To act is to portray, and to speak is to convince. In terms of performing and conveying dialogue in a manner beyond reproach, the film industry is filled with gems. More amazingly, the child actors are also doing fantastic work, which is no less than professional actors. Many of the actors are also authors, producers, writers, and You Tubers.
Child actors have proven over the years that age and experience are not always valuable indicators of talent. These child actors and actresses did not just earn critical acclaim for their memorable roles but also proved they had acting skills equal to some of Hollywood’s most well-known stars.
Despite all the exceptional talent in the industry, choosing a few actors isn’t an easy task. But after complete research, we have made a list of the top 14 child actors from history and present. So please scroll down and check the list to see what number your favorite actor acquires and his/her achievements.
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Millie Bobby Brown:
Brown is a British actress, model, and producer born on February 19, 2004, in Marbella, Spain. Currently, she is seventeen years old. At twelve years old, she rose to fame for her role in Stranger Things as Jane “Eleven” Ives, renewed for four seasons on Netflix. When she was four, Brown’s family moved to the United Kingdom and then to Orlando, Florida when she was eight.
Brown made her acting debut in 2013 when she appeared in the ABC fantasy drama series Once Upon a Time in Wonderland. She played the role of Young Alice in the series.
The actress is best known for her role as Madison O’Donnell in the BBC America paranormal television series Intruders. She has also appeared in the CBS drama NCIS, the ABC sitcom Modern Family, and the ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.
Her filmography includes many significant projects, such as Spheres: Songs of Spacetime, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Enola Holmes, Godzilla vs. Kong, Enola Holmes 2, The Thing About Jellyfish, The Girls I’veI’ve Been, Damsel, and The Electric State.
She also made her appearance on television and music videos. On television, she was seen in Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Intruders, NCIS, Modern Family, Grey’s Grey’s Anatomy, and Stranger Things.
Currently, Brown has been featured in five music videos: “Find Me” in 2016, “I Dare You” and “Girls Like You” in 2017, “In My Feelings” in 2018, and “Happy Anniversary, All I Want for Christmas Is You!” in 2019.
Jacob Tremblay:
As a child actor Jacob Tremblay has a special place in the industry. He is a Canadian actor born on October 5, 2006, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His father is a police detective by profession, and his mother is simply a house lady. His two siblings are also actors.
Tremblay made his acting debut through live-action/animated feature The Smurfs 2, released in 2013. He portrayed Jack Newsome alongside Brie Larson in the critically acclaimed drama film “Room” directed by Lenny Abrahamson. The film premiered at Telluride Film Festival on September 4, 2015, and was released in cinemas on October 16, 2015.
In 2016, Tremblay also appeared in such movies as Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal: The Movie; and Fox’s post-apocalyptic comedy The Last Man on Earth, in which he played the younger version of the main character.
During his cameo appearance in Doctor Sleep, the 2019 sequel to The Shining, Tremblay played a kidnapped boy tortured to death in a scene that director Mike Flanagan was initially hesitant to include because it was too traumatic to retain. Flanagan said that he was fortunate to work with some of the best actors throughout his lifetime.
Currently, Tremblay lives in Langley, British Columbia, with his family. In honor of Daisy Ridley’s Star Wars character, he named his dog Rey. BB-8, C-3PO, and R2-D2’s appearance at the 88th Academy Awards ceremony were considered a highlight for him.
He was seen as Jack Newsome in Room which was released in 2015. He was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer and a Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor, for his performance. He became the youngest actor in history to be nominated for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at the Screen Actors Guild awards.
Quvenzhané Wallis
The combination of God-given ability and hard work can produce success, but not everyone has this combination. At the age of 16, Quvenzhané Wallis became a household name and was adored by a large following. Wallis is a young American child star born on August 28, 2003, in Houma, Louisiana, U.S.
As part of the cast of the drama film Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), Ines became the youngest actress nominated for Best Actress on a single occasion and the first (and only) 21st-century child to be nominated.
It was a requirement for Beasts of the Southern Wild auditioners to be six years old. Wallis was five years old, and she lied about her age. Out of 4,000 applicants, she was chosen as the child prodigy Hushpuppy, living in squalor among bayous with her father, who is dying.
