House.


Raven-Symoné: Now

Raven-Symoné Now star. She has most recently been a host on The View, a contestant on The Masked Singer, guest-starred on Black-ish and is now starring on the That's So Raven reboot, Raven's Home. The actress also got married in 2020.



Also in 2020, the former child star hinted that she might be “helping out” on Cheetah Girl pal Adrienne Houghton’s talk show series, The Real. “I'll never say no to a cool job," she told ET. "I don't mind helping out where they need me to. As long as we're corona safe, I'm down for the cause."


Emma Roberts: Then

Emma Roberts ThenUnfabulous when she was just 13. During her teens, Roberts, who is the daughter of actor Eric Roberts, starred in 2006's Aquamarine and 2007's Nancy Drew. She was also the lead in the 2008 boarding school dramedy Wild Child.



In a 2015 interview with Allure, Roberts revealed that as a young actress, she had auditioned for Wendy in the live-action Peter Pan remake and didn’t get the part. But she didn’t let that stop her from following her dreams. "I still remember when I didn't get the part of Wendy in the movie Peter Pan—that was my only devastation," she said. "And my mom said to me, 'OK, maybe you should stop, be in school, and focus on being a kid.' And I said, 'No! I want a shot at glory!'"


Emma Roberts: Now

Emma Roberts NowBig Daddy. They also appeared together on That '70s Show. However, only Cole Sprouse is credited as playing Ben, Ross Geller's son, on Friends.



"I remember a lot,” Cole told ET about his time on the beloved sitcom. “I remember being infatuated with Jennifer Aniston … I remember as a kid being quite intimidated 'cause it was, at the point that I had stepped on, it was a really well-oiled machine and it was a bunch of older actors and I was the youngest actor there," he continued. "But I remember everyone treating me so kindly. I mean truly," he added. "And getting to meet a lot of cool people behind the scenes."


Dylan Sprouse: Now

Dylan Sprouse NowFive Feet Apart. Sprouse was dating Riverdale co-star Lili Reinhart for a few years, but the couple split in 2020.



During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Sprouse took a break from social media, but has since returned. He shared this message with fans: "I’ve never been the most active user of social media, but even the minor amount I had been engaging during quarantine had become a bit too taxing … Take your breaks. Mental and physical health always come first. In time we’ll all be able to see more clearly what this pandemic actually is - a massive global trauma."


Austin Butler: Then

Austin Butler Then and iCarly. He later went on to play James “Wilke” Wilkerson III on the ABC Family series Switched at Birth and was love interest Sebastian Kydd on the Sex and the City prequel spinoff series The Carrie Diaries.



In 2011, Butler began dating High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens. The couple once sparked engagement rumors after Hudgens was spotted sporting a sparkly ring on her finger. The actress later put rumors to rest with a tweet, saying: “Guysssss. I’m not engaged! I posted a pic. Not to show off my ring that I happened to throw on that finger after a long day of filming but to show off my haircut Lol.”


Austin Butler: Now

Austin Butler NowThe Society star Olivia DeJonge as Elvis’ wife, Priscilla Presley.



The Orange County, California, native dated Hudgens for over eight years before splitting in 2020. “They’re just shooting on two different continents and it’s a matter of distance,” a source said. “There is no bad blood at all, and they have a lot of respect for each other.”


Jordan Calloway: Then

Jordan Calloway ThenThe Parkers in 2000. As a teen, he played Zach Carter-Schwartz on the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous. 



After the Nickelodeon series, the young actor had a reoccurring role on the medical drama ER. 


Jordan Calloway: Now

Jordan Calloway Now as "Watermelon guy." He then had leads in two Judd Apatow sitcoms, Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared.



In 2004, he had a recurring role on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as Neil Jansen.


Jason Segel: Now

Jason Segel Now

Tia and Tamera Mowry: Then

Tia and Tamera Mowry Thenbefore his movie career took off.


Seth Rogen: Now

Seth Rogen NowThe 40-Year-Old Virgin, Superbad, Pineapple Express, This Is the End, The Green Hornet, The Lion King reboot and more.



In 2020, he voiced a character on the animated Nick Kroll series, Big Mouth.


Scarlett Johansson: Then

Avengers: Infinity War actress has been acting since she was super young. Her earliest movies include Manny & Lo, Home Alone 3 and The Horse Whisperer.



She played maladjusted teenager, Rebecca, in the cult classic Ghost World. 


Scarlett Johansson: Now

Anywhere I Lay My Head, which consisted of mostly Tom Waits covers.



She has also kept busy on the big screen thanks to her role as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.



The celeb, who starred in the 2019 movie Jojo Rabbit, is currently married to Saturday Night Live's Colin Jost.


Reese Witherspoon: Then

Friends in 2000. 


Reese Witherspoon: Now

The All New Mickey Mouse Club. The young star had roles on Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps.



Beginning in 1998, he played the titular role in the TV series Young Hercules. 


Ryan Gosling: Now



Gosling is dad to two daughter with actress Eva Mendes. He is the frontman for the band Dead Man's Bones. Is there anything he can't do?


Natalie Portman: Then



In 2011, Portman won an Oscar for her performance in Black Swan. The actress joined the Marvel Avengers universe as Jane Foster in the 2011 title, Thor. The mom of two was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of first lady Jackie Kennedy in the 2017 film, Jackie.


Keri Russell: Then

Daddy's Girls and Malibu Shores. 



In 1998, she became Felicity Porter on the hit-series, Felicity. 


