Latest news with #childstardom
News.com.au
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Jenna Ortega found comfort in talking to former child stars
The Wednesday star began her acting career at just six years old, landing her first leading role at age 10 in the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle. In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, Ortega opened up about connecting with other women who grew up in the spotlight and how they helped her navigate the transition from child stardom to adult fame. In recent years, the 22-year-old has formed close bonds with fellow former child stars Winona Ryder, Natalie Portman, and Natasha Lyonne.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jenna Ortega found comfort in talking to former child stars
The Wednesday star began her acting career at just six years old, landing her first leading role at age 10 in the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle. In a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar, Ortega opened up about connecting with other women who grew up in the spotlight and how they helped her navigate the transition from child stardom to adult fame. In recent years, the 22-year-old has formed close bonds with fellow former child stars Winona Ryder, Natalie Portman, and Natasha Lyonne.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Painful story behind the new Harry Potter series
In any given week there are any number of images that are likely to elicit an Edvard Munch-y Scream but this week there was one photo, shot in a green and pleasant bit of England which could have doubled as a Wind In the Willows set, that should have set your hair on fire. In the image, three tweens crouch, broadly grinning for the camera, the trio having beaten out tens of thousands of other 9-11-year-olds to nab the lead roles in the New HBO remake of Harry Potter. Ohgodisthisagoodideareallyummmm…. Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton have been cast, respectively, as the Harry and his sidekicks Ron and Hermione, guaranteeing them fortunes, fame and never having to sit through year ten modern history should they not fancy. That day, they just might be in Cannes doing a quick red carpet or in Prague shooting Darron Aronofksy's newie. Ciao darling. I'm sure that for McLaughlin, Stout and Stanton it's a dream come true. They feel like golden ticket winners, the envy of kids the world over and are about to embark on an incredible adventure. But boring adult me looks at this publicity shot and wants to do some Munch-ing. Child stardom, historically, has a helluva chequered record. The announcement of McLaughlin, Stout and Stanton as the new faces of Harry Potter feels like the most double edged of swords going outside of a Roman military museum. On one hand, what child's dream would not be to get to skive off school to pretend to be a wizard all day while earning squillions? On the other hand, youthful fame is notorious for wreaking havoc and often coming with an extraordinarily high, lifelong cost. The most obvious casualties: Drew Barrymore, Cory Haim, Cory Feldman, Edward Furlong, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Tatum O'Neil, Macaulay Culkin, and Amanda Bynes. We could also probably add in Justin Bieber considering he seems to really be going through something right now. Hello, stints in rehab, reality TV, and even court, with the occasional caught-by-the-paps, head-shaving breakdown thrown in there too. For decades it has been clear that childhood stardom both arrests and speeds up the normal sort of emotional, psychological and social development that you are meant to go through as you leave childhood and awkwardly galumph into adulthood. We've known all of this since Ronald Reagan was eating all the red jelly beans out of his Oval Office jar and yet every generation there are new fresh-faced enthusiastic pre-teens who don't, who can't, quite realise what they are about to sacrifice. Look no further than the original Potter stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. They have all made clear that the actual acting on the eight original movies – the larking about on sets and the creative aspect of it all – was a real joy but that tremendous, global fame that came with it deeply affected them. Radcliffe, Watson and Grint might never have to worry about mortgage payments or how they can afford that ice cream truck they always wanted (Grint) but the life-altering reverberations of being cast in Potter are clear to this day. Radcliffe has, on a number of occasions, talked about how he started drinking heavily as a teenager to cope with it all. 'The quickest way to forget about the fact that you're being watched is to get very drunk,' he told Off Camera With Sam Jones in 2019. 'I was a recluse at 20. It was pathetic,' he told Shortlist in 2012. 'I'd stay in my apartment for days and drink alone.' During a Newsweek interview in 2022 he was clear: 'I wouldn't want fame for my kid.' Speaking to The Times in 2021, Grint said: 'I found it hard to deal with the fame side of things. If I ever do see Dan [Radcliffe] or Emma [Watson], fame is the one thing we never talk about.' Wade into the myriad of interviews Radcliffe, Watson and Grint have given over the years and the words they use to describe becoming global megastars so young are ones like 'scary', 'dehumanising', 'surreal and odd', 'weird' and 'vulnerable'. They have talked about feeling 'detached' from other teenagers. Grint said in 2018, when he would go back to his old school and see his peers, 'We had very little in common, which is quite isolating in a way.' Radcliffe, Watson and Grint won their roles in 2000 and yet here we are, 25 years later, and their careers and public identities are still indelibly shaped by a movie they started shooting a full year before 9/11 even happened. Smartphones didn't exist yet. Instagram had barely been invented when