Where are all the child stars from our favourite Christmas movies now?
There's a lot to love about the festive season (hello cheeseboards), but one thing we truly can't get enough of is Christmas movies. Year after year, we return to the same films for a dose of comfort, nostalgia, and Christmas cheer.
Why do we keep coming back to films we've seen hundreds of times before? It could just be dismissed as a December rite of passage, but we'd wager that it's got more to do with the festive characters that we fell in love with as children.
There's something deeply comforting about rewatching Kevin impishly outsmart the burglars in Home Alone, seeing Cindy Lou defrosting the wizened old Grinch's heart in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and – of course – watching Sophie demand a rendition of Mr NapkinHead from Jude Law in The Holiday.
Although we remember these child stars as err, children, they've obviously all grown up and are achieving big things in the gruelling world of adulthood.
In celebration of them, let's take a look at what the most famous child stars from our favourite Christmas movies are up to now:
Macauley Culkin in Home Alone (1990)
Macauley Culkin was only 10-years-old when he played the unforgettable role of Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. Poor Kevin manages to get left behind in his family's gorgeous house (which BTW, you can actually rent), and while he's trying to enjoy the peace, he ends up having to fend off two haphazard burglars.
In an interview with Ellen Degeneres back in 2018, Macauley reflected on the movie's enduring success, saying, “I’ve had people who want to sit down and watch it with me, which is both flattering and creepy," adding that, "I can’t watch it the same way other people can.”
Macauley Culkin: Now
Following the wild success of Home Alone, Macauley was snapped up to appear in plenty more movies as a child, including Home Alone 2, Richie Rich, and My Girl.
After taking a break from acting in the late '90s, Macauley returned in 2003 for a guest appearance on the TV show, Will and Grace. 10 years later, he co-founded the band Underground Pizza, of which he was the frontman.
More recently, Macauley has starred in the tenth season of American Horror Story and, in November earlier this year he walked the runway for Gucci's 'Love Parade' show.
In April 2021, Macauley shared the wonderful news that he and his partner Brenda Song had welcomed a daughter, named Dakota after Macauley's late sister, who very sadly died in 2008.
Kieran Culkin in Home Alone (1990)
We were today year's old when we found out Kieran Culkin also starred in Home Alone, alongside his brother, Macauley. He had a minor role as Fuller, one of Kevin's cousins, who managed not to get left behind.
In an interview on The Late Late Show With James Corden in 2020, Kieran confessed that – at the time of filming – he had no idea that his brother, Macauley, was the star of the film. He explained, "There's a part in the movie where there's a kid who gets his head counted incorrectly and he goes, 'Bye, bring me back something French!' I thought the movie was about that kid," adding that, “It made sense when I saw it. I remember seeing it in the theatre at the premiere and I was dying laughing and I was like, 'Oh, that makes sense 'cause Mac was on set all the time.'”
Kieran continued, "I didn't even know what the movie was about when we were doing it, so it was a fresh, brand-new movie when I saw it."
Kieran Culkin: Now
Having won a Critic's Choice award for ‘Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series’ and being nominated for an Emmy and three Golden Globes for his role as Roman Roy in HBO's hit drama, Succession, Kieran is simply smashing his acting career RN.
However, his first career breakthrough came in 2002, when he starred in Igby Goes Down, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. He's also appeared in films including Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Wiener-Dog, and No Sudden Move.
Kieran married Jazz Charton in 2013. They share two children, a daughter called Kinsey, and a son called Wilder Wolf.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster in Love Actually (2003)
It's not Christmas until Thomas Brodie-Sangster's character in Love Actually incredulously asks Liam Neeson, “Worse than the total agony of being in love?” Although his role was relatively minor, he was responsible for so many heartwarmingly hilarious moments in the film: a particular favourite is him looking furious as he plays the drums, livid that Joanna isn't directing her rendition of All I Want For Christmas solely towards him.
In an interview in 2020, Thomas reflected on the enormity of Love Actually, saying, "I remember already having the part and going into the read-through and not knowing who else was in it," he tells PEOPLE. “I'd just go, 'Oh, it's another job. Great. I'm on another job.' And then all these faces started walking in through the door and I realised that this is probably quite big.”
He continued, “I felt a bit embarrassed, I asked [a runner], 'Is this coming out in the cinema?' And he's like, 'Yeah,' […] I was like, 'Really? Oh, wow.' I had no idea what it was and then they walked me through to the room and I was sat down with maybe 50 very high profile amazing actors all around this table. It was only then that I realised what I was apart of. All the way up until that point I had no idea whatsoever.”
