Here’s What Your Favorite Child Stars Look Like Now

We came to discover and love many of these child stars when they were pint-sized, but where are they today? The little ones that stole our hearts look very different in 2021. Let’s catch up with them and see where they are today after playing iconic roles as kids.

1. Alexa Vega

Alexa Vega was acting for nearly 10 years before her breakout role: playing the lead Carmen Cortez in Spy Kids back in 2001. She was a hero for girly girls and tomboys alike, and followed up the hit with three more installments in the Spy Kids franchise.  Today, she’s changed her name to Alexa PenaVega, and has starred in movies like Machete Kills, and the TV show Nashville. She now has two kids — Ocean and Kingston — and is about to have a third.

Professional photographer Allie Adams becomes embroiled in the mystery surrounding the theft of a valuable necklace. When her unorthodox investigation uncovers a murder that is tied to the theft, Allie shares her findings with P.D. Detective Sam Acosta and the two work together to identify and bring the killer to justice, despite Sam’s reluctance to allow Allie’s involvement in his case. Photo: Alexa PenaVega Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: David Dolsen

2. Mara Wilson

You might recognize those chubby cheeks and adorable bangs from the 1996 family movie, Matilda. Mara played the precocious role with charisma and charm, but we didn’t see her in many movies since. She actually retired from acting in 2000 in order to focus on writing (she wrote a book titled Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame), but in 2012, returned in the dramedy Billie Bob Joe and an episode of Broad City.

3. Jonathan Lipnicki

This cutie pie in glasses once starred Ray Boyd in Jerry Maguire, but he’s also well known for the Stuart Little movies, in the role of George Little. Today, Lipnicki is all grown up still acting, and has starred in high-profile TV shows like Monk, Dawson’s Creek and Interns of F.I.E.L.D. He’s also been in indie movies like Edge of Salvation and loves practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which he’s gotten his killer abs from.

4. Anna Chlumsky

Everyone remembers Anna Chlumsky as Vada Sultenfuss, the super smart and endearing little lady in My Girl, the 1991 hit. She also acted with another child actor, Christina Ricci, on Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain in 1995. Today, she’s blossomed into a stunning woman. She left acting briefly in 1998 to study international studies at the University of Chicago, and acted as a fact-checker for Zagat Survey. In 2007, she made her comeback to Hollywood on Veep with Emmy nominations. She will soon star in a new Shonda Rimes show called Inventing Anna.

5. Tia and Tamera Mowry

These twins starred on the successful Sister, Sister and have remained extremely close even years after filming. Their career trajectory is very impressive — the two are still highly successful — with Tamera co-hosting on the popular talk show called The Real. Her sister Tia now stars in the popular sitcom Family Reunion. Both ladies have families — Tamera has two children with Fox News correspondent Adam Housley, and Tia just had her second baby with actor Cory Hardrict.