This article cotains mentions of child substance and physical abuse, and suicide.
Child Star, Hulu’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 act, 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 were older.Demi Lovato also contacted former Disney Channel costarsto ask if they would participate in this documentary to recount their childhood experiences working for Disney Channel.
However,there are child stars that Demi Lovato recruited for this documentary from other sources, including Nickelodeon, movies, and content creators. Manyformer child entertainers admit shocking reveals inChild Star, discussing various aspects of the industry with Demi Lovato. All these former child actors are still active in the industry today, having formed their own paths since childhood. However, it does not change the unique experiences they endured as children in the Hollywood spotlight. The group of celebrities Lovato gathered is a diverse set that fills in the gaps of what it is like to be a child star.
Demi Lovato
July 28, 2025
AlthoughChild Staris Demi Lovato’s project, she is also the main subject of the documentary. Although other former child stars talk about their experiences,Child Starprovides the most information about Lovato’s childhood career, beginning in Texas withBarney & Friendsand eventually moving to California for Disney Channel’sCamp RockandSonny with a Chance. Demi Lovato has been open about her struggles with substance abuse, mental health, and eating disorders. However,Child Starputs her struggles into perspective, portraying how her career as a child actor shaped her world.
2002-2004
2008
Sonny with a Chance
2009-2011
2009
2010
Disney Channel Original Movie
Mitchie Torres
Despite everything Demi Lovato has endured, she is glad about where she is today. However, she also recognizes that her child stardom was a deeply traumatizing experience, with damage that has lasted until today.Lovato’s biggest reveal inChild Staris how easy it was for her to acquire drugs. She often told the adults around her: “If you are going to work me like an adult, I’m going to party like one.” She was also not easy to get along with during her Disney Channel years because of how much she was hurting.
Kenan Thompson
June 16, 2025
Kenan Thompson rose to fame when he joined Nickelodeon’s comedy sketch showAll That. He established his career as a teenager in the 1990s with the children’s network, eventually starring ina Nickelodeon sitcom,Kenan & Kel. Thompson spoke about how lucky he was to have proper mentors throughout his time at Nickelodeon, whether it was his drama teacher, church members, or trusting adults in the industry.His most shocking reveal involves losing his entire fortune when his Nickelodeon endedbecause a con artist scammed his family by posing as a tax accountant.
1994
1994-1999
1995
1996-2000
1996
1997
Drew Barrymore
July 16, 2025
Drew Barrymore has been in the spotlight her entire life, beginning 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 inSteven Spielberg’sE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. During Drew Barrymore and Demi Lovato’s discussion inChild Star, Barrymore talked about accountability, believing she was 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 commodity, never viewing Barrymore as her own person.
1982
1984
1985
1986
VHS Film
Lisa Piper
Being treated as a commodity led to a stint in rehab when Barrymore was just 13 years old. The most shocking reveal from Drew Barrymore 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 fail 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
August 16, 2025
Christina Ricci’s road to fame was unstable because of her home life.She began attending auditions when she was 7 years old, booking her first role inMermaidswith Cher at just 10, and thenThe Addams Familyat 11. Since then, Christina Ricci has starred in a plethora of films, especially during the 1990s as a child star. Other films includeCasper,Now and Then, andThat Darn Cat. Ricci spoke about Cher mentoring her as a child star, having metmovie star Cheron the set ofMermaids. Unfortunately, Christina Ricci still suffered from substance abuse.
1990
1991
1993
Now and Then
Movie
Patti Randall
The most shocking thing Christina Ricci revealed in the documentary was her family’s instability—her father was an abusive former cult leader, while her mother did not form any relationship with Ricci. In fact, Christina Ricci spoke about how she bonded with her mother for the first time while on the road to auditions because at home, her mother was absent and reclusive. When Ricci’s mother took her to auditions, the adult began forming a personality, which allowed Christina Ricci to bond with her mother at last.
JoJo Siwa
June 26, 2025
JoJo Siwa began her career doing dance competitions and reality TV shows—she participated inAbby’s Ultimate Dance Competitionas a competitor in 2013 andstarred inDance Moms.During this time, JoJo Siwa began 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 part of and the details of her Nickelodeon contract.The most shocking thing Jojo Siwa revealed was the fallout of coming out while still being a child starin early 2021.
2013
2015-2016
2016-2021
2016
2017-2021
Various, but mostly herself
Alyson Stoner
June 16, 2025
Alyson Stoner has been in the spotlight since she was eight, spending most of her childhood at Disney Channel. However, she had other projects, includingCheaper by the Dozen, dancing for Missy Elliott, andStep Up. Stoner opens up inChild Starabout her own struggles with mental health and eating disorders, discussing the bond she shared with Lovato during their early days ofCamp Rock.The most shocking thing Alyson Stoner revealed is that famous people have a shorter life span than non-famous people, and a famous person is four times more likely to commit suicide.
2001-2007
Cheaper by the Dozen
2003
2005-2007
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
2005
2006
2007-2015
Isabella (role continued into adulthood)
Raven-Symoné
July 30, 2025
Raven-Symoné had quite a career as a child star, beginning at three years old onThe Cosby Show. Raven-Symoné jumped from sitcom to sitcom—afterThe Cosby Show, she was a main character inHangin' with Mr. Cooperbefore finally landingThat’s So Ravenin 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 inChild Star.Her most shocking reveal is that Raven-Symoné felt her entire purpose was to entertain and please her parents.
1989-1992
1993-1997
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century
1999
2002-2007
2003-2007
2004
Child Star
Cast
Child Star explores the experiences of former child stars, highlighting the challenges of growing up in the spotlight. Utilizing celebrity interviews, verite scenes, and archival footage, it deconstructs the stages of early fame and examines the entertainment industry’s evolution over the last hundred years.