Wallis was nominated for an Academy Award at the age of nine on January 10, 2013. At age 6, she filmed Beasts of the Southern Wild, the third-youngest Best Actress nominee in history. This marked the first time a young African-American actor had been nominated for an Oscar.
Besides an Oscar-winning child actress Wallis is also an author. In October 2017, Wallis released a book which was the story about Oscar night with her mother. Two more of her books have been published, Shai & Emmie Star into the Rescue! and Shai & Emmie Star in Dancy Pants!, in 2018. The same YearYear, she was inducted into the Actors Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Macaulay Culkin:
This child actor is considered one of the most successful actors of the 1990s. He began acting at the age of four.VH1 named him one of the “100 Greatest Kid-Stars.”
Culkin rose to prominence as a child star starring Kevin McCallister in the first two films of the Christmas franchise Home Alone series. He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Additionally, he appeared in My Girl (1991), The Good Son (1993), The Nutcracker (1993), Getting Even with Dad (1994), The Pagemaster (1994), and Richie Rich (1994) in the 1990s.
As well as being nominated for the MTV Movie Awards, he’s also been nominated for the Young Artist Awards. Taking a break from acting in 1994, he returned in 2003 to the screen with guest appearances on Will & Grace and Party Monster (2003).
Among his other achievements, Culkin was the vocalist for the Pizza Underground pizza-themed comedy rock band, founded in New York in 2013; he stated in 2016 that the Pizza Underground was splitting up and their next album would be their last. In addition to publishing and running Bunny Ears, he is also a podcast host of his video blog.
He was briefly jailed on September 17, 2004, for possession of drugs in Oklahoma City but later released on bail of $4,000.
In commemoration of his 40th birthday, he tweeted, “Hey guys, wanna feel old? I’m 40. You’re welcome.” The tweet went on to become the ninth most-liked tweet in history.
Culkin married actress Rachel Miner in 1998 when both were 18 years old, but the couple separated in 2000 and divorced in 2002. Mila Kunis and Culkin started dating in May 2002, but the couple ended their relationship after a few years. Presently he has a son from Brenda Song.
Mackenzie Christine Foy:
Mackenzie Christine Foy is best known for her role in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 as Renesmee Cullen. She got the Young Artist Award nomination as Best Supporting Young Actress in a Feature Film for her fantastic performance. She also won Golden Raspberry Award for her performance in the Twilight movie part 1 and part 2.
She was born in Mackenzie Christine Foy on November 10, 2000, and was raised in Los Angeles. Currently, Foy is twenty years old and has gained a great deal of fame and recognition. As a child, Foy appeared in television shows including ‘Til Death, FlashForward, and Hawaii Five-0.
The Twilight saga’s fourth novel, Breaking Dawn, starred her as Renesmee Cullen in a 2010 movie adaptation. The first movie, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, in which Renesmee is shown only in a flash-forward, was released on November 18, 2011
Her first appearance in a horror film was in James Wan’s 2012 horror film The Conjuring. On October 10, 2012, she played a lead role in Wish You Well, David Baldacci’s book adaptation.
Foy was also starred in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, a film about a team of explorers trying to ensure humanity’s survival through a wormhole. Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain portrayed her character as an adult woman.
Foy made her appearance many times on television, including ‘Til Death in 2009, Flash Forward in 2010, Hawaii Five-0 in 2010, R. L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour: The Series in 2012, The Cookie Mobster’ 2014, and Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise in 2015.
In addition to being a great actress, Foy is also a great model. Even at the young age of three, she had become a model. After that, she modeled for The Walt Disney Company, Mattel, and Gap. She then went on to work for Garnet Hill, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Guess.
John Leslie Coogan:
Death may take a person’s life, but the work they do leaves a legacy. Although the body parts are dead, the characters and soul remain. Despite their inability to forget, they stay in their hearts forever.
John Leslie Coogan was one of those actors and comedians who is no longer with us but whose work we remember. he was born on October 26, 1914, and died on March 1, 1984. He was raised in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
During his early career as a child actor, John Leslie Coogan began his career as an actor in silent movies. When he was an infant, he performed in both vaudeville and films, including an uncredited role in the 1917 film Skinner’s Baby. He was discovered by Charlie Chaplin while performing the shimmy, a then-popular dance, at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. His father was also an actor, as was his younger brother, Robert.
