20 Dark Secrets Revealed by Child Stars

20 Dark Secrets Revealed by Child Stars

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re examining sad and horrific personal secrets about famous child stars.

Hilary Duff

The recipient of seven Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, Hilary Duff was a major teen idol of the early 2000s, known primarily for her role as Lizzie McGuire. Unfortunately, the attention that this role brought her resulted in an eating disorder. Duff has opened up to various publications about her flawed relationship with food, claiming that the pressures of fame and an unhealthy approach to celebrity caused her to develop unhealthy eating habits as a teenager. In one interview with E! News, Duff even claims her “hands would cramp up a lot” owing to malnutrition.

Daniel Radcliffe

In the decade since ending his historic run as Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe has spoken about some of the issues he faced as a young star of the franchise. The pressure of being one of the biggest child stars in the world eventually got to him. As Radcliffe reached a legal drinking age, he acknowledged in interviews that he began leaning more on alcohol to deal with being in the spotlight. He also said that his habits began to affect his work on the films. As the franchise wrapped up, Radcliffe worked hard to get and stay sober. Today, Radcliffe credits staying well-adjusted in the spotlight to surrounding himself with positive influences.

Alisan Porter

While she’s now known for her music, Alisan Porter began her career in movies as a young child. Perhaps her most famous role is that of Curly Sue in the John Hughes film of the same name, which was released when Porter was just 10 years old. This was followed by a tumultuous period involving drugs and alcohol. In 2014, Porter wrote a blog post opening up about her substance use, with insinuations towards marijuana and Xanax. She eventually had a moment of clarity and sought professional help. She became abstinent from drugs in 2007 at the age of 26 and has remained so ever since.

Joe Jonas

The Jonas Brothers are an iconic piece of late 2000s pop culture, the squeaky-clean cute boys behind various Disney projects and popular songs. But now they’re all grown up, and some are voicing their chagrin at being corporate puppets. Joe in particular has made his displeasure known, publishing a scathing op-ed through Vulture in 2013. He speaks about his time with Disney and how he was forced to project an innocent image while working on projects he didn’t even like. Furthermore, it began to affect his personal life, especially his relationship with Demi Lovato. Lovato was battling her own demons, but an unhappy Jonas felt obligated to remain in the relationship for the sake of appearances.

Selena Gomez

Another Disney veteran, another person suffocated by its pressures. Gomez has been very open about her troubled relationship with the company, even reporting on the “Zach Sang Show” that she “hated most” of her upbringing. This included the negative pressures of fame, unwanted public attention, and having to move away from home at a young age. Gomez showed a particularly vulnerable side in the 2022 documentary “My Mind & Me,” in which she opened up about her struggles with mental health. Gomez claims that she is doing better now thanks to friends and therapy.

Lalaine

We return to the Lizzie McGuire universe for Lalaine, who played Lizzie’s best friend Miranda Sanchez. However, her heart wasn’t really in the show and she left before its conclusion to focus on other creative pursuits. She did not appear in the final six episodes of the show, nor did she star in the 2003 movie. Unfortunately, this preceded what Lalaine calls her “dark years.” This included a period of serious substance use, and she was arrested in 2007 on a felony possession of methamphetamine. Thankfully, she eventually sought help and turned her life around.

Shirley Temple

Kids today will probably know Shirley Temple as that yummy drink you get at restaurants, not knowing about who was once the biggest child star on the planet. Nay, maybe the biggest movie star, period. Unfortunately, this caused Temple to be the subject of some bizarre treatment. The child star required intensive dental work to hide the natural gaps in her teeth, and fans persistently yanked on her hair hoping to expose a wig. They were left disappointed, and she was left in pain. Worst of all was a horrific casting couch experience that she was subjected to in 1940, the details of which are recounted in her memoir “Child Star.”

Judy Garland

Another screen icon of the Golden Age, Judy Garland achieved enormous popularity, but it came at the expense of her physical and mental health. Garland’s story is one of the most tragic in Hollywood, a widespread cautionary tale about the dangers of stardom and perfection. Garland endured a lifelong battle with substance use and body image problems, the latter of which was propagated by studio executives. Garland would reportedly use amphetamines throughout filming to keep up with her hectic schedule and then take barbiturates to fall asleep, instigating a dangerous cycle of drug use that never really went away. Overdosing and dying before turning 50, she met a tragic end to a tragic life.

Corey Feldman & Corey Haim

The two Coreys were the biggest teen idols of their day, known for many ‘80s hits like “Stand by Me” and “The Lost Boys,” the latter of which starred both actors and started a lifelong friendship. Unfortunately, both suffered greatly throughout this tumultuous period. Feldman has been very vocal about the sexual abuse that both he and Haim suffered, and it resulted in a ferocious battle with substance use, including problems with heroin. Feldman continues to be one of the biggest faces of Hollywood justice, even though he himself has been accused of sexual misconduct. As for Haim, he experienced housing insecurity before dying in 2010 at age 38.

Demi Lovato

Thanks to a meteoric rise on Disney Channel, Demi Lovato was a TV staple throughout her younger years. Unfortunately, her life behind the scenes was far from easy. Lovato suddenly left both her leading role on “Sonny With a Chance” and a concert tour in 2010. Sheended up going to rehab to address herbehaviors and struggles with mental health in 2011. After Lovato’s stay, she publicly talked about those issues and directly spoke about her difficulties with disordered eating. The singer went on to share more details in her music, a self-help memoir and in documentaries. Lovato’s journey has had several bumps in the road. But she’s always been honest about what it takes to start over.

