This article contains references to child substance and physical abuse, and suicide.
Child starHulu’s newest documentary directed by Demi Lovato and Nicola Marsh, Explores the harsh reality of being a child star. From no agency to being overworked to abuse, children endure a lot to play, sing and dance. At the beginning of the film, Lovato and Marsh recruited a handful of children to discuss their interpretation of fame and what they wanted to be when they grew up. Demi Lovato also contacted former Disney Channel costars to ask if they would participate in the documentary to recount their childhood experiences working for Disney Channel.
however, There are child stars that Demi Lovato recruited for this documentary from other sourcesIncluding Nickelodeon, movies and content creators. Many former child entertainers admit shocking revelations in Child starDiscuss various aspects of the industry with Demi Lovato. All the former child actors are still active in the industry today, having formed their own paths since childhood. However, this does not change the unique experiences they endured as children in the Hollywood spotlight. The group of celebrities that Lovato has assembled is a diverse set that fills in the gaps of what it’s like to be a child star.
Demi Lovato
August 20, 1992
- Years active: 2000-present
Although Child star Is Demi Lovato’s project, she is also the main subject of the documentary. Although other former child stars talk about their experiences, Child star Provides the most information about Lovato’s childhood career, beginning in Texas with Barney & Friends And eventually moved to California for Disney Channel Camp Rock And Sunny with a chance. Demi Lovato has been open about her struggles with substance abuse, mental health and eating disorders. however, Child star Putting her struggles into perspective, she describes how her career as a child actor shaped her world.
Demi Lovato’s most notable roles as a child star |
|||
---|---|---|---|
project |
Year |
Type |
Role |
Barney & Friends |
2002-2004 |
PBS kids programming |
Angela |
Camp Rock |
2008 |
Disney Channel Original Movie |
Mitchie Torres |
Don’t forget |
2008 |
Studio album |
N/A |
Sunny with a chance |
2009-2011 |
Disney Channel programming |
Sonny Munro |
Princess Protection Program |
2009 |
Disney Channel Original Movie |
Rosie Gonzalez | Rosalinda María Montoya Fiore |
Here we go again |
2009 |
Studio album |
N/A |
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam |
2010 |
Disney Channel Original Movie |
Mitchie Torres |
Despite everything Demi Lovato has been through, she is happy about where she is today. However, she also acknowledges that her child stardom was a deeply traumatizing experience, with damage that has lasted to this day. Lovato’s biggest reveal in Child star Is how easy it was for you to get drugs. She often said to the adults around her: “If you are going to work me as an adult, I am going to party as one.” She was also not easy to get along with during her Disney Channel years because of how much she was hurting.
Kenn Thompson
May 10, 1978
- Years active: 1994 – present
Kenan Thompson rose to fame when he joined Nickelodeon’s comedy sketch show All that. He established his career as a teenager in the 1990s with the Children’s Network, eventually starring in a Nickelodeon sitcom, Kenan & Kel. Thompson talked about how lucky he was to have proper mentors during his time at Nickelodeon, whether it was his drama teacher, church members or trusted adults in the industry. His most shocking revelation involves losing his entire fortune when his Nickelodeon ended Because a con artist scammed his family by posing as a tax accountant.
Kenan’s most notable roles as a child star |
|||
---|---|---|---|
project |
Year |
Type |
Role |
D2: The Mighty Ducks |
1994 |
Movie |
Russ Taylor |
All that |
1994-1999 |
Nickelodeon sketch comedy show |
Various |
Heavy wheat |
1995 |
Movie |
Roy Murphy |
Kenan & Kel |
1996-2000 |
Nickelodeon programming |
Kenan Rockmore |
D3: The Mighty Ducks |
1996 |
Movie |
Russ Taylor |
Good burger |
1997 |
Movie |
Dexter Reed |
Drew Barrymore
February 22, 1975
- Years active: 1976 – present
Drew Barrymore has been in the spotlight her entire life, starting at just 11 months old when she starred in her first commercial. Her career has been non-stop since then, but she became famous when she starred in Steven Spielberg’s et the extra-terrestrial. During the discussion of Drew Barrymore and Demi Lovato in Child starBarrymore talked about accountability, believing that she is responsible for all her actions despite adults putting her in an environment that is poisonous for child stars. Adults treated Drew Barrymore as if she were a commodityNever viewing Barrymore as her own person.
Drew Barrymore’s most notable roles as a child star |
|||
---|---|---|---|
project |
Year |
Type |
Role |
et the extra-terrestrial |
1982 |
Movie |
Gertie Taylor |
Firestarter |
1984 |
Movie |
Charlie McGee |
Irreconcilable differences |
1984 |
Studio album |
Casey Brodsky |
Cat’s eye |
1985 |
Disney Channel programming |
Our girl | Amanda |
Babes in Toyland |
1986 |
VHS film |
Lisa Piper |
Being treated like a commodity led to a stint in rehab when Barrymore was just 13 years old. Drew Barrymore’s most shocking revelation in Child Star is one of her first experiences with illegal substances –Her mother’s friend gave her drugs and got high with Barrymore when she was only 10 years old. It was jarring to hear how adults often neglect child entertainers, allowing them to fall victim to drug addiction, severe mental health issues and abuse. It was even more heartbreaking that Drew Barrymore put much of the blame on herself.