In 1935, The party returned from dove hunting over the border in Mexico in early May. 20-year-old Coogan survived a car accident in eastern San Diego County that killed his father, his best friend, 19-year-old actor Junior Durkin, their ranch foreman, Charles Jones, and actor and writer Robert J. Horner.
Coogan earned between $3 and $4 million as a child star. His fortune was intact when he turned 21 in October 1935. The assets were conservatively managed by his father, who had died five months earlier in an automobile accident.
Coogan was also involved in charity work with Near East relief. He raised funds for the organization, which provided around $1 million in clothing, food, and other needs for the poor children.
The 69-year-old Coogan died of heart failure on March 1, 1984, in Santa Monica, California. He had previously suffered several strokes and was undergoing kidney dialysis at the time his blood pressure dropped. He died of a cardiac arrest at Santa Monica Hospital.
Tye Sheridan:
Tye Kayle Sheridan is an actor and producer from the United States. The actor is best known for playing the role of young Scott Summers / Cyclops in the reboot of the X-Men film series and Wade Watts in Ready Player One and Ben Goudy in Scouts Guide Zombie.
He was born on November 11, 1996, in Palestine, Texas, U.S. His parents are Stephanie (Wright) Sheridan, a beauty salon owner, and Bryan Sheridan, UPS driver. At the age of 16, acting became a priority focus for him, and he received tutoring on film sets.
Sheridan had his feature film debut in Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. This film premiered at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and was awarded the Palme d’Or and nominated for Best Picture.
As part of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, Sheridan appeared in three films. Co-starring with Gregg Turkington and Michael Cera in Entertainment, he also played a prisoner in the film adaptation of The Stanford Prison Experiment, which was released in May 2016. He appeared in the Rodrigo Garcia drama Last Days in the Desert alongside Ewan McGregor.
Sheridan starred as Wade Watts, a.k.a. Parzival, in Steven Spielberg’s science-fiction blockbuster Ready Player One, released on March 29. In the 2019 film Dark Phoenix, he reprised the role of Scott Summers / Cyclops
On television, he was seen in Last Man Standing in 2003. Recently in 2020, he made his appearance in Wireless, an American survival thriller series. His work also includes the Madden 21 football video game, based on the National Football League (NFL).
He has won many awards as a new young actor, including the Golden Goblet Award for Best Actor and Best Youth Performance Award.
Ed Oxenbould:
Ed Oxenbould is an Australian actor born on June 1, 2001, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. A son of Diane Adams and Jamie Oxenbould, Oxenbould is a member of the Hollywood elite. Also, he is the nephew of comedian and actor Ben Oxenbould. His degree in performing arts was from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts. Presently Oxenbould is twenty years old.
In 2012, he was starred in the Australian short film Julian, directed by Matthew Moore. in the movie. He played the title role of a nine-year-old boy. This play became the reason for his instant fame and popularity. AACTA nominated him for the award for Best Young Actor. The following YearYear, he starred as the 10-year-old boy David Vickers in the Australian television series Puberty Blues.
After Julian . he was seen in All God’s Creatures in 2012, The Amber Amulet in 2013, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in 2014, Paper Planes in 2014, The Visit in 2015, Better Watch Out in 2016, The Butterfly Tree in 2017, Wildlife in 2018, Being Gavin in 2019 and Combat Wombat in 2020.
In addition to this, Oxenbould also performed on television shows such as Underbelly: Razor, Tricky Business, Puberty Blues. Soul Mates, Australian Story, Comedy Bang Bang!, Chevy, Fireside Chat With Esther, Diary of an Uber Driver, Reckoning, and Bloom.
From 2011 to today, Oxenbould continuously fulfills its goal of success through hard work. The way he handles his fame is also admirable. His next film, The Exchange, is also expected to hit the billboards like his previous films.
Max Charles:
Charles celebrates his birthday on August 18. He holds a special place in the top ten child actors list. The teenager has undertaken many incredible projects at such a young age.