the final Potter movie came out. So, what will the future be like for McLaughlin, Stout and Stanton? They are about to embark on a project that will make them some of the most instantly recognisable teenagers in a world saturated by social media. How will they get through this unscathed? I'm sure their parents, HBO and every producer involved will do absolutely everything in their power to look after them; that they will all take every precaution and hire every child psychologist and adolescent specialist and on-set advocate to try and protect McLaughlin, Stout and Stanton as much as possible. But surely there is only so far a well-meaning studio and the most thoughtful and best of parents can go to shield them from real world consequences of their roles. Just think about what lies ahead. McLaughlin, Stout and Stanton will have to go through the profound, innate awkwardness of adolescence – the hormones, the physical and emotional changes – with People keeping a around-the-clock watch. Their faces will be on screens the world over. For a new generation, they will be Harry, Hermione and Ron. They will become immutable parts of the cultural furniture and nothing can ever change that. There will be no going back. They are making what could be a lifelong choice at 11. There will be at least one season per book, with the first out in 2026 meaning that, assuming there is one series per year, the final one could be screening in 2034. McLaughlin as the titular Harry will be 19-years-old by then. How will they be on the other side of this? I hope that what lies ahead for McLaughlin, Stout and Stanton is all the joy and fun and magic of bringing these characters to life. I hope against hope that they can somehow dodge having to walk the tough path that many other child stars have over the years. I hope. I so very dearly hope. And if all else fails, they can buy themselves an ice cream van I suppose.
Forbes
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Where Is Honey Boo Boo Now? Alana Thompson's Life And Relationship With Mama June Today
Alana Thompson aka Honey Boo Boo then vs. now Alana Thompson, aka Honey Boo Boo, is back in the spotlight following the release of her new Lifetime biopic, I Was Honey Boo Boo. Where is the former child reality star now, and does she still have a relationship with her mother, Mama June? Debuting on May 17, I Was Honey Boo Boo is narrated by Thompson. The film offers a behind-the-scenes look at her rise to child stardom, from her pageant beginnings to becoming a reality star with her own TLC show after catching the eye of producers. "But behind closed doors were forced smiles, silent tears and the lingering sense of uncertainty for what the future held for Alana and her family," the official synopsis for I Was Honey Boo Boo reads. "After a series of scandals and legal troubles, Alana's world was turned upside down and she was ultimately placed in the care of her older sister, Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird (Georgia Small)." The description continues, 'Now in college, Alana is determined to shake off the labels that have followed her, shed light on the darker side of child stardom and forge a path to overcome generational trauma and challenges.' As you're watching I Was Honey Boo Boo, keep reading for an update on Thompson's life, what happened to her viral TLC series, and the latest news involving her mother, Mama June. LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson and her mother June Shannon (L) visit ... More 'Extra' at The Grove on October 15, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor Extra) Alana Thompson, also known as Honey Boo Boo, is a former beauty pageant contestant. She rose to fame at six years old on Season 5 of TLC's reality show Toddlers & Tiaras. Thompson and her mother, Mama June Shannon, went viral for their outgoing personalities and Alana's controversial pre-contest drink – a mixture of Red Bull and Mountain Dew (aka 'go-go juice'). Soon after, TLC ordered a spinoff series, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, to focus on Alana and her family. The series premiered in August 2012 and revolved around the lives of Alana, Shannon, and her three other daughters: Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell, Jessica "Chubbs" Shannon, and Lauryn "Pumpkin" Efird. THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON — Episode 0073 — Pictured: (l-r) Television personalities ... More Mama June and Honey Boo Boo during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon on June 11, 2014 — (Photo by: Douglas Gorenstein/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) After two seasons and multiple holiday specials, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was canceled in 2014 after reports surfaced that Mama June was dating convicted sex offender Mark McDaniel. McDaniel had served 10 years for aggravated child molestation, per The New York Times. "TLC has canceled the series 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo' and ended all activities around the series, effective immediately," a spokesperson for the network said at the time. "Supporting the health and welfare of these remarkable children is our only priority. TLC is faithfully committed to the children's ongoing comfort and well-being.' However, after the show's cancelation became public, Shannon denied having a relationship with the sex offender. "I want to make a post trying to clear up the rumors remember you can't believe everything you read!" she wrote in a Facebook, per ABC News. 