Whoever said child stars have it easy, must be having a laugh. Growing up in the public eye can have quite an effect on a young impressionable mind. On one hand, for a while, everyone seems to love you. But fast forward a few years when you're not that cute kid anymore, and you wonder where all the fans went.
This 'shock' has led to some child stars quitting the business, others turning to drink and some falling in with the bad crowd. Factor in the raging hormones of puberty and it's no wonder many child stars totally go off the rails. These days, it's almost become blasé for us to hear about yet another child star misbehaving.
But all hope isn't lost; some of them take the changes in their stride and transition successfully into adult stars. A good example is the cast of Harry Potter; they spent over a decade filming seven parts of the movie and they've all turned out pretty darn good. Emma, Daniel, Rupert and of course, the ugly-duckling-turned-graceful-swan, Matthew Lewis. You know you're doing something right when your 'name' is coined to describe something awesome.
'Neville Longbottom-ing' is the transformation from an awkward childhood phase into smoking hottie. It was coined to describe Lewis' transformation from gap-toothed chubbster to the sleek charmer he is now.
And he's not alone, just check out these 15 formerly awkward child celebs who successfully outgrew their awks phase and became total hotties.
15 Jaleel White
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Those huge glasses, the striped socks, the suspenders? Who can forget one of TV's favorite nerds? Steve Urkel was played by a prepubescent White who, ironically, was only supposed to appear in one episode. But audiences loved White's portrayal so much that Urkel stayed on the show for nine years.
Since Family Matters ended, White has had bit parts on both TV and movies. With a muscular frame, sharp dress sense and no glasses, he's a far cry from the gangling Steve Urkel.
14 Luke Youngblood
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Most of us know how fabulously the Harry Potter cast have turned out, but do you remember the enthusiastic Quidditch commentator? The Gryffindor student with the dreadlocks? Though many thought the role was played by a girl, it was actually played by Youngblood.
The actor has since grown into another 'Harry Potter success story'; physically and with his career. Since Harry Potter, he has acted in Glee, Galavant and now appears in Magnitude. We are glad to see this transformation from noisy Lee Jordan to this ripped hunk.
13 Joseph Gordon-Levitt
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Now 34, JGL has been on our screens for quite a while. He started his career on-screen, starring in commercials for Cocoa Puffs and Pop Tarts. Following that with the role of Kyle on the sitcom Quantum Leap, Levitt soon became one of the stars on 3rd Rock from the Sun.
Puberty soon came knocking and the JGL with long hair and skinny frame slowly gave way to the slightly geeky charmer in 10 Things I Hate About You and now, the dapper lead actor we all love today.
12 Ryan Gosling
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Born in Ontario, Gosling nurtured his passion for performing by singing with his sister at weddings. At age 12, he moved to Florida and first appeared on our screens on Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club. Two years after, he moved back to Canada and starred in a row of family TV shows. By age 18, he quit school to pursue acting full time; this led to roles in Remember the Titans and The Slaughter Rule. But it was his role in The Notebook, that really brought him recognition.
Since then, we have watched him take on characters from a drug-addicted high school teacher to the cool wheel man in Drive. With his 'dark' roles and rock star status (he's in a band called Dead Man's Bones), you'll be hard pressed to find any bit of the Mouseketeer in this hunky thespian.
11 Michelle Trachtenberg
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After landing bit parts on Law & Order, Trachtenberg burst into the limelight in 1993's The Adventures of Pete & Pete. She was on the show as the funny Nona F. Mecklenberg. Though she went on to play pivotal characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gossip Girl, Trachtenberg admitted to being bullied in school for "...not having curves and... being flat-chested..."
But all that soon changed; her career also developed as she had minor roles in Mercy, Weeds, NCIS: Los Angeles etc. She's so far from the little girl of 1991 that she has been featured on the cover of Maxim.
10 William Moseley
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There was something about Moseley's portrayal of Peter Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia series that made it somehow, more fun to watch. In what was his second role ever, the actor was dreamy but still kinda awkward. But seeing him, a decade later, in his new role as Prince Liam on E!'s The Royals, we are mucho impressed.
Maybe it was something to do with his blonde locks or the piercing blue eyes, but add that to his chiseled abs, and we'll be sure to tune in.
9 Dakota Fanning
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First appearing in a Tide commercial at the age of five, Fanning soon progressed to TV shows like CSI and Ally McBeal. But her breakout role was in 2001's I am Sam, which earned her a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award. The young actress went on to star in 14 movies between 2002 and 2007. By the age of 12, she was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, becoming the youngest member in the Academy's history.