As part of Charles’ first audition, the producer asked his older brother to go and audition. After asking his mother for permission to accompany his older brother, Charles landed his first acting role. As a member of the Stooges, Charles appears in a scene with the brothers.
In 2010, he made his acting debut in an episode of True Blood’s third season. Later his television guest appearances include the Fox series Raising Hope, the NBC series Community, the T.V. Land series Hot in Cleveland, and Jessie’s Disney Channel series. Additionally, in 2010, Charles appeared in the television movie November Christmas, and in 2011, he appeared in the film Spooky Buddies on DVD.
In the past, he worked on many projects in a much shorter amount of time. The list includes True Blood, Raising Hope, My Life As an Experiment, Super Spies, Scent of the Missing, Adventure Time, The Haunted Hathaways, American Dad!, Constantine, Harvey Beaks, The Lion Guard, and Scooby-Doo! Shaggy’s Showdown and many more.
On November 19, 2018, he announced that he would play Ali’s best friend in an upcoming independent fantasy film called Ali’s Realm. The film is currently in production and will debut in the future.
Max Charles won the Young Artist Award at the 34th Young Artist Awards ceremony in 2013. In addition, he was nominated for the 42nd Saturn Award, the 43rd Saturn Award, and the 44th Saturn Award.
Bailee Madison:
Bailee Madison is one of the most recognized child actresses. She is an American actress, singer, and producer born on October 15, 1999, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
As a two-week-old baby, she made her debut in an Office Depot advertisement. During this time, she has appeared in many commercials for major brands, including Disney, SeaWorld, and Cadillac. Additionally, she serves as a national youth spokesperson for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a childhood cancer charity.
The fantasy drama film Bridge to Terabithia (2007) was her first role that garnered her acclaim. Further, Madison was recognized for her roles in the films Brothers (2009), Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2010), Maggie in the romantic comedy film Go with It (2011), Parental Guidance (2012), Northpole (2014), and The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018).
Besides great performances in movies, Madison also made her mark on television. Among her television credits is Maxine Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place (2011), young Snow White in Once Upon a Time (2012–16), Hillary Harrison in Trophy Wife (2013–2014) and Sophia Quinn in The Fosters (2014–16). From 2015 to 2019, Madison starred as Grace Russell in the Hallmark Channel comedy-drama series Good Witch.
The debut novel by Madison and Stefne Miller, entitled Losing Brave, was published in January 2018. Her sister Kaitlin Vilasuso and she have been hosting the podcast Just Between Us since November 2018
In 2008 Madison won the Most Inspirational Television Actor Award and Best Performance in a T.V. Movie Award. Throughout her career, she has been awarded and nominated for this prize.
Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson:
Emma Watson is undoubtedly among the most prominent child actors and actresses in the world. Her name is considered in the top 100 most influential people in the world. Besides this, she is also an activist for women’s rights and the highest-paid model of the industry.
She was born in Paris, France, on April 15, 1990.
Having appeared in the Harry Potter film series as Hermione Granger as a child, she rose to stardom. BAFTA honored Watson by awarding her British Artist of the YearYear.
After finishing secondary school, Watson took a gap year. With her English literature degree from Brown University, she graduated on May 25. She completed her degree in five years instead of two because of her acting career.
Watson’s debut performance on screen was in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001. It was the highest-grossing film of 2001 and shattered opening-day sales and opening weekend takings records.
After meeting lead singer George Craig in the 2010 Winter/Summer Burberry campaign, she appeared in a music video for One Night Only. Channel 4 aired Say You didn’t Want It on June 26, 2010, and it was released on August 16. Watson appeared in her first film following Harry Potter in My Week with Marilyn (2011) as Lucy, a wardrobe assistant who briefly dates Eddie Redmayne’s character, Colin Clark.
During her modeling career, Watson covered Teen Vogue for the first time as the magazine’s youngest cover model. Despite a hectic schedule, she managed to appear in Burberry’s 2010 Spring/Summer campaign alongside her brother, guitarist George Craig, and musician Matt Gilmour.
Watson received the Style Icon Award from British Elle in February 2011 from Vivienne Westwood. In March 2011, Watson was announced as the face of Lancôme.
