Parents of children in show biz, I have to ask: Why? How can you look at people like Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, the Olsen Twins and so on… and think it’s a good idea?
A few weeks ago, Nick & I were trying to think of any current adult actor/actress who has successfully transitioned from child star to well adjusted adult star. Admittedly, you could argue that there are a lot of adult stars who aren’t well adjusted even if they weren’t child stars, but whatever.
The initial trigger was Christina Ricci. Sleepy Hollow was on, and I was wondering whatever happened to her, as she seems to have vanished off the face of the planet. (A quick look at Wikipedia shows that she has in fact been working… just not in anything I’ve heard of.) So I was trying to think of stars who are currently active and mainstream, who never went through a fucked up drug phase.
I came up with Wil Wheaton & Neil Patrick Harris. (And admittedly, Wil Wheaton is only “mainstream” right now if you’re an internet geek. Luckily, I am, so I’m counting it.) Drew Barrymore seems to have also managed to successfully transition, but only after spending her tweens coked out and hitting rehab at 13, so she’s off the list. (But hey, good for her — it’s hard to go from rehab at 13 to reasonably normal, well adjusted adult.)
I also thought of what Wil Wheaton & NPH have in common: Both of them vanished out of the public eye for most of their late 20s/early 30s. (Wil Wheaton was doing mostly voice work, and NPH was doing mostly musicals.) Either way, neither of them had nearly the fame & recognition they had in their teens and now.
So maybe that’s the key to avoiding train wrecks like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears. I honestly feel bad for them — seriously, how can you possibly stay normal when there are people whos JOBS it is to follow you around for every stupid mundane thing you do? Seriously — this is a video of Lindsay Lohan buying pizza. SHOCKING NEWS: PIZZA IS TASTY.
And all I can say is: Jesus christ, that poor girl. Yeah, she’s totally fucked up. But cut her some slack — she’s been starring in feature films since she was 11, and was already a show biz veteran at that point. I don’t know how you do that and stay normal.
I suppose one thing they have going for them is that none of ‘em are half as fucked up as Mel Gibson. Score one for the ladies!
How about Fred Savage and Danica McKellar, both from “Wonder Years”? Seems like they’re pretty normal, and are still working here and there. It is tough to think of very many, though. Being rich and famous as a kid or a teen must really mess people up.
…are they still working? I dunno if I would call either one of them mainstream in the way I’m thinking of. Occasional guest appearances don’t count. :D
oh oh oh! I thought of another one: Seth Green.
Hmmm… I would have counted occasional guest appearances. Seems like Fred Savage is mostly directing and producing these days. I think that counts. Danica McKellar has a recurring role on “How I Met Your Mother” (I’ve seen her in at least a couple of episodes) and is apparently doing some kids shows promoting math and science (she’s big into that) and various made-for-cable movies. Not exactly the top of the Hollywood food chain, but not bad.
How about Jodie Foster?
ooh, very good example!
But it continues to prove my point: in her early to mid-20s, she did the same disappearing act (she did a few no-name flicks, and went to university) Wil Wheaton & NPH did… although inadvertantly stayed in the limelight thanks to being stalked by would-be assassins. :D
I think that’s the key, though: Get the fuck out of dodge in your early 20s, and you might just make it stick. :D
Has Natalie Portman done anything recently? She seems to be doing the drop out of sight and go to college thing that has worked for several other non-trainwreck stars.
Hmm. Since she finished school, V for Vendetta. Oh, and The Other Boleyn Girl, although that was a terrible adaptation. And the awesome rap she did for SNL. Yup, there we have it. The key to not being a hollywood trainwreck: leave Hollywood. :D
Danica M has a freakin’ doctorate in mathematics and a theorum named after her. Which, while awesome, isn’t normal either :)
Natalie Portman also did Closer and Brothers and is in the up and coming Pride and Prejudice and Zombies adaptation. Taking a break for Uni does wonders.
Kirsten Dunst hasn’t gone completely of the rails either, although many people seem to dislike her for some reason.
Leonardo DiCaprio. He basically disappeared for a little while, but has transitioned nicely.
Anna Paquin!
Most of those associated with the Harry Potter franchise seem to be turning out wonderfully, but then I’ve noticed that that seems to be more the case for British actors than Hollywood ones. So it must have more to do with Hollywood/US environs and culture. Alyssa Milano is another stand-out that turned out great. Kim Richards came through, but she’s not exactly working, unless you count a few appearances that amount to extended cameos in Black Snake Moan and Race to Witch Mountain. Speaking of Lindsay, the original Parent Trap star, Hayley Mills, turned out OK, but here again, she’s British. Of the Full House ladies, only Cameron escaped unscathed, although Jodie Sweetin has gotten things together after her brief drug-and-alcohol foray. A few others off the top of my head include Kyla Pratt, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin (although he got a late start at 13), Julie Dawn Cole (the original Veruca Salt), and so far Dakota Fanning seems to be doing pretty well.
Classic observational bias; the only ones we hear about are the fuckups.