Can you imagine seeing yourself on the silver screen or walking the red carpet and then going to math class the next morning? For as long as there’s been an acting industry, teen performers have been making it work.
Below, we take a look at 8 contemporary teenage actors who are building dream-worthy careers before they can legally buy beers. How exactly are we defining success? While there is no “objective” formula for stardom, this list includes the size and noteworthiness of their projects, how consistently they deliver high-quality performances, plus any and all accolades they picked up along the way.
Iain Armitage
Best known for playing Sheldon Cooper on CBS’s hit “Big Bang Theory” prequel “Young Sheldon” (2017), Armitage got his start like many Gen Zers: on the internet. At 8 years old, his YouTube channel, Iain Loves Theatre—in which he offered his opinions on Broadway shows—caught the attention of Abrams Artists Agency.
That led to roles on NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” which ultimately landed him the lead on “Young Sheldon.” Armitage has also appeared in films across genres, from Destin Daniel Cretton’s drama “The Glass Castle” (2017) to Tony Cervone’s animated film “Scoob!” (2020).
“He is exceptional as a young actor, as a performer,” Armitage’s “Young Sheldon” costar Lance Barber told Esquire. “He’s one of those kids that was built to do it. [Show business is] in his genetics. Intellectually, he must be exceptional, I think, to do the amount that he does and the hours that he does. And you spend time with the kid, and he’s very bright and very smart and has a maturity that is beyond his years.”
“Young Sheldon” Credit: Bill Inoshita / 2024 Warner Bros.
Roman Griffin Davis
Sometimes it isn’t about the quantity of credits, but the quality. Take Davis: The son of a cinematographer and a filmmaker, he landed his very first screen role as the lead of Taika Waititi’s Oscar-winning dark comedy “Jojo Rabbit” (2019). In the film, he plays Johannes “Jojo” Betzler, a 10-year-old boy who grows disillusioned with Nazism after joining the Hitler Youth. His performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination and a win at the Critics’ Choice Awards.
“He’s honestly a really creative person with a really unique and interesting sense of humor, and he’s got a really interesting brain,” Waititi said of his young star. “It’s fun just sitting there and listening to his ideas.”
Davis followed up “Jojo Rabbit” with Camille Griffin’s horror comedy “Silent Night” (2021). He’s got a few projects in the works, including BAFTA winner Morgan Matthews’ “500 Miles,” in which he’ll perform opposite Oscar nominee Bill Nighy.
“Jojo Rabbit” Credit: Kimberley French
Mckenna Grace
This 17-year-old Texas native has more than 70 credits to her name. She broke into the industry with a commercial gig at just 5 years old (she remembers “turning 6 on a set”) before moving to Los Angeles to audition for film and TV roles. Grace soon began racking up TV credits on CBS’s “The Young and the Restless,” Disney XD’s “Crash & Bernstein,” and Marc Webb’s “Gifted” (2017) opposite Chris Evans.
Her breakout came when she played a younger version of Margot Robbie’s Tonya Harding in Craig Gillespie’s Oscar-winning biopic “I, Tonya.” Since then, she’s landed roles on Netflix horror series “The Haunting of Hill House” (2018) and in Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s MCU blockbuster “Captain Marvel” (2019). Her performance on prestige Hulu drama “The Handmaid’s Tale” earned her an Emmy nod for guest actress in a drama series, making her one of the youngest performers ever nominated.
She’s now become a staple of the “Ghostbusters” franchise, costarring in Jason Reitman’s “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (2021) and Gil Kenan’s “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (2024).
“She’s quite accomplished as an actor already, and so there is a level of professionalism just by virtue of how much experience she has,” Grace’s “Afterlife” costar Carrie Coon told Variety. “At the same time, she is very much a kid in the most delightful way, in the way that kids make the best artists because they are so curious naturally and so filled with wonder.”
Ariana Greenblatt
If you’re one of the many, many people who saw Greta Gerwig’s 2023 blockbuster “Barbie,” then you know Greenblatt for her turn as rebellious middle schooler Sasha, the daughter of America Ferrera’s Gloria.
She got her start on Disney Channel sitcom “Liv and Maddie” (2015) when she was only 6 years old, followed by a long-running role on the same network’s “Stuck in the Middle” (2016). She also starred opposite Adam Driver in Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s 2023 sci-fi film “65.”
Greenblatt has carved out a niche as Hollywood’s go-to for playing child versions of A-listers, including Zoe Saldana in the Russo brothers’ “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), Leslie Grace’ in Jon M. Chu’s “In the Heights” (2021), and Rosario Dawson on Disney+ “Star Wars” spinoff “Ahsoka” (2023). Next up, she’ll star in Eli Roth’s video-game adaptation “Borderlands,” which hits theaters this summer.
“Working with [Robbie on ‘Barbie’] was a pure example of what hard work is and that hard work does pay off,” Greenblatt said in an interview with Numéro. “My biggest dream is to create a movie from scratch, write it, direct it, star in it, and, most importantly, actually have it greenlit and shown to the world.”
Dafne Keen
Going claw-to-claw with Wolverine before the age of 12 more than earns Keen a spot on this list. After playing a small role opposite her father, Will Keen, on the BBC’s “The Refugees,” this promising performer was introduced to the world in James Mangold’s bloody 2017 “X-Men” film “Logan.” She earned rave reviews—and best female newcomer at the Empire Awards—for her turn as young mutant Laura Kinney opposite Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.
