The best child stars?

Young British actor Harry Eden, no question. Check out his performance in the ITV drama "Real Men", or "Pure".. he is astonishingly accomplished. Now 18, he's playing the young Joe Scott, in Flashbacks of a Fool, which stars Daniel "Bond" Craig.

He is also probably one of the nicest kiRAB in the business. I met him a couple of years ago, and was seriously impressed by his level-headedness, politeness and maturity. A real pleasure to chat to, and certainly a pleasure to watch onscreen.. he tackles tough subjects like drug addiction and child abuse with such ease and confidence he is going to be a force to be reckoned with as an adult actor.

Up until I saw him, I would have said Haley Joel Osment, but this guy seriously kicks him out of the window!
 
Surprised no one has mentioned possibly the most famous child stars in Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor.

I also have to mention Danielle Harris who was very good in Halloween 4 & 5.

Gary Coleman and Fred Savage were also very likable when on TV or in a movie.
 
Are you looking for greatest performances from a child actor or just the greatest actors who started out young?

If it's the latter then I'd rule out Macauley Culkin and Haley Joel Osment, both of whom seem to have gone into meltdown as soon as they hit their teens.

I'd have to say Christian Bale, in Empire of the Sun at 13 and probably the greatest living film actor (in my opinion), nobody comes close in my opinion.
 
Freddie Bartholomew

Natalie Wood

Jackie Cooper and Ricky Schroder, both where great in "The Champ (1931 & 1979)". Jackie Cooper, much later, played Perry White in the Superman movie.

Jodelle Ferland: in the "Dead Like Me: pilot" and "Silent Hill". .
 
Not to mention Shirley Temple, perhaps the most sucessful child star of them all.
She became the youngest person ever to be presented with an Oscar - aged 6.
 
Great child actors who then went on to have successful Hollywood careers:

Elizabeth Taylor
Judy Garland
Shirley Temple
Mickey Rooney
Drew Barrymore
Jodie Foster
Natalie Wood
 
Thought Haley Joel Osment was excellent in Pay it Forward

Also loved the litle guy in Jerry MAguire, too lazy to look up his name he was just so cute, he was in Stuart Little too.

And the little girl who is in Matilda and Miracle on 34th Street.

I don't like Hayley Mills, think it was her weird hair styles. :o

LinRABay Lohan was cute in parent trap etc, so fresh faced and innocent.
 
I agree that LinRABay Lohan was excellent in Parent Trap, which is why I was disappointed by how she turned out.

I loved Jonathan Brandis (RIP) in Stephen King's IT. Plus Ricky Schroeder was cute in The Champ and Jared Rushton (Overboard, Big) was very good in his day.
 
Back
Top