Thomas Brodie-Sangster: Now
Thomas Brodie-Sangster's acting career has been a consistent success since his breakout role in Love Actually, reuniting with Emma Thompson in Nanny McPhee; starring as Paul McCartney in Nowhere Boy; and playing Jojen Reed in Game of Thrones.
However, it was his role as chess champion Benny Watts in Netflix's The Queen's Gambit, which catapulted him back into the spotlight. His sensitive, endearing portrayal of Benny pretty much ended toxic masculinity for a few hot minutes. Oh, and he was also nominated for an Emmy for ‘Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie’ for his performance.
Olivia Olson in Love Actually (2003)
Olivia Olson played Joanna, the American girl who Sam falls for, in Love Actually. Her performance of Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas is quite simply the best cover we've ever heard. Her character also provided some classic rom-com airport drama, with Sam dodging airport security to give her a goodbye kiss.
She reflected on that kiss in an interview with Fabulous, saying, "We were kids, I wouldn’t say there was any romance, but that was my first time kissing a boy ever. It was weird. There were definitely feelings there of anticipation, like little kids’ nerves.”
She also revealed that Richard Curtis, the film's director, was worried the audience wouldn't believe it was really her singing, saying, “We did the first take all the way through and I was sat there for 10 to 15 minutes and couldn’t hear what they were saying. […] They hit the button and said ‘Olivia that was really really good, can you try one maybe not so good, we’ve just agreed it might be too unbelievable, can you sing it more straight.”
Olivia Olson: Now
Since her sparkling Love Actually debut, Olivia Olson has released two albums, and done voice roles for Phineas and Ferb, and Adventure Time. She also briefly appeared on The X Factor: Celebrity before – unjustly IMO – being the second act to be voted off in 2019.
Taylor Momsen in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Taylor's Momsen was only seven-years-old at the time of filming How the Grinch Stole Christmas but angelic performance of Cindy Lou never stops being an absolute treat. Her rendition of ‘Where are you Christmas?’ is one of the cutest parts of the whole movie, and she's an absolute hero for managing to recite all her lines with that hairstyle.
In an interview in 2020, Taylor reflected on the film, calling it, “an impactful moment in [her] life.”
She added, "I think that people love The Grinch just simply because the core of the story is so sweet and it's so heartwarming and it has such a good message. That no matter what age touches your heart, I think that that’s an amazing thing to be a part of. "
"The fact that it comes back around every year — I think it's something to look forward to. And I think it just kinda brings happiness and joy to anyone who watches it."
Taylor Momsen: Now
After her breakout role in The Grinch, Taylor had a distinguished career as a child actor, appearing in Spy Kids 2, Hansel & Gretel, and We Were Soldiers. Her next big acting break came in 2007, when she landed the role of Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl. After starring as a regular cast member for four seasons, Taylor left to focus on her music career.
Taylor is now the front woman of the rock band ‘The Pretty Reckless’, telling Digital Spy in 2010, "Music is where I can be me […] I really do it because I love it, honestly. It's what I want to do with my life. I mean, it's my only goal.
“Acting is easy. I've been doing it for so long and I totally love it. But you're playing a character instead of yourself. Music is more personal because you're writing it and you're involved in every step of it.”
Miffy Englefield in The Holiday (2006)
The Holiday is one of everybody's favourite Christmas films, and the star-studded cast is definitely one of the reasons why. One such cast member is Miffy Englefield, who plays Graham (Jude Law's) daughter, Sophie.
In an interview with Vulture in 2019, Miffy reflected on her time filming the movie, saying, "Jude used to pop his head round the door when we were doing our schooling and things like that. He used to sit and chat with my dad. We did act like a family a little bit, and I think that shows in our relationship onscreen. We were all so close and that wasn’t just for when the cameras were rolling. We were always just chatting, making jokes, and having a really good time. I don’t know how they put up with us, to be honest.”
Miffy Englefield: Now
While Miffy certainly made a huge impression on the world with her debut in The Holiday, she hasn't pursued a career in acting.
Back in 2020, she shared the news that she'd welcomed a daughter, Frankie, with her partner, telling Fabulous, “[Frankie] arrived at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester three days early after 21 hours of labour. Then my temperature soared, doctors realised I had an infection and I was rushed for a c-section […] I was pumped full of antibiotics and kept in hospital for two days.”
She's also now on TikTok, and has called out “gross old men” for commenting on how her appearance has changed since she starred in the Christmas film.