Keri Russell: Now

Baywatch, Walker, Texas Ranger and 7th Heaven. The talented teen even modeled for '90s stationary and clothing brand Lisa Frank.



In 1998, Kunis began playing Michael Kelso's spoiled girlfriend, Jackie Burkhart, on That '70s Show.


Mila Kunis: Now

co-star, Ashton Kutcher, in 2015. The mother of two, who voices Meg Griffin on the animated series Family Guy, still has a busy TV and movie career. 



In 2008, she starred in the comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Jason Segel. In 2010, she played opposite Natalie Portman in Black Swan. Kunis was the star of Bad Moms (2016) and A Bad Moms Christmas (2017).



In 2021, it was announced that the brunette will star in the upcoming film adaptation of Jessica Knoll's novel, Luckiest Girl Alive, for Netflix.


Jessica Alba: Then

. The actress is slated to star in the upcoming action thriller, Trigger Warning. 


Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Then

Angels in the Outfield. In 1993, he played George on the family sitcom Roseanne. 



The actor got his big break as Tommy Solomon on the 1996 TV series 3rd Rock from the Sun.


Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Now



The couple split in 2016.



In 2018, she was a member of the jury for the 71st Cannes Film Festival. In 2020, it was announced that she will be playing Princess Diana in a new movie. 



The actress is currently dating screenwriter Dylan Meyer.


Jennifer Lawrence: Then

Monk. From there, she had roles on the shows Cold Case and Medium.



Lawrence was just a teen when she was cast on the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show.


Jennifer Lawrence: Now

. Three years later, she won for best actress in the 2013 Bradley Cooper romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook. 



The star's incredible career continued with roles in major blockbuster franchises such as The Hunger Games and X-Men. These roles made her the highest-paid actress in 2015 and 2016.



The celeb married Cooke Maroney in 2019. 



She is one of the stars of the upcoming comedy Don't Look Up.


Christian Bale: Then

Thor: Love and Thunder.


Natasha Lyonne: Then

. 



The curly-haired cutie also had roles in the films Dennis the Menace, Everyone Says I Love You and Slums of Beverly Hills.


Natasha Lyonne: Now

since 2014.


Ben Affleck: Then

Afterschool Special.


Ben Affleck: Now

Lucky Chances. Moss was 13 when she starred opposite '90s heartthrob Erik von Detten in the TV movie Escape to Witch Mountain.



In 1999, she was featured in the Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder drama Girl, Interrupted. 


Elisabeth Moss: Now

Mad Men starting in 2007. She is currently starring in the critically acclaimed Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale.



In 2020 she starred in the films The Invisible Man and Shirley. Her upcoming projects include The French Dispatch and The Shining Girls.


Shailene Woodley: Then

The Secret Life of the American Teenager.



Woodley's movie career began with the 2011 release, The Descendants.


Shailene Woodley: Now

Big Little Lies. In 2021, she starred in the political drama, The Mauritanian.



In 2021, the actress announced her engagement to NFL star Aaron Rodgers. "I never thought I'd be engaged with somebody who threw balls for a living," Woodley said in an interview. "Like, I never thought as a little girl, I was like, 'Yeah, when I grow up, I'm gonna marry someone who throws balls! Yeah!' But he's really just so good at it."


Kate Winslet: Then

Mare of Easttown. The actress reunited with her Mildred Pierce co-star, Guy Pearce, for the series. 


Kirsten Dunst: Then

.



Dunst played an indie dream girl in The Virgin Suicides, a pageant queen queen in Drop Dead Gorgeous and a cheerleader dedicated to win in Bring It On.


Kirsten Dunst: Now

Fargo, where she met her co-star and now-husband, Jesse Plemons. She is currently pregnant with their second child.



In 2019, Dunst became the star of the TV series On Becoming a God in Central Florida. In 2020, she voiced Sally May, in the animated Matthew McConaughey-led series Hank the Cowdog. 


Josh Hutcherson: Then

ER. The young actor had roles in The Polar Express, Zathura: A Space Adventure and Bridge to Terabithia.



In 2012, Hutcherson's career sky-rocketed with The Hunger Games franchise.


Josh Hutcherson: Now

star's TV career began with a role on Roswell. 


Katherine Heigl: Now

, a role for which she won the Emmy in 2007. The actress joined the cast of Suits in 2018. In 2021, she became one of the stars of the Netflix series Firefly Lane. 



She is married to singer Josh Kelley, with whom she has three children.


Diane Lane: Then

A Little Romance. She played Cherry Valance in the 1983 movie adaptation of The Outsiders. She played Patty in the film adaptation of S.E. Hinton's other novel, Rumble Fish.



In 1989, she appeared in the TV western Lonesome Dove. 


Diane Lane: Now

Little House on the Prairie and Silver Spoons.



In 1987, he appeared on the big screen in the comedy Teen Wolf Too.


Jason Bateman: Now

Ozark from 2017 to 2021. He earned an Emmy for the role. In 2021, he played The Crab in the Netflix movie Thunder Force. 



Bateman's upcoming projects include a remake of the movie Clue. 


Nicholas Hoult: Then

Kids Incorporated. One of her co-stars was Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie.



Hewitt appeared in many teen movies including I Know What You Did Last Summer and Can't Hardly Wait.


Jennifer Love Hewitt: Now

Criminal Minds and The Client List. She joined the cast for the second season of Ryan Murphy's new drama, 9-1-1.



Her upcoming projects include a movie called Pups Alone.


Laurence Fishburne: Then