While it all seemed to be going great for her, Fanning suffered from terrible teeth problems. It even became a running joke whenever she appeared on late night TV shows. She had to wear braces, retainers, even orthodontic headgear, for support. But fast forward to today, and this stunning young actress has a beautiful smile and the world at her feet.
8 Zac Efron
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Many remember seeing him for the first time as Troy Bolton in Disney's High School Musical, but Efron had been acting long before then. He first appeared in 2002's Firefly, then in roles in Summerland, ER and CSI: Miami. His performance on High School Musical is credited for the movie being the most successful Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced.
As Efron has matured, he's made the conscious effort to break away from being typecast in musicals, appearing in The Lucky One and 2014's Neighbors. With him looking like a young Cary Grant and that chiseled body, we think he's on the right track.
7 Tahj Mowry
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You'd probably remember him as adorable boy genius, T.J. Henderson on the WB sitcom, Smart Guy. But he was also the kid brother in Sister, Sister, which starred his real-life sisters, Tia and Tamera Mowry. He followed his TV success with stints on Kim Possible, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Desperate Housewives.
These days, he stars on ABC's family comedy Baby Daddy, while launching a music career. Still as vivacious and charming as he was as a kid, he's got a really fit body and sharp fashion sense to go with it.
6 Neil Patrick Harris
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Singer, dancer, actor, magician, NPH seems to do it all, no wonder he's legen...wait for it...DARY! He made his first movie appearance in 1988 and followed that up in Whoopi Goldberg's Clara’s Heart. That performance led to a Golden Globe nomination. A year later, he began a four year stint as gifted teenage doctor, Doogie Howser, which got him another Golden Globe nomination.
In an effort to take more mature roles, he acted in 1995's Animal Room which flopped badly. Following appearances in Rent, Starship Troopers and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, NPH was able to find success as an adult. Since then, the consummate showman has reprised many roles including everyone's favorite womanizer, Barney Stinson and can do no wrong in our eyes.
5 Alexa Vega
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As a child actor, Vega made her first appearance as the younger Jo Harding in 1996's Twister. Following that, she starred in episodes of ER, Ghost Whisperer and The Bernie Mac Show. In 2001, she landed the role of Carmen Cortez in Spy Kids and its sequels. Her portrayal led Vanity Fair to name her as one of that year's hottest teen celebrities.
In 2008, she played teen, Shilo Wallace in the musical film Repo! The Genetic Opera. Since then, Vega has transformed into a hottie, starring in action flicks like Machete Kills and Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.
4 Josh Peck
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As the star of Nickelodeon's Drake and Josh, Peck seemed doomed to always be the 'funny kid'. Peck's career is a healthy mix of voice-overs on Family Guy, Ice Age, Aliens in the Attic. In 2006, Peck made a conscious effort to lose weight and we must applaud his success; he looks trimmer and says he is happier.
He has also starred in Red Dawn, The Wedding Ringer, and in episodes of The Mindy Project. His sense of humor is still on point and you can find the lovable-goofball-turned-hunk clowning around on Vine.
3 Calvin Harris
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Taylor Swift's new man wasn't always so hot; less than three years ago, he was still a scruffy Glasgow part-time DJ. But today, Harris has become one of the hottest EDM maestros around. The 6 foot 5 DJ has come a long way from the scrawny kid stacking shelves to pay for DJ equipment to being the resident DJ at Hakkasan in Las Vegas. In an interview, he admits that it was 'hell being the tallest in class...and being a shy teenager'.
But as his career took off, he moved to LA, which he credits for his transformation. He credits the healthier food options, his abstinence from alcohol and getting more sleep for his transformation. If it's good enough for Armani and Taylor, all we can say is carry on!
2 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
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The Olsen twins began their career at the tender age of nine months old, appearing as Michelle Tanner in Full House in 1987. Their career progressed with appearances on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, All My Children and 7th Heaven.
These girls practically grew up before our eyes, from toddlers to gawky teens and beautiful, confident young women. Today, they are wealthy actresses, having started investing their earnings in their own production company, Dualstar.
1 Nicholas Hoult
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Hoult hit the mainstream when he played Hugh Grant's geekily adorable co-star in About a Boy when he was just 12. Since then, the cutie has traded in the woolly hats for a more adult wardrobe. He played R in zomcom, Warm Bodies (which he won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout).
Hoult also starred in X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past. His most recent role was as Nux in Mad Max: Fury Road. X-Men co-star and total babe, Jennifer Lawrence, seems to agree with us, as they started dating after shooting the movie.
Sources: ew.com, imdb.com, nymag.com, biography.com
