We all know the stigma that comes with being a child star. Everyone is waiting for the train wreck, whether it is jail time or drug addiction. With every child star there comes the cloud of near certain career doom. But these few celebrities have gone from child stars to bona fide actors.



Drew Barrymore got her big break when she starred in E.T. the Extraterrestrial at the age of seven. She was then catapulted into stardom getting roles in Firestarter and Irreconcilable Differences, which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Drew didnt have the easiest transition into adulthood. She had a much publicized stint in rehab when she was just a young teenager. After getting her life back on track Drew also reinvigorated her career. She was again nominated for a Golden Globe in 1998, when she was 17, for her role in Guncrazy. Now Drew is achieving success as a producer as well as an actress. She has produced, wither her production company Flower Films, the hit movies Never Been Kissed, Charlies Angels and 50 First Dates. And she recently made her directorial debut with Whip it.





Winona Ryder first appeared on the big screen in Lucas when she was just 15 years old. After that she achieved box office and critical acclaim for her roles in Tim Burtons Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands. She then starred opposite Cher in 1990s Mermaids, which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Winona also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in Little Women. In 2001 Ryder took a break from acting after her much publicized shop lifting incident. She returned to film in 2002s Mr. Deeds along side Adam Sandler. Most recently Winona was seen in this summers box office success Star Trek playing Spocks mother. You can see Winona next in The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.




Elijah Wood got his first taste of stardom when he appeared in the film Avalon at the age of nine. Elijah went on to co star with Mel Gibson and Jamie Lee Curtis in Forever Young and Macaulay Culkin in The Good Son. He then received critical acclaim for his role in Ang Lees 1997 film The Ice Storm. Starring in the movies Deep Impact and The Faculty helped bridge his career from child star to adult actor. After that Elijah won the lead role of Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Since the major success of the trilogy Elijah has starred in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sin City, Everything is Illuminated and Bobby.




Scarlett Johansson appeared in her first movie, North, in 1994 when she was ten years old. She then went on to act in Manny & Lo in 1996 and 1998's The Horse Whisperer. Scarlett received much acclaim for her performances in both movies. In 2003 at 18 years old Scarlett starred along side Bill Murray in Lost in Translation, which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. That same year she also starred in Girl with a Pearl Earring and was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama. More recently Scarlett has been in The Other Boleyn Girl, Vicky Christina Barcelona and He's Just Not That Into You. She continues to receive critical acclaim for her acting roles.

Despite the slim chances of a child star continuing their career into adulthood these stars were able to achieve even greater success as adults.