Many child stars or prodigies are expected to grow their fame, income, and reputation as they grow up. However, in reality, child stars’ adulthood becomes filled with harsh conditions and addictions, while child prodigies lose valuable childhood experiences, which is a result of childhood fame.
Having the spotlight thrust upon children at a young age often results in addiction to drugs, becoming alcoholics, and mental health issues. Tiger Woods, Lindsey Lohan, and Miley Cyrus are a couple of child stars and prodigies who have had one or more of the problems listed above. The reason for the problem is young stardom at a young age.
Lindsey Lohan first appeared as the two main characters in The Parent Trap. She played both Halle and Annie. Because of her performance and acting skills, she quickly became the star of more films later on in her career. She was the lead actress in many Disney Channel movies, including Get a Clue, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and Life-Size. She was also the lead in Freaky Friday and the sequel Freakier Friday.
However, despite being the lead actress in movies, Lindsey Lohan has been court-ordered six times between 2007 and 2013 for rehab. These court-ordered rehabs resulted from her addiction to alcohol and legal issues stemming from accidents and probation violations. It is reported that she spent over 250 days in different rehabilitation facilities in a five-year span. The most likely reason for her addiction to drugs and alcohol is the immense pressure of being a young Hollywood star. Lindsey Lohan isn’t the only young star who faced problems with addiction. Miley Cyrus was known to have struggled with substance abuse.
Miley Cyrus first big break was as the lead in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, where she played Miley Ray Stewart. Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, played Robby Stewart, Hannah Montana’s father, in the show. Hannah Montana was considered a pop star. Her songs were catchy, the story lines were fun to watch, and the audience loved it. After the show ended, Miley Cyrus transitioned into a full-time pop star. Her first album after Hannah Montana was called Breakout. This was the start of her rebellious stage and image in Hollywood.
Miley Cyrus’s rebellious stage really took hold in 2012-2013 when her Bangerz album came out. Cyrus had cut her hair short and dyed it blonde. Her performances became more provocative, and her Vanity Fair photo shoot marked a departure from her Disney persona. The reason for the rebellious image was that Cyrus wanted to shatter her Disney Hannah Montana image and establish artistic independence. This stemmed from the fact that she was restricted to a certain image during her childhood acting years. The public eye had to see her one way, and the fame made it almost impossible for her to escape Disney’s projection of her.
Miley Cyrus and Lindsey Lohan are just a few child actors whose young fame caused major problems in their adult lives. Looking at the prodigy side, Tiger Woods is a prime example of a young child prodigy whose fame forced him to succumb to the world’s view of him as a champion.
Wood’s journey began when he was just five. He was already considered a top-tier golfer, playing against both teenagers and adults. His training was overseen by his father, Earl Woods, who had young Woods learn mental and physical discipline. It was said that he had the focus of an adult by age six. His childhood was full of practice, golf tournaments, and TV appearances. Woods’ entire childhood was dictated by the focus on golf. That didn’t leave enough time for him to enjoy other non-golf experiences.
Being thrust into the spotlight as a young child can result in problems as they grow up. Both Lindsey Lohan and Miley Cyrus had drug and alcohol problems that resulted from being child actors, while being a child prodigy takes time away from the experiences of a normal childhood. A young kid shouldn’t have to deal with the constant fame and training. They should be left alone to enjoy their lives, even if that means they don’t become famous.