Christina Ricci
February 12, 1980
Christina Ricci’s path to fame was unstable because of her home life. She started participating in auditions when she was 7 years oldBooking her first role in Mermaid With Cher in only 10, and then The Addams Family At 11. Since then, Christina Ricci has starred in a plethora of films, especially in the 1990s as a child star. Other films include Casper, Now and thenAnd That then cuts. Ricci talked about Cher mentoring her as a child star, with the movie star Cher on the set of Mermaid. Unfortunately, Christina Ricci still suffered from substance abuse.
Christina Ricci’s most notable roles as a child star |
|||
---|---|---|---|
project |
Year |
Type |
Role |
Mermaid |
1990 |
Movie |
chain flux |
The Addams Family |
1991 |
Movie |
Wednesday Adams |
Addams Family Values |
1993 |
Movie |
Wednesday Adams |
Casper |
1995 |
Movie |
Cat Harvey |
Now and then |
1995 |
Movie |
Roberta Martin |
That then cuts |
1997 |
Movie |
Patty Randall |
The most shocking thing Christina Ricci revealed in the documentary is the instability of her family– Her father was an abusive former cult leader, while her mother did not establish a relationship with Ricci. In fact, Christina Ricci talked about how she connected with her mother for the first time while on the way to auditions because at home, her mother was absent and reclusive. When Ricci’s mother took her to auditions, the adult began to form a personality, which allowed Christina Ricci to bond with her mother finally.
JoJo Siwa
May 19, 2003
- Years active: 2013-present
JoJo Siwa started her career with dance competitions and reality TV shows – she participated in Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition As a competitor in 2013 and starred in Dance moms. During this time, JoJo Siwa started a YouTube channel as a content creator and released a song, “Boomerang.” Siwa went viral, resulting in signing a contract with Nickelodeon. JoJo Siwa spoke to Demi Lovato about the excessive merchandise she was a part of and the details of her Nickelodeon contract. The most shocking thing Jojo Siwa revealed is the fallout of coming out while still being a child star In early 2021.
JoJo Siwa’s most notable roles as a child star |
|||
---|---|---|---|
project |
Year |
Type |
Role |
Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition |
2013 |
Reality Competition |
himself | Contestant |
Dance moms |
2015-2016 |
Reality TV Show (Live) |
himself |
YouTube content creator |
2016-2021 |
Social media personality |
himself |
“boomerang” |
2016 |
Song |
N/A |
Nickelodeon contract |
2017-2021 |
TV Network |
Various, but mostly myself |
Alison Stoner
August 11, 1993
- Years active: 2001 – present
Alyson Stoner has been in the spotlight since she was eight, spending most of her childhood on Disney Channel. However, she has other projects, including Cheaper by the dozenDancing for Missy Elliott, and Step up. Stoner opens in Child star about her own struggles with mental health and eating disorders, discusses the bond she shared with Lovato during their early days of Camp Rock. The most shocking thing Alyson Stoner revealed is that famous people have a shorter life span than non-famous peopleAnd a famous person is four times more likely to commit suicide.
Alyson Stoner’s most notable roles as a child star |
|||
---|---|---|---|
project |
Year |
Type |
Role |
Mike’s Super Short Show |
2001-2007 |
Disney Channel short |
Sally |
Dancer for Missy Elliott |
2002-2004 |
Music videos |
Dancer |
Cheaper by the dozen |
2003 |
Movie |
Sarah Baker |
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody |
2005-2007 |
Disney Channel programming |
Max |
Cheaper by the dozen 2 |
2005 |
Movie |
Sarah Baker |
Step up |
2006 |
Movie |
Camille |
Phineas & Ferb |
2007-2015 |
Disney Channel programming |
Isabella (role continued into adulthood) |
Camp Rock |
2008 |
Disney Channel Original Movie |
Caitlin |
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam |
2010 |
Disney Channel Original Movie |
Caitlin |
Step up 3D |
2010 |
Movie |
Camille |
Raven-Symoné
December 10, 1985
- Years active: 1989 – present
Raven-Symoné had quite a career as a child star, starting at the age of three The Cosby Show. Raven-Symone went from sitcom to sitcom – still The Cosby ShowShe was a main character in Hanging with Mr. Cooper Before finally landing This is so raven In the early 2000s. Raven-Symoné has also starred in multiple Disney Channel Original Movies, showcasing her acting, singing and dancing skills. Raven-Symoné spoke about her family’s involvement in her career in Child star. Her most shocking revelation is that Raven-Symoné felt her whole purpose was to entertain and please her parents.
Raven-Symoné’s most notable roles as a child star |
|||
---|---|---|---|
project |
Year |
Type |
Role |
The Cosby Show |
1989-1992 |
NBC sitcom |
Olivia Kendall |
Hanging with Mr. Cooper |
1993-1997 |
ABC sitcom |
Nicole Lee |
Zenon: Girl of the 21st century |
1999 |
Disney Channel Original Movie |
Nebula Wade |
Kim possible |
2002-2007 |
Disney Channel programming |
Monique |
This is so raven |
2003-2007 |
Disney Channel programming |
Raven Baxter |
The Cheetah Girls |
2003 |
Disney Channel Original Movie |
Galleria Garibaldi |
This is my time |
2004 |
Studio album |
N/A |
The Cheetah Girls 2 |
2006 |
Disney Channel Original Movie |
Galleria Garibaldi |
Child Star explores the experiences of former child stars, highlighting the challenges of growing up in the spotlight. Using celebrity interviews, actual scenes and archival footage, it deconstructs the stages of early fame and examines the evolution of the entertainment industry over the past hundred years.
- Director
-
Demi Lovato, Nicola Marsh
- Release date
-
September 17, 2024