From 2019 to 2022, Keen starred as Lyra Belacqua on “His Dark Materials,” the BBC One and HBO adaptation of author Philip Pullman’s beloved fantasy series. Not satisfied with only two iconic franchises to her name, Keen joined the cast of “The Acolyte,” Leslye Headland’s upcoming Disney+ “Star Wars” series set hundreds of years before the original films.
“It’s surreal, because I’ve been a huge ‘Star Wars’ fan since I was little,” Keen told W Magazine. “I remember going to a video store—when those were still a thing—and we rented the first ‘Star Wars’ movie. I binged the entire saga in a weekend. Now, every time I go into a costume fitting, I leave and just scream into a pillow.”
“His Dark Materials” Courtesy HBO
Marsai Martin
How do you become the youngest person ever to produce a studio film? Take a look at Martin’s career. The wunderkind got her start thanks to a glamor photographer who was so impressed with her—at just 5 years old!—that he convinced her father to contact talent agencies. This led to high-profile commercial work for companies like Meineke.
Martin’s big break came in 2014 when she was cast as Diane Johnson in Kenya Barris’ Emmy-winning ABC sitcom “Black-ish.” Her eight-season run on the series landed her a Young Artist Awards win, three NAACP Image Awards, and two SAG Award nominations as part of the series’ ensemble.
It’s no surprise that film roles followed. She pitched the idea for what would become Tina Gordon’s comedy “Little” (2019) to Barris on the set of “Black-ish” when she was only 10 years old, landing her that history-making executive producer credit.
"She said, ‘Well a lot of people tell me I kind of remind them of Gabrielle Union or of Taraji P. Henson,’ ” Barris told NPR. “ ‘Well, remember that movie “Big”? I want to do a movie called “Little.” ’ And I was like, ‘I’m going to stop you right there.’ Nothing more needed to be said.”
Martin has continued to be a force as both an actor and creative, lending her voice to two hit “PAW Patrol” films and executive producing the 2023 Disney Channel series “Saturdays.”
“Little” Credit: Eli Joshua Adé/Universal Studios
August Maturo
Every actor dreams of their big break; Maturo’s came in 2012 when he was only 5 years old, appearing on Showtime’s “Weeds” and CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother.” Two years later, he landed a series regular role on the Disney Channel’s “Girl Meets World.”
His tenure on Michael Jacobs and April Kelly’s “Boy Meets World” spinoff earned him a Young Artist Awards win as part of the show’s ensemble. Since then, Maturo has branched out into the horror sphere with parts in Corin Hardy’s “The Nun” (2018) and Jeremiah Kipp’s “Slapface” (2021).
Maturo stepped behind the camera at 15 years old as an executive producer on Jennifer Greenstreet’s upcoming virtual-reality project “Just Like You: Food Allergies.” Maturo was inspired by a near-fatal incident he experienced on the set of “Girl Meets World” after he had a bad reaction to a cookie with nuts in it.
“I learned over the years how serious this is and what it means to have a condition that is life-threatening,” he told Health Awareness. “Food allergies don’t have to stop you from having a wonderful life and following your dreams.”
Jacob Tremblay
Tremblay started his career in 2013 on an episode of the ABC drama series “Motive.” Two years later, his performance in Lenny Abrahamson’s Oscar-winning “Room” propelled him to stardom. He earned a Critics’ Choice Award and a SAG nod for his turn as Jack, a young boy held captive with his mother (Brie Larson).
His performance in Mike Flanagan’s “The Shining” sequel “Doctor Sleep” (2019) as Bradley Trevor, a boy murdered at the hands of a psychic vampire, notably shook his adult costars on set.
“I was very lucky that they cast him and he was able to do this role, because it was nothing short of incredible,” Rebecca Ferguson, who played Bradley’s murderer, told Bustle. “When they said ‘action’ and he started acting, I just burst out crying. I realized that I needed to step up [my] game to not mess up the scene.”
Tremblay is also a prolific voice actor, having lent his pipes to Max’s DC animated DC series “Harley Quinn,” Enrico Casarosa’s Pixar film “Luca” (2019), and Rob Marshall’s live-action remake of “The Little Mermaid” (2023).
Behind the scenes of “The Little Mermaid” Credit: Giles Keyte
If you’re a young performer (or the guardian of one) who’s itching to make it big, here are a few tips.
- Get training. There are numerous options both in-person and online. Schools like L.A.’s Young Actor’s Studio and Lights! Camera! Acting! in New Britain, Pennsylvania, offer comprehensive classes for young performers. If your schedule doesn’t allow it, you can always opt for private lessons instead.
- Practice on your own. Record yourself performing your favorite scenes or monologues, then watch them back to see where you can improve. Make a habit of doing acting exercises and playing improv games at home. While you’re at it, cut together a demo reel to show off to agents. Having evidence of your skills at the ready is a must.
- Audition. Browse our lists of casting calls for kids and teens. Even if you don’t get parts, auditioning can help you learn where to improve. Trying out for local theater gigs is also a great way to get practice working alongside adult actors who can help guide you.
- Seek representation. Once you get some experience under your belt, level up by signing with an agent that specializes in young talent. Your team will help you find better opportunities and book more auditions.
