20 Child Actors Who You Won’t Believe Are All Grown Up Now

Being a child star in Hollywood can set young actors and actresses up for a roller coaster life that will either see their star fade as they become adults or the sky may be the limit as they become the leading men and women of the future. While some of these young stars get into mainstream films and TV by chance auditions that suddenly made them megastars, others have been involved in the entertainment industry since they were toddlers.

It seems like just yesterday when these tiny celebrities captured our hearts but by the looks of these photos, much time has passed since! Here are 20 child actors who you won’t believe are all grown up now.

1. Henry Thomas (Elliot), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

2. Kiernan Shipka (Sally Draper), Mad Men TV series (2007–2015)

3. Josh Hutcherson (Jess Aarons), Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

4. Bailee Madison (May Belle Aarons), Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

5. Chandler Riggs (Carl Grimes), The Walking Dead TV series (2010 — present)

We can’t seem to get enough of these child stars. They’re cute, they’re precious and they usually steal the spotlight – even from the biggest stars.

6. Asa Butterfield (Bruno), The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

7. Kara Hayward (Suzy), Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

8. Gattlin Griffith (Walter Collins), Changeling (2008)

9. Chloë Grace Moretz (Rachel), 500 Days of Summer (2009)

10. Nicholas Hoult (Marcus Brewer), About a Boy (2002)

Some of these pint-size performers from the past continue in their acting careers today, long into their adult years, while others chose to follow a new path.

11. Kate Maberly (Mary Lennox), The Secret Garden (1993)

12. Philip Wiegratz (Augustus Gloop), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

13. Jeremy Sumpter (Peter Pan), Peter Pan (2003)

14. Rachel Hurd-Wood (Wendy Darling), Peter Pan (2003)

15. Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher), Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series (1987–1994)

There’s something odd about seeing a former child star as a teen or adult. It reminds us that time does go by so quickly.

16. Dakota Blue Richards (Lyra), The Golden Compass (2007)

17. Spencer Breslin (Rusty Duritz), The Kid (2000)

18. Hailee Steinfeld (Mattie Ross), True Grit (2010)

19. Thomas Turgoose (Shaun), This Is England (2006)

20. Alyson Stoner (Sarah Baker), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)

Time passes surprisingly quick! It seems like we first saw these kids in their movies just yesterday, but it turns out that they’re already adults now and had become successful in their chosen careers.