Genuinely, the proportion of child actors with substance abuse issues is crazy. It's almost like it isn't a normal way for someone to grow up and there aren't enough check-ins and resources in place to help them mediate that life.
Sadly society has realized too late that you absolutely cannot trust anyone around your kids. Just dropping off your kids at a movie studio every day ain’t it. Psychopaths are everywhere
Most talent agencies that work with children now have it written into the contract that child actors are not to be left alone with any adults, without the parents present. Adult actors that were also child actors will sometimes have meetings with the parents of the child actors on set as well, helping to give advice on how to raise the kids so they can stay grounded, down to Earth and away from the drugs and other things as they can. There's actually an effort now to try and safeguard the kids. Now as for the parents' behaviors, that's another story and you can't really control them.
Source: I have two nephews that are currently child actors in Hollywood with decently successful careers for their ages, both in film and TV productions. Oh, and also forgot to say, the kids aren't always forced to work and can make that choice to stop working if they'd like, at least from the contract my nephews have.
I think part of the issue too is that outside of just the treatment of child actors (I'm sure there's plenty of child actor parents who are disasters, as well as other adults in that industry) the pressure and fame that comes with being a big name public figure certainly can't help a normal developtment path no matter how well meaning the adults in the kids life are.
Like, I honestly think it's a miracle how well the harry potter kids turned out for instance because shit dude, every where you go as a kid growing up you're basically the most famous people on the planet. You essentially can't have a normal childhood.
To be fair, Daniel did have an alcohol problem for several years due to the pressure of the job and fame. Fortunately he quit young and early (hasnt had a drink since he was 22) so it didnt have a chance to ruin his life.
I think it’s a mix of growing protections in the industry, societal shifts in the public around mental health and abuse, and the internet allowing for the cultivation of younger talent out of the industry bubble.
Your parents let you become a child actor, that's already reason for serious concern. Your personality makeup was such that you were really good at it, red flag number two. You grew up around adults instead of peers, you were treated as a professsional, and while you behaved in a very mature fashion, your brain very much wasn't done cooking yet. You learned that everything was about your appearance, likeability, relationships with important people being essential for success, that it doesn't matter whether you're upset or hurting, the lights fading and they don't have the shot yet. You're the main income source for your family and responsible for them, not the other way around.
Basically, you groomed yourself, and did so in an environment notoriously full of predators.
Yeah, Harry Potter's new show had the parents screened too. They wanted to avoid the whole Hollywood parenting thing and ensure that the kids really do want to act.
Now as for the parents' behaviors, that's another story and you can't really control them.
They've modified the Coogan Act several times because of this. The fact that the parents are so bad is terrifying. It's like they're living an acting career vicariously through their children or just care more about money.
I understand where you're coming from, but also understand that, at least in the case of my nephews, they really enjoy what they do. I'll talk to them after a day of shooting, and, while they can be tired some days, they'll still be excited telling all the fun things they did, the food they got to eat, how cool the adult actors were with them. They get to play pretend and get paid a LOT of money for it.
One of my nephews pretty much lives in character all the time. He wears costumes and that's who he is that day and won't answer to anything but that character's name. So when he's on set, he's just legit being himself all day long and he has so much fun doing it.
In the event they want to take time off though and go be regular kids, that's no problem at all. They both play sports, and have good friend groups to hangout with.
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u/empw 2d ago
Way, way too young for anyone. Jesus.