16 Actors That Started Out In Children's TV, And Matured Into More Serious Roles

Austin Butler's Disney days – 10/10.

1. Zendaya

Disney Channel / HBO

The absolute queen that is Zendaya started out on Disney Channel in 2010 as one of the main characters in Shake It Up. Since then she's been in a load of different TV shows and films including Euphoria (which I was positively obsessed with), The Greatest Showman, and multiple Spider-Man movies. I mean let's be honest, Zendaya's made it.

In regards to dealing with the difficulties that come with acting from such a young age, Zendaya has said, "I think for me I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to do. I had a very good sense of self and I think I also took a lot of lessons just from being in the industry for so long."

Sidenote, if you haven't watched Euphoria you seriously need to. Her performance even won her two Emmy Awards. Speaking of awards, she's won 21 different awards for her work in music and acting. Yes that's right, 21. 

2. Bella Thorne

Disney Channel / 01 Distribution

On the topic of Shake It Up, Zendaya acted alongside Bella Thorne, who's also been making moves in the film industry. She acted in a couple of shows before Shake It Up, including My Own Worst Enemy, which actually earned her one of her three Young Artist Awards. More recently you might have seen her in the films Blended, Midnight Sun, and Time is Up – to name a few. 

3. Emma Roberts

Nickelodeon / Netflix

Emma Roberts played the lead role in the Nickelodeon show Unfabulous in 2004 (which I watched religiously, for the record). Since then, she's really made her mark in the industry, through movies like Wild Child (an absolute classic), We're The Millers (which won her two awards), and The Holidate. She even appeared in a few episodes of American Horror Story, so it's fair to say she's come a long way since her Nickelodeon days.  

4. Keke Palmer

Nickelodeon / Universal Pictures

Keke Palmer definitely made her presence known through the film Jump In! in 2007. She went on to play the main character in Nickelodeon's True Jackson, VP. Keke has openly discussed the difficulties of working in the show business industry from a young age. She explains, "At a young age, as a child [in the] entertainer world, your emotions are always the last thing that people care about."

Since then she's been in a load of films and series, including Hustlers (I'd just like to mention my love for this film), the series Scream Queen, and more recently the films Alice and Nope. 

She's also won five different awards, so long story short, she's been killing it for years. 

5. Tia Mowry

ABC / Netflix

You've got to remember the Mowry sisters from their show in the '90s Sister, Sister. Tia and Tamera then went on to star in the Disney Channel film Twitches, and since then have both appeared in a range of programmes and movies. Tia has more recently starred in Family Reunion and Game On: A Comedy Crossover Event. 

It's no surprise that she's won quite a few awards in the past, especially for her work back in the late '90s and early '00s. 

6. Hilary Duff

Disney Channel / Hulu

My fellow '90s babies will remember Hilary Duff from the show Lizzie McGuire (which I should mention I had an unhealthy obsession with). After that, she starred in a load of films during the early 2000s, including A Cinderella Story, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Raise Your Voice (which fun fact, was my favourite film for most of my childhood). In regards to her start in show business, Hilary said, "...I worked really hard at it; I begged for acting classes. I begged to go to random cattle calls where there's like 500 kids."

Since then, Duff's been in The Haunting of Sharon Tate, Younger, How I Met Your Father, and quite a few others. She even won 21 different awards over the years. Absolutely iconic. 

7. Cole Sprouse

Disney Channel / Netflix

As one half of the Sprouse twins, you'll probably recognise Cole from The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Since his Disney Channel days Cole's been in Riverdale, Five Feet Apart, and quite a few more. They've won him seven different awards, so he's definitely doing something right.

Despite being a huge success both then and now, Cole has spoken quite openly about the psychological trauma that child actors have to deal with. He goes on to explain, "...I do very much love the art of acting," but adds that he has "...a very complicated relationship to celebrity culture."

8. Dylan Sprouse

Disney Channel / Tao Piao Piao

Of course, we had to honour the other half of the Sprouse twins. After making his mark on Disney Channel, Dylan made quite a few movies including After We Collided, The Curse of Turandot, and My Fake Boyfriend. As a winner of three awards, between the two of them the Sprouse brothers have won ten awards and counting. 

