From Emma Watson to Britney: Here’s the devastating truth behind being a child star

Emma Watson admitting to wanting to leave the Harry Potter franchise highlights the trauma that child stars are put through, from loss of identity to sexualization

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Emma Watson candidly spoke in the Harry Potter 20 Year Anniversary Reunion about feeling overwhelmed and terrified as the films progressed and fame increased, the pressure and attention leading her to consider walking away from the Harry Potter franchise. This should come as no surprise to any movie fanatic who’s followed the careers of childhood stars because, after all, Emma Watson is not the first actress to speak out about the struggles of being a super-famous child.

Emma isn’t the only one who struggled with the startling fame that the Harry Potter movies bought. Rupert Grint, before and during the Harry Potter reunion, has spoken about struggling with fame at such a tender age. During the reunion, he talked about finding it difficult to recall life before Harry Potter, and of loss of identity:

“I think I lost myself a bit along the way. With the fame, you’re almost being the character even when you’re not in character. From the moment I got the part, my life completely changed.” — Rupert Grint

Listening to the Harry Potter stars talk about their childhoods being rather lonely and of making them question their place within the world opens up a much-needed discussion about many of our child stars, who are often looked at not with sympathy but with a skeptical eye as listeners think of all the millions they’ve earned being Hollywood stars, Oscar-winners and pop sensations. It is hard for some of the general public to find sympathy for the incredibly wealthy, but what people forget is this; even though the struggles of the classes may be different, the rich and famous are not exempt from the effects of trauma.

Being famous can be very traumatic for a child. Suddenly being given no privacy, adult responsibilities, and dealing with the pressures and demands of directors, press, fans, agents, and critics can be overwhelming for a child and serve to create isolation and feelings of low self-worth and a lack of…