Top 20 Star kids, and where are they now?

Maile Brady | Image Source: Freeform via YouTube
Maile Brady | Image Source: Freeform via YouTube

In Hollywood, children born to star parents usually take center stage as young as two or three years old. However, many follow very different paths from their parents' careers, either in sharp contrasts or by following them exactly in lockstep. "Top 20 Star Kids and Where Are They Now?" canvases these many young celebrities who have developed excellent adult careers after their days of being child stars. From actors embracing a new role to influencers making waves in fashion and activism, these star kids have been making a name for themselves by becoming their own influencers.

Here's the list of their personal development, current works, and legacies they are creating apart from their famous last name.

1) Freddie Highmore

Freddie Highmore | Image Source: WIRED via YouTube
Freddie Highmore | Image Source: WIRED via YouTube

Freddie Highmore, known for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Bates Motel, is long since an experienced actor and producer. These days, he stars in the series The Good Doctor as a surgical resident with autism and Savant syndrome, Dr. Shaun Murphy. Highmore has been impressive as a child star, becoming a respected lead actor, cutting across genres. He has worked on films from very family-friendly that bring out the sweetness in people to very intense medical dramas. He has also ventured into directing and gained recognition.

2) Alyson Stoner

Alyson Stoner in The Missy Elliott Tribute | Image Source: Alyson Stoner via YouTube
Alyson Stoner in The Missy Elliott Tribute | Image Source: Alyson Stoner via YouTube

Alyson Stoner, a talented child dancer and actor from movies like Step Up and Cheaper by the Dozen, has since developed into various careers, including music, voice acting, and activism. Throughout the past several years, Alyson has candidly spoken about her journey toward embracing herself, from discussing mental health to LGBTQ+ advocacy. She has continued to pursue her passion in choreography and even put out a record, establishing herself as a new generation of music enthusiasts and inspiring others through personal growth.

3) Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld in Most Girls | Image Source: Hailee Steinfeld via YouTube
Hailee Steinfeld in Most Girls | Image Source: Hailee Steinfeld via YouTube

The girl who earned an Oscar nomination for True Grit has become one of the most versatile stars in Hollywood. She has just wrapped up filming Hawkeye with Disney+, bringing Kate Bishop into the Marvel Universe. Still, Hailee Steinfeld has made her mark on music with Love Myself and is gaining a following as a singer-songwriter.

4) Dylan Sprouse

Dylan Sprouse | Image Source: Vogue via YouTube
Dylan Sprouse | Image Source: Vogue via YouTube

Dylan Sprouse is an actor and the twin brother of Cole Sprouse. He acted with his twin on Disney's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and has succeeded as a solo actor. He appears in independent films like Banana Split and After We Collided, gradually making way for himself apart from early comical roles. Dylan also caused ripples outside the entertainment industry, co-founding All-Wise Meadery, a mead company. He is moving into older roles and starting businesses, casting a much less recognizable glow from the childhood star.

5) Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff | Image Source: Vogue via YouTube
Hilary Duff | Image Source: Vogue via YouTube

Hilary Duff is a name that every household knows because of her character in Lizzie McGuire, but the career has taken some serious spins. Not too long ago, she was in the popular series How I Met Your Father and is building her empire through her lifestyle brand, Duff & Me. She's on family duty with three little ones, but still really means to stay vital for mental health advocacy. Her resiliency and adaptability keep her in the limelight while staying relevant between her personal and professional life.

6) Khleo Thomas

Khleo Thomas | Image Source: KevOnStage via YouTube
Khleo Thomas | Image Source: KevOnStage via YouTube

Khleo Thomas, from his role as Zero in the much-acclaimed film Holes, is indeed a star. However, acting is only part of his talent. Khleo Thomas is also a musician; he does rap music and produced records like Slick and 5 on It. He also became a sports commentator and gained thousands of fans online. These creative projects represent the change from the one-hit wonder Zero in Holes to being a man of many talents.

7) ⁠Imani Hakim

Imani Hakim | Image Source: HeyUGuys via YouTube
Imani Hakim | Image Source: HeyUGuys via YouTube

Imani Hakim is famous for her roles in Everybody Hates Chris. Imani Hakim's films like Chocolate City and shows like The Gabby Douglas Story have dotted her breakthrough acting skills. However, she is also an advocate of body positivity, tackling mental health discussions and revealing her struggles, among many more inspiring speeches for the masses. Imani always seeks diverse roles and inspires her audience through her life story.

8) ⁠Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson | Image Source: Entertainment Tonight via YouTube
Mara Wilson | Image Source: Entertainment Tonight via YouTube

Mara Wilson might be best known for the film Matilda, but she left acting in the early 2000s to explore writing and theater. Today, Mara is an author; her books include Where Am I Now? which reflects on her experiences as a child actor and the pressures of fame. She continues to advocate for mental health and is active on social media, sharing her perspective on life after child stardom.

9) Maile Brady

Maile Brady | Image Source: Freeform via YouTube
Maile Brady | Image Source: Freeform via YouTube

Maile Brady, daughter of actor Tom Brady, lived a less publicized childhood but recently appeared in some events with the family. Although she is not directly involved in the entertainment line, she likes a little more secluded life, as she gives most of her time to school and home.