'It isnt true i promise my kids r #1 priority over anything else and I would never put them in danger period over this or anything else they r my life this is my past I left him 10 yrs ago for it and I wouldn't go back.' In the following years, Alana appeared in a few spinoffs for WEtv, including Mama June: Family Crisis, which focused on Alana's sister cancer diagnosis. In 2022, Anna Cardwell was diagnosed with "very rare and very aggressive" form of adrenal cancer. As a result, Shannon became one of her primary caregivers. Cardwell died in December 2023 at age 29. In 2018, Alana also participated in ABC's Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, where she was partnered with Tristan Ianiero and mentored by pro dancer Artem Chigvintsev. They finished eighth in the competition. UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - JANUARY 11: June Shannon visits "Extra" at Universal Studios Hollywood on ... More January 11, 2018 in Universal City, California. (Photo by) After Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was canceled, Shannon launched her own WEtv show, Mama June: From Not to Hot, in 2017. The series chronicled the mother of four's dramatic weight loss transformation after she underwent bariatric surgery in 2015. However, things went downhill for Mama June amid her drug addiction. In March 2019, Shannon was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia after she allegedly had crack cocaine and a crack pipe in her possession, People reported at the time. Shannon was detained alongside her boyfriend, Eugene Edward Doak, who was charged with third-degree domestic violence, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both were later hit with felony drug possession charges. Both were released on bond and pleaded not guilty to the charges seven months after their arrest. According to their plea agreement, obtained by E! News, Mama June was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, court supervision, and other conditions, including random drug screenings. Doak also accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, followed by two years of probation, and was required to undergo drug addiction treatment. In April 2021, Mama June admitted that she was seven months sober after spending $600,000 on drugs over the course of six months. 'In a year we probably spent over a million dollars, because our habit was $3,500 to $4,000 a day,' she told Andy Cohen at the time. In 2022, Lauryn gained full custody of Alana, who was focused on finishing high school at the time. LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 31: (L-R) Alana Thompson, June Shannon and Geno attend the 2nd Annual Bossip ... More "Best Dressed List" event at Avenue on July 31, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin) Even today, Mama June and Honey Boo Boo's relationship continues to have its ups and downs. They appeared on The Masked Singer in 2021, which was one of the first things they did together since Shannon got sober. "Well, Alana I know would've hoped that it was just her on stage, and me too because I'm that backstage mom hyping her up. But it was a great experience," Shannon told People in November 2021. "I realized the last time we were out there together doing a huge project, which was Dancing with the Stars, I was in my addiction." In 2023, as shown in Mama June: Family Crisis, Alana attended Shannon's wedding to Justin Stroud. "This was the first time the family had all been together since 2014," Shannon said in a WEtv press release. "So it was really special to get married in a place where my family and I have had so many memories!" Alana recently revealed that she's never seen any money from her years on Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. As seen in their WEtv show, Thompson accused her mother of taking $35,000 of her earnings from her 2019 appearance on DWTS, which she only recently had returned to her. The reality TV star told People that, as of today, her and her mom have mostly reconciled. They both still appear together in WeTV's Mama June: Family Crisis, which returns for a brand-new season on May 30. Ultimately, Alana said that forgiving her mother was hard, 'but at the end of the day, she's my mom.' She continued, 'When she was bad in her addiction I just kept thinking about the day she'd recover. We're going pretty good. Hopefully it lasts. I just no longer have any expectations for her.' Mama June added, 'I don't remember who that person was, because I've worked so much on myself.' NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Alana Thompson, aka Honey Boo Boo, is seen at the "Tamron Hall Show" on May ... More 14, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) Honey Boo Boo graduated high school in May 2023 and started at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, where she is pursuing a degree in neonatal nursing. "I'm just looking forward to helping people," she told People in 2024. "I really want to be a neonatal nurse… I want to work with little babies, I don't want to have no babies though. That's my motto." Alana began dating Dralin Carswell in 2021. Their relationship is still going strong, despite initially receiving backlash over their age gap and an incident with the police in March 2023, when Carswell was arrested for DUI, fleeing police, and outstanding warrants after a three-mile car chase in Monroe County, Georgia. Alana was a passenger in the car but was not charged. Alana told Entertainment Tonight that she doesn't 'care' about the public's perception of her and Dralin. 'Because, like, at the end of the day, my sister approves, his mom approves, and we're happy, so what fans got to say or what haters got to say I don't really care.' Now 19, Alana is focused on telling her life's story in Lifetime's biopic I Was Honey Boo Boo. While she's excited for people to see her point of view, she's also nervous about how her mother will receive the film. 'I did not want this movie to be throwing punches at my mama and making her out to be the bad guy,' she said to People. 'But I didn't hold back and if she gets mad, at the end of the day it's the truth.' I Was Honey Boo Boo premieres on May 17, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Lifetime. Watch the official trailer below.