She has been dating U.S. businessman Leo Robinton since 2019. However, she refuses to publicly discuss her relationships, telling Fox News that she can’t talk about it in an interview and then expect it to stop being papped outside her Home.
Nolan Gould:
Nolan Gould was born in the City of New York on October 28, 1998. He is currently twenty-two years old. In his career, Gould is best known for his role as Luke Dunphy in Modern Family, the ABC sitcom about the Dunphy family.
Gould is the son of Angela and Edwin Gould. However, due to his father’s military career, he and his parents moved to Phenix City, Alabama, shortly after being born. Gould’s family moved to California when he was five years old. He has an older brother, Aidan Gould, who is also an actor.
Gould began his career in commercials when he was three years old. Then, he starred in the feature film Ghoul, based on Brian Keene’s novel. According to Gould’s report for the 2014–15 T.V. season, he made more than $75,000 per Modern Family episode. Additionally, he has appeared on Eleventh Hour and in the movie of the week, Sweet Nothing in My Ear.
Gould appeared in the music video for Logic’s song 1-800-273-8255, the suicide prevention telephone number.Some of the most popular films in his filmography include The McPassion, Waiting Room, Sunny & Share Love You, Montana, Space Buddies, The To-Do List, Field of Lost Shoes, Hysteria, Friends With Benefits, Yes, and many more.
Caila Marsai Martin:
She was born in Plano, Texas, the daughter of Carol and Joshua Martin. After a glamour pictorial, Martin began acting. Her father promised to submit the pictures taken to talent agencies in exchange for a discount from the photographer.
Her photographs were presented to four agencies, and one of them immediately signed her. Her first major national commercial was for Choice Hotels when she was five years old. In 2013, Martin and her family moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
Martin’s film debut came in 2016 when she starred in the Amazon Studios original film An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win, set during the Civil Rights Movement in Detroit. In the same YearYear, she performed as a voice actress in the film “Nina,” based on the life of an American artist and activist.
In 2019, Martin starred in her first studio feature film, the comedy Little, for Universal Pictures. As an executive producer, she became the youngest African-American producer ever to produce a movie.
In 2019, Universal Entertainment signed a first-look production deal with Martin’s company, Genius Productions. Martin’s debut film as part of the deal is a Step Monster, which is a comedy about a teenage girl who is adjusting to her life with a new stepmother.
Universal has signed her as the youngest person in history to a first-look deal and a contract with any studio. Next, Martin was announced in May 2019 as the producer and star of the Universal Pictures adaptation of Amari and the Night Brothers. Then, in December 2019, it was announced that Martin would be producing the comedy film, Queen.
Skai Jackson:
Jackson is one of the most influential teens of 2016. she was born on
April 8, 2002, in New York City, U.S, Jackson is currently nineteen years old and is successfully handling so much fame and recognition.
At the age of five, Jackson made her acting debut in Liberty Kid (2007). In addition, she provided the voice of Glory Grant in the Marvel Rising franchise (2018-2019) and voiced Summer in the DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders series (2019-2020).
Jackson published her debut novel, Reach for the Skai: How to Inspire, Empower, and Clapback, in 2019. In 2020, she was a semi-finalist on the 29th season of Dancing with the Stars.
In 2017, she received an award nomination for Best Influencer from the Shorty Awards. Jackson made her K.C. debut shortly after her success with Disney. Her television guest appearances in Marvel Rising include Marvel Rising: Initiation and Marvel Rising: Chasing Ghosts.
In 2019, Jackson starred in Lil Nas X’s “Panini” music video. The video gained worldwide attention due to Jackson’s character being unable to escape the rapper.
As of March 2020, Jackson has filed court papers seeking a restraining order against rapper Bhad Bhabie, accusing Bhabie of harassing her. Jackson granted the petition temporarily but later rescinded it. In addition, Jackson used a racial slur on an Instagram post on June 6, 2020, prompting criticism of the tweet that showed fans doxing an alleged minor.
Final Words
Although acting is not an easy task, these young actors are making their mark in the industry. With their performances, they had set high standards for upcoming actors. These talented young people have achieved massive success at an early age. Moreover, they are considered the most influential teenagers as well as the wealthiest children.