9. Madison Pettis

Disney Channel / Netflix

After starring in Cory in the House, Madison made appearances in a range of shows and movies including Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 and 3, American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules, and He's All That. When discussing her childhood Madison explained, "I'm really lucky that I've been able to keep my life so balanced." She explains that she was able to attend school whilst simultaneously going on auditions and making her entrance into show business. 

10. Mario Lopez

NBC / Universal Pictures

After starring in the classic show Saved By The Bell starting in 1989, Mario went on to appear in Honey 2, A Recipe for Seduction, and Get Him to the Greek, and a lot more. He's even hosted quite a few television shows over the years, including co-hosting The X Factor US with Khloé Kardashian.

When questioned on the evolution of his career, Mario explained how making the transition from being a child star is always tough, especially when taking into consideration his ethnic background. Despite this difficulty, Mario won four awards throughout his career, winning his first one back in 1994. 

11. Austin Butler

Disney Channel / Warner Bros. Pictures

Austin made quite a few appearances in children's TV back in the day, including Hannah Montana, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, and iCarly. Since then he's worked with some of the greats, and even played the main role in Elvis, portraying the life of the infamous Elvis Presley. He clearly made an impression, as the film won him Best Actor at the HCA Midseason Film Awards.

When interviewed about his work, Austin explained, "Fame itself doesn't interest me." He then went on to explain how the appeal for him is to work with great artists and tell great stories. I'd say he's definitely doing well on that front. 

12. Josh Peck

Nickelodeon / Hulu

Being most well known for his appearances on The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh, Josh continued to work in the industry and has since appeared in a range of films and TV shows. When questioned, Josh explained in an interview that he wanted to get into the entertainment industry from a very young age, and even used to perform stand-up comedy at the age of ten in various locations around New York.

Since his days on Nickelodeon, some of Josh's latest work includes starring in Turner and Hooch and How I Met Your Father. He also won a shared award for his work on Mean Creek, back in 2004!

13. Alex Wolff

Nickelodeon / A24

Since appearing in Nickelodeon's The Naked Brothers Band, Alex has appeared in a couple of the Jumanji films, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (I adore that film so much), Hereditary, and quite a few more. When questioned about his movement to more serious projects after starting out as a child star, he explained, "...it really hasn't felt like a transition – the only transition is I'm doing things that align with my taste now."

He's also won nine different awards for his work over the years, so he's definitely come a long way since his Nickelodeon days! 

14. Ryan Reynolds

Nickelodeon / 20th Century Fox

Back in 1991, Ryan starred in the teenage soap opera Fifteen on Nickelodeon. Let's be honest, since then he's made an absolutely huge impact on the film industry. Although appearing in the spotlight from an early age, he definitely hasn't always worked glamorous jobs as he explains, "Before I was in show business I drove a forklift, I worked in restaurants, I was a busboy, I was a waiter, I was a cashier."

He's most well-known for starring in Deadpool, Free Guy, The Proposal, and to be frank I could go on for quite a while. He's also won nine awards, which comes as no surprise. 

15. Nick Cannon

Nickelodeon / VH1

Back in 1994, Nick starred in the Nickelodeon series All That, which led to his appearances in quite a few TV shows and films, including Drumline, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Roll Bounce. He's also well known for his work hosting shows such as Lip Sync Battle Shorties, Wild 'n Out, and America's Got Talent. In short, Nick's definitely made his mark since the '90s, confirmed by the fact he's won three awards over the years for his combined work in acting and hosting. 

16. Victoria Justice

Nickelodeon / Netflix

Known for her work on the Nickelodeon show Victorious, Victoria went on to appear in a few different TV series and movies, including The Outcasts, Trust, and Afterlife of the Party. She won a few awards for her older work over the years and has spoken on the intensity that can be involved with acting at such a young age. She explains, "I wanted to work 12-hour days sometimes or more because I loved it."