Young Stars of Hollywood

Dakota Fanning and other child stars survive the high stakes
game of stardom at a young age with hard work and dedication.

Hollywood is full of talented actors, and some of those are so little, it amazes you they are even able to learn lines. While many child stars get by on their looks or cute personalities, some have the kind of talent that will propel them to future stardom. Dakota Fanning is one in a long line of successful child stars that not only has an adorable look, but is extremely talented as well.

Dakota Fanning follows closely in the footsteps of other child stars who made the leap from a child to a successful teen actor. One can only imagine she will make the transition to adult actor as well. Kirsten Dunst and Jodi Foster both won a great deal of attention for roles as children, and then managed to avoid the trips that catch other child stars. Dakota is simply the latest in this series of young talent.

Disappearing Child Stars
Many child actors appear in a few notable roles only to disappear over time. Some of these young actors are simply not interested in pursing a continuing career in Hollywood or need a break from the spotlight. They choose to pursue other dreams or educational opportunities. Some, like Drew Barrymore, eventually make it back to the big screen, and others simply fade.

Other child stars fight tooth and nail to stay in the public eye. They have enjoyed their time in the spotlight, and can’t fathom that it might be ending. Child stars have a unique disadvantage. They are initially sought for their youth, and as the leave their youth behind, they are no long sought after for important roles. Some may argue that this is the case for female actors as well, but youth in children is far shorter than a youthful appearance for a woman in Hollywood. It is painfully fleeting.

Child Star Survivors
Those that enjoyed success on the big (or little) screen as children and then continue to enjoy success as they age are the lucky few. Some do not age gracefully and fall from public favor. Others find a sort of protection in the industry and manage to stay above the temptations that affect others.

Out of the initial batch of child stars in every generation, most fade away by choice or by circumstances. The few remainders have survived on pure talent and hard work. Dakota Fanning is one of those survivors, and could possibly even be the most talented young starlet in Hollywood history.

Child Star Fans
Fans of child stars are able to find a great deal of information about these actors online and in magazines. Website owners and editors know how meaningful these young careers can be and offer updated information on a regular basis. Even game sites, such as TheDollPalace.com, offers their own version of child stars – in the form of dress up games and dollz.
There will always be child stars. And there will always be those very few that make the transition. We, the audience, will always be enamored with these young talents and do what we can to follow their careers and show our interest in their exciting lives.

When Good Girls...Stay Good?

Unfortunately, Hollywood seems to taint many of the young starlets that make it home. Adorable young stars slowly begin a descent that comes with too much money, too much attention and not enough supervision. A very notable few escape the fate of so many. For every wholesome Mandy Moore or Miley Cyrus, there are those like Lindsay Lohan, Brittany Spears and Nichole Richie waiting in the wings.

Parents of young actresses felt comfortable with these young stars as role models only to have them become habitual drug users, fighters, plagued with body issues, and overall simply unsuitable for the preteen and teenage audience that seems to love them. What happens to these girls and how do some escape the fate?

Power Corrupts
Power, and all that comes with it, are dangerous. A young girl who enjoys making movies or television shows suddenly is able to call the shots and walk away with millions of dollars. As she approaches her later teenage years, she realizes that she has plenty of money and more than enough freedom to do what she wants.

If power is corrupting, fame is a nuclear weapon. It seems the more famous a young starlet becomes, the more secure she feels in her choices. If she wants to party, she will. If she wants to drive down the wrong side of the road she will. Wearing underpants is now optional, and if she feels like getting married or shaving her head, who’s going to stop her?

Law enforcement has long been known to let celebrities off easily, especially ones that are beloved by audiences. Nobody wants to be responsible for putting a teen idol behind bars – better to let them do some community service in hopes that they will change their ways.

A Breeding Ground
For those in Hollywood, keeping your name in the papers is akin to continued work and continued fame. For many young starlets, it reaches a point where bad news is almost the same as good news as far as popularity is concerned. While this may be the prevailing attitude of many young ladies in Hollywood, it is certainly not shared by all.

The Good Girls

A few girls are left that prefer to keep a low profile off the screen. Some of the old staples, for example Jessica Simpson, have tiptoed to the edge of the good girl image with sexy videos, but some stay solidly behind the line. Mandy Moore has been very public about taking her role model status seriously and others like Miley Cyrus and Dakota Fanning are following in her footsteps.

For example, Miley Cyrus is serious about protecting her image. With a father already involved in the entertainment industry, she knows the damage fame and popularity can do to a young actress. She is lucky, however, to have as much support as she does. Miley did not come to Hollywood alone, but rather brought her entire family with her. The Cyrus family make time together important and even attend church as a family every week. It’s unlikely this good girl will ever go bad.