9 Disney Child Stars Who Didn't Go Off The Rails

Sometimes, graduates of the House of Mouse CAN escape the Curse...

By Jordan Beck /

We've all heard of the plights of former Disney child stars who struggled with the transition into adulthood. Lindsay Lohan burst onto the big screen in 1998 in The Parent Trap and soon became teen royalty with roles in Freaky Friday (2003) and Mean Girls (2004).

Advertisement

But Hollywood soon turned sour for her. She was arrested multiple times for DUI and drug possession and before too long had reportedly squandered her estimated $46 million fortune. Stints in rehab followed, but Lohan has never been able to recapture the success of her youth.

Britney Spears was a regular face on the Mickey Mouse Club before becoming one of the world's biggest popstars aged just 16. Her greatest hits include ...Baby One More Time, Womanizer, and smashing a paparazzi's car with an umbrella after shaving her head during her 2007 meltdown. To her credit. she's managed to sustain a successful career with the help of playback, perfume sales, and plenty of trips to rehab.

Some other Disn-asters worth mentioning include Demi Lovato, Shia LaBeouf, and HSM heartthrob Zac Efron, who have all checked into rehab at one point or another.

But what about the stars who didn't? Surely they deserve some credit too?

Here are 10 Disney stars who seem to have grown up unscathed by the fame factory. Then you can log into Disney+ to relive all the iconic pre-breakdown performances.

9. Emily Osment

Hannah Montana followed the capers of regular schoolgirl Miley, who led a double life as pop star Hannah Montana, all with the handy guise of a long blonde wig. Osment played Lilly Truscott, who often got caught up in the madcap adventures of the lead character in this nonsensical sitcom.

Advertisement

While it is difficult to decide whether her famous co-star Miley Cyrus went crazy or not, it is safe to say that Emily turned out fine. She starred in the sitcom Young & Hungry (in which Ashley Tisdale served as executive producer) and held the lead role in the drama series Almost Family. Under the alias Bluebiird, she released an EP titled When I Loved You in 2019.

While Miley Cyrus passed up on a college education in favour of a frankly frightening image change following the Hannah years, Emily studied theatre for two years at Occidental College in LA. You could say that - unlike Miley - she's had the best of both worlds.

Advertisement