10) Maya Hawke

Maya Hawke | Image Source: Prada
Maya Hawke | Image Source: Prada

The daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, Maya Hawke, is known today for the role of the troubled teen Robin in Stranger Things. She also showcases her unique style and voice in music through her albums like Chaos Angel. Maya has proven versatile through her dual careers in acting and singing and with each step she takes on the screen.

11) Apple Martin

Apple Martin | Image Source: CHANEL via YouTube
Apple Martin | Image Source: CHANEL via YouTube

The daughter of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, Apple Martin, mostly gets out of the way of attention to herself but occasionally ends up in headlines due to public appearances. Arguably, she was brought up in the public eye but lives a relatively private life. Apple is interested in fashion, according to rumors. Her mother's company, Goop, often engages her in creative activities.

12) Natalia Bryant

Natalia Bryant | Image Source: Vogue via YouTube
Natalia Bryant | Image Source: Vogue via YouTube

The daughter of the late Kobe Bryant, Natalia Bryant entered modeling recently and became a sensation within the fashion world as an ambassador for many brands. In the meantime, there is a connection between Natalia's life and her father's legacy. She campaigns for social justice and the fight against mental health; she has openly spoken about how her life will be that of a daughter to a global icon. With her growing influence, Natalia is carving out a career that combines fashion, activism, and her father's memory.

13) ⁠Billie Lourd

Billie Lourd | Image Source: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon via YouTube
Billie Lourd | Image Source: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon via YouTube

Billy Lourd, daughter of the late Carrie Fisher, has followed in her mother's footsteps. Her significant recognition came from work in Scream Queens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Billy has also acted in several films and dramas on television. She received special attention because of her sly humor and her emotional features. Recently, she has become more active in personal activism, speaking about her experiences with the effects of grief and living in the shadow of a legend.

14) ⁠Lily Collins

Lily Collins | Image Source: Vogue via YouTube
Lily Collins | Image Source: Vogue via YouTube

Being the daughter of the famous musician Phil Collins, Lily Collins had it both: acting and writing. She acted in The Blind Side and Love, Rosie, but had the lead role in Emily in Paris, which saw her renewed international fame. She is a well-established author too. She published her first memoir, Unfiltered, where she digressed with her wealth of experience on body image struggles, and low self-esteem.

15) Lourdes Leon

Lourdes Leon | Image Source: The Hollywood Fix via YouTube
Lourdes Leon | Image Source: The Hollywood Fix via YouTube

Lourdes is the daughter of Madonna, ready to stardom overnight in the worlds of style and music. She started a promising modeling career recently, cooperating with commercial giants like Marc Jacobs and Versace. She even debuted in music under the pseudonym "Lola," sharing her creativity with songs like Spelling and Boy Next Door.

16) Meadow Walker

Meadow Walker | Image Source: E! News via YouTube
Meadow Walker | Image Source: E! News via YouTube

Meadow Walker is the daughter of the late actor Paul Walker. Early after her father's death, she established The Paul Walker Foundation in his name. She was only 22 when she appeared on Chanel's magazine cover. Unlike her dad, Meadow has concentrated much on being a career fashion leader and philanthropist rather than an actress.

17) Corrine Foxx

Corrine Foxx | Image Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live via YouTube
Corrine Foxx | Image Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live via YouTube

Actress and model Corrine Foxx is the daughter of Jamie Foxx. So far, the new star has been included in 47 Meters Down: Uncaged. Corrine has also been joining social justice movements through her position as a celebrity to advocate the vision of equity and change.

18) ⁠Ireland Baldwin

Ireland Baldwin | Image Source: Entertainment Tonight via YouTube
Ireland Baldwin | Image Source: Entertainment Tonight via YouTube

Ireland Baldwin is a model, social media influencer, and daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. Ireland has walked for some of the most extensive and popular campaigns and shows. She has also been very frank about body image and mental health struggles and is using social media for positive body image and self-acceptance. Transparency with fans has made her famous and earned plenty of influence in the modeling world and social media.

19) Frances Bean Cobain

Frances Bean Cobain | Image Source: E! News via YouTube
Frances Bean Cobain | Image Source: E! News via YouTube

Frances Bean Cobain is a model and visual artist. She is the daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. Always showing interest in visual arts, she has been part of many art projects and has worked in several galleries. While staying relatively calm about her family legacy, Frances has constructed an identity of her own as an artist and advocate. She continues to write about mental health concerns but is also a memoirist, chronicling her life as the child of rock royalty.

20) Simone Johnson

Simone Johnson | Image Source: WWE via YouTube
Simone Johnson | Image Source: WWE via YouTube

The daughter of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Simone Johnson has followed in her father's footsteps with professional wrestling. Under the ring name Ava Raine, she made her debut in WWE's developmental league, NXT in October 2022. Simone is the first fourth-generation wrestler in WWE history and, therefore, has gained a lot of ground as she establishes her significance in this industry. She is also advocating and working to empower women in sports and entertainment.

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Edited by Abhimanyu Sharma