Ke Huy Quan and 9 Other Child Actors Who Nominated Oscars as Adults
It took several years.

Ke Huy Quan received his first Oscar nomination for his brilliant and emotional supporting role in Daniels' absurd comedy Everything Everywhere All Once. A lack of opportunity kept the actor away from the spotlight for years, a former child actor who starred in such iconic films as Indiana Jones, Temple of Doom and The Goonies.
Like Kwon, other one-time child actors have grown up to have successful, critically acclaimed adult careers. A few even managed to get the blessing of AMPAS, earning Oscar nominations and, in some lucky cases, winning the coveted statuette.
1 Ke Huy Quan

Ke Huy Quan starred in two of the most iconic films of the 80s. First, he played a short turn in Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The following year, he played Data in Richard Donner's The Goonies. After "Enci Norman" was released in 1992, Chun stopped acting due to lack of opportunities.
Although out of the spotlight, Chun never left the film industry, working instead as a stunt director and commercial. In 2022, he makes a high-profile return to showbiz with the minimalist comedy "Everywhere at the Same Time". his performance Earned him rave reviews and numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe. Quan is currently the favorite to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
2 Judy Garland

Now iconic Judy Garland rose to fame with her performance in Victor Fleming's 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. The film won her a Junior Academy Award and launched her career throughout the 1940s as one of MGM's top box office hits.
After leaving MGM, Garland received her first Oscar nomination for her performance in the 1954 film A Star Is Born. Groucho Marx called her loss at the 1955 Academy Awards "the biggest robbery since the Brinks." Garland was last nominated in 1961 for her supporting role in the Nuremberg trials.
3 Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman made her acting debut at age 13, opposite Jean Reno in Luc Besson's 1993 thriller Hitman. Her career skyrocketed after that, playing numerous leading and supporting roles throughout the 90s. Portman's career came of age, starting with Mike Nichols' 2004 rom-com "Stolen Heart." For her work in this film, Portman received her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Portman won the 2011 Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Darren Aronofsky's psychological horror film Noir swan. Six years later, she received her third nomination for her portrayal of Jackie Kennedy in Pablo LarraĆn's biopic "Jackie."
4 Christian Bale

Christian Bale is widely regarded as one of the most chameleon actors of his generation, having been acting since the late 80s. His breakout role came at age 13 in Steven Spielberg's epic Empire of the Sun, and later with Kenneth Branagh (Kenneth Branagh) and other famous directors.
Bale became a global superstar in the 1920s thanks to his work on Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. He won the 2011 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Fighter. He's up for three nominations in 2014, 2015 and 2019 for his performances in "American Hustle," "The Big Short" and "Sin."
5 Sarah Polley

Canadian actress, director and screenwriter Sarah Polley rose to fame for her role on the children's television show Ramona. She successfully transitioned into adult roles, landing major roles in films such as Dawn of the Dead and Splicing.
Polly made her directorial debut in 2006's Far From Her, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. In 2022, Polley returns to the ceremony with her film "Women Can Talk," earning another Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also Nominated for Best Picture.
6 Kirsten Dunst

One of the most recognizable child actors of the '90s, Kirsten Dunst starred in several iconic films during the decade. Among her most famous and critically acclaimed films are Interview with the Vampire, Little Women and Jumanji.
Dunst continued her success as an adult, with Oscar-winning performances in films such as Melancholia in 2011, and starring in critically acclaimed series such as Fargo. It won't be until 2022, however, that Dunst will receive his first Oscar nomination for his supporting role in Jane Campion's new western, The Power of the Dog.
7 Jesse Plemmons

Dunst's husband, Jesse Plemmons, also began his career as a child actor. Plemmons has had supporting roles in films such as Varsity Blues and All the Pretty Horses, and guest appearances on numerous shows. Plemons rose to fame with her role on the teen drama Friday Night Lights.
Like his wife, Plemons received his first Oscar nomination for his work in Campion's Dog Power. He's set to win another Oscar this year for his upcoming role in Martin Scorsese's highly anticipated Western Killer Flower Moon.
8 Kodi Smit-McPhee

Plemmons and Dunst's The Power of the Dog co-star Kodi Smit-McPhee is another kid An actor who achieved Oscar success as an adult. New Zealand-born Smit-McPhee gained recognition as a child for performances in films such as The Road and Let Me In.
Smit-McPhee gained even greater fame as Nightcrawler in Fox's X-Men saga, playing the popular character in two films. His performance in The Power of the Dog earned him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and an Oscar nomination.
9 Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson has been one of the most recognizable and influential stars of her generation, dominating the silver screen since the early 2000s. The actor started his career as a child star in films like Manny & Lo and The Horse Whisperer. At nineteen, she won a Bafta for her starring role in Sofia Coppola's Academy Award-winning slow-paced comedy Lost in Translation.
Johansson balanced blockbusters and small-scale productions throughout the 2010s, gaining international fame due to her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2020, twenty-six years into her career, she was nominated for two Oscars in the same year: Jojo Rabbit for Best Supporting Actress and Marriage Story for Best Actress.
10 Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster became a star at the age of fourteen after being nominated for an Oscar in Martin Scorsese's psychodrama Taxi driver. She starred in such Disney hits as Freaky Friday and Candleshoe before taking a break from acting to attend Yale.
Foster struggled to land adult roles after graduation, but her adult career began with her Academy Award-winning performance in 1989's The Accused. Two years later, Foster won another Oscar for his performance in the now classic horror film The Silence of the Lambs.