Daniel Tay in Elf (2003)
Daniel Tay played Buddy the Elf's lovable (if a little reluctant, at first) half-brother, Michael in Elf. While Michael initially resents Buddy's eccentric, festive ways, he soon comes round after Buddy helps him defeat some bullies in an epic snowball fight.
Daniel Tay: Now
After his role as Micheal in Elf, Daniel went onto appear in Doogal, Beer League and Brooklyn Rule. He took a step back from acting in 2009, reportedly graduating from Yale University in 2019 with a BA in Economics.
According to The Sun, he is now working as a teacher at Veritas Prep, a “consulting company that does test preparation for graduate schools.”
Johnny Galecki in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Johnny Galecki was 14-years-old when he played the part of Rusty Griswold in Jeremiah S. Checknik's Christmas comedy National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2014, the director recalled, "Galecki was just an odd kid. He was very young and so dry […] He made me laugh because he has this wack of a sense of humor and that’s what made me really want him.”
“He wasn’t a Hollywood kid who was going for laughs, but he had a nervousness to him that in many ways shows beautifully now as an adult,” he added. “His comic gifts are absolutely incredible."
Johnny Galecki: Now
These days, you'll probably recognise Johnny Galecki from her stand-out performance as Leonard Hofstadter in The Big Bang Theory. His adult acting credits also include Rings, A Dog's Journey, and The Cleanse.
He dated his Big Bang Theory co-star, Kaley Cuoco, between 2007 and 2009, during which time they also played a couple on the TV show. Johnny has a son, Avery, who was born in November 2019. He shares him with his ex, Alaina Meyer.
Drew Barrymore in Babes in Toyland (1961)
Drew Barrymore was 11-years-old when she played Lisa Piper in Babes in Toyland. The Christmas classic sees Lisa wake up in ‘Toyland’, where she must overthrow Barnaby, an evil villain. The catch? She needs to stop thinking she's too grown up for toys.
In her memoir, Wildflower, Drew reflected on the pitfalls of being a child star, saying (via Vulture) that she got drunk and threw bags of laundry off the balcony of her hotel while she was filming Babes in Toyland in Munich.
Gilbert CarrasquilloDrew Barrymore: Now
Drew Barrymore became legally emancipated from her mother at the age of 14, after undergoing drug rehabilitation treatment.
She reflected on her child stardom in an interview with The Guardian in 2015, saying, “To have such a big career at such a young age, then nothing for years – people going, you’re an unemployable disaster – that’s a tough trip to have by the time you’re 14. To have access to so many things, then to nothing.”
Drew has since starred in some seriously iconic films and TV shows, including Charlie's Angels, 50 First Dates, and Netflix' Santa Clara Diet. She is the founder of the production company Flower Films and she owns her own range of wines.
Drew has two daughters – Olive and Frankie – with Will Kopelma, who she was married to between 2012 and 2016.
Mara Wilson in Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
In Miracle on 34th Street, Mara Wilson played Susan Walker, a little girl determined to prove that a man claiming to be Santa Claus is genuine.
In 2018, she told Entertainment Weekly, “My role [in Miracle on 34th Street] happened very quickly: Mrs. Doubtfire came out at the end of 1993, and then we started filming Miracle in early spring of 1994. And I remember finding out that I got the part for Matilda while I was in Chicago filming Miracle. So as you can see, it just kind of snowballed. Everything was on top of each other. It was ridiculous and crazy, but fun — I like meeting people and traveling to places.”
She added, "There were so many other kids around, too. I didn’t actually believe in Santa, because I was raised Jewish, but if [the other kids] asked me about it, I would be polite and just say, “Yes, sure, that’s Santa Claus.”
Mara Wilson: Now
As well as Miracle on 34th Street, Mara appeared in a roster of memorable family films, including Mrs Doubtfire, Matilda, and Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
She took a 12-year break from acting to focus on writing. She is a beloved Twitter personality and the author of Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame.
Universal PicturesLulu Popplewell: Then
Arguably one of the heart-warming roles in Love Actually was a brief one. Lulu Popplewell played the bizarre role of the lobster in the school nativity that brings the majority of the cast together – including Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon and Emma Thompson.
Popplewell played the “first lobster” – alongside director Richard Curtis' daughter, writer and activist Scarlett Curtis, who told The Times she played the role of “second lobster" in the nativity.
Adorable, right?
LuluBirdPopplewell / InstagramLulu Popplewell: Now
While Lulu did not delve deeper into the acting world, she has since become a comedian.
Impressively, she was a finalist in the Leicester Square New Comedian Of the Year Award and the Chortle Student Comedy Award 2018.