Ariel Winter

While Ariel Winter was still working on the smash hit “Modern Family,” her sister Shanelle Gray was making a case for why she should be the rising star’s legal guardian. This publicized court battle led the actress to open up about her mother’s bad behavior. Winter reported she had strict rules about her diet, friendships and even had to wear inappropriate clothes. Apparently, these restrictions were meant to keep the star famous. Outside of Winter’s turbulent relationship with her mother, she was also subjected to negative comments about her body. Winter has often talked about the power of body positivity and importance of taking care of one’s mental health. We think Alex Dunphy would be proud.

Aaron Carter

The late Aaron Carter’s financial struggles made tons of headlines over the years. According to the pop star, he constantly dealt with debt because his parents and managers took advantage. While coping with financial issues, Carter’s mental health struggles and legal problems made it difficult to achieve the heights of fame he had as a child pop star. He once revealed that he hoped a stint on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2009 would help give him a career boost. When the run didn’t give him the push he was hoping for, he turned to negative habits to help him cope. While working on a comeback, Carter tragically passed away in his home in 2022.

Cole Sprouse

Some people start really early, and Cole Sprouse is one of them. He first started acting in Chuck Lorre’s sitcom “Grace Under Fire,” which premiered on ABC in 1993. At the time, Sprouse was a whole… one year old. Unfortunately, life in the entertainment industry had a terrible effect on his mother, and both he and his brother Dylan were taken away from her at a young age. Sprouse has also claimed that constantly working on movie and TV sets was an “insular environment” that made him “forget what real human experience…[looked] like.” Finally, he admits that he has lasting trauma from his time as a child star, but also admits that it’s nothing compared to what his female co-workers have to deal with.

Mara Wilson

After starring in the beloved 1990s family movies like “Matilda,” Mara Wilson took a step back from Hollywood in the 2000s. She would later pen several articles about her experiences in the 2010s. In one op-ed, Wilson used her firsthand experience to offer up the reasons why the odds are stacked so highly against child stars. She also shared a detailed look at her childhood with a memoir “Where Am I Now?” In the book, she wrote about being pressured to look and act certain ways to get cast and be accepted. Wilson also discussed how hard it was to read the inappropriate comments people made about her. Over the last decade, she’s constantly voiced her support for other child stars who have faced adversity.

Alyson Stoner

We once again return to the Disney vault for Alyson Stoner, who found success through “Camp Rock” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” among many others. Unfortunately, Stoner experienced what seems like every negative aspect of the entertainment industry. Stoner has been very open about their traumatic experiences in Hollywood, including instances of sexual harassment, overwork (much of it illegal), and dangerous working conditions. They also claim that this resulted in chronic stress and eating disorders, which in turn led to malnourishment, hair loss, and even seizures. Luckily, they eventually sought help through therapy and now speak openly about the importance of mental health.

Drew Barrymore

First rising to fame in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” Drew Barrymore’s childhood was anything but ordinary. At a young age, she was often brought to clubs and venues geared for adults that she shouldn’t have been able to get access to. Barrymore later said her behavior got so erratic that she was sent to a facility to address her habits and mental health issues. The star later acknowledged that her experience there ultimately helped her turn things around. In the years since, Barrymore enjoyed a career resurgence and started hosting a successful talk show. On occasion, she will use her talk show platform to facilitate illuminating conversations about child stardom and teenage rebellion.

Macaulay Culkin

Years after Macaulay Culkin blew up as a child star, he revealed how difficult it was for him behind the scenes. According to the actor, trying to balance normal activities like school with filming schedules made shoots feel like more of a chore. Culkin also had to accept whatever role was chosen for him. On top of the pressures of fame, he’s been extremely honest about his rocky relationship with his parents. Culkin claimed that their focus on his earnings and career pushed his father in particular to mistreat him. Despite hitting a few rough patches, Culkin slowly started to make more Hollywood appearances in the late 2010s. Fortunately, Culkin’s past difficulties haven’t kept him from a happy and productive career.

Raven-Symoné

This child actress rose to fame on “The Cosby Show,” playing Denise’s stepdaughter Olivia Kendall. Her first episode aired in September 1989, when Raven-Symoné was just three years old. This kickstarted a career that was undeniably successful but which had a negative impact on her mental health. Raven-Symoné claims that she was constantly body-shamed and was often told, even as a very young child, that she was getting fat and that she needed to watch what she ate. She also claims that she was forced to hide her sexuality from the public, fearing that coming out would be detrimental to her career. As Raven-Symoné told People magazine in 2017, this all resulted in “so many mental issues.”

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus had no qualms about sharing the downsides of being in the public eye at a young age. After she put her breakout “Hannah Montana” role in the rearview mirror, the singer talked about her struggle to move on to more mature projects. Cyrus has spoken extensively about fans who want her to project the wholesome image she had when she was younger. Additionally, she’s talked about the hectic schedule and pressures she had to dress a certain way. Cyrus even compared aspects of the experience to the notoriously exploitative TLC show “Toddlers & Tiaras.” Cyrus definitely deserves to get her flowers after withstanding all that pressure.

Jennette McCurdy

Before Jennette McCurdy even released her 2022 memoir, she grabbed the world’s attention with its provocative title: “I’m Glad My Mom Died.” The book’s contents dove into the horrifying details about the actresses’ strained relationship with her mother. McCurdy’s mom pushed everything from dieting hard to constant Hollywood exposure. This caused the actress to develop body image issues while feeling the pressure to constantly perform. Outside of talking about her family in the book, McCurdy also highlighted Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider’s troubling behavior. Her brave testimony became an acclaimed and much-discussed bestseller. Whether the book leads to lasting change remains to be seen. But it was a landmark work that spoke volumes to McCurdy’s resilience and bravery.

Which of these stories surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments.