The pitfalls of being a child star are a long-standing Hollywood cautionary tale. There are a number of reasons why child actors have a high risk of spiraling out of control into self-destructive behavior, not the least of which being that you’re simply not mentally equipped to deal with the pressures of being a professional actor – and in some cases a bonafide movie star – at that age. It’s an extremely competitive billion-dollar industry that regularly chews up full-grown adults, so navigating it as a child must be overwhelming in a way I can’t imagine. But it clearly isn’t impossible, as plenty of young stars have grown up to be well-adjusted professionals with fruitful careers. Speaking to Collider’s Steve Weintraub recently about their upcoming film Breaking News in Yuba County, Mila Kunis and Juliette Lewis shared some thoughts on their experiences as child actors. Specifically, both actresses explained how they managed to maintain their respective careers without going completely off the rails, and helped illuminate just how difficult it is to be a kid in the spotlight, especially after the advent of social media. When asked whom she credits for keeping her on a healthy path and helping her maintain her career, Kunis credited her parents before highlighting the major differences young actors face today as opposed to when she got her start: “I didn’t move to LA. I wasn’t a transplant, and I didn’t come here when I was 18 to make it. So, my life was always
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