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In a recent interview, High School Musical star Zac Efron talked about how much he admired the way Rob Pattinson, of Twilight fame, had handled his Hollywood career. Zac himself hoped that he could make a transition to more serious roles in the near future.
Zac isn’t alone in wanting to shift to more mature roles. Teenage stars are increasingly wanting to take the next sensible step in their careers — switch to adult roles. In some cases “adult” has simply meant being more risqué, case in point Britney Spears. But in others, teen stars have managed to make long, successful careers for themselves in Hollywood, outgrowing their childish origins.
Dakota Fanning who began by playing the vulnerable child in such films as I am Sam and War of the Worlds, will now be seen in a more grown-up role in her next film. The Runaways, which also stars Kristen Stewart, is about the first all-girl rock band that became a phenomenon in the US in 1970s. But Dakota has been making heads turn with her “no-longer-a-child” look since last year. “I was shocked when I saw Dakota in New Moon. Until then, I still thought of her as a child actor,” says Sukanya K.C, a college student.
For teen stars looking to make the jump, hope comes in the form of innumerable success stories. There’s Leonardo DiCaprio, seen last in Shutter Island. As a teenager, Leo starred in the gritty drama The Basketball Diaries.
The rest, as they say, is history. Johnny Depp too started fairly young. So did Shahid Kapoor, Ayesha Takia Azmi, Alyssa Milano and a host of others.
Closer to this generation, there’s Jessica Alba. Jessica started her career as a supporting actress on the television show The Secret World of Alex Mack before moving on to Flipper and then, a sought-after actress.
But this generation of actors may make an even smarter move, by picking roles that showcase their aptitude as serious actors. Abigail Breslin, who caught audience attention in Little Miss Sunshine, is a classic example. Playing Helen Keller in on Broadway this month, 13-year-old Abigail has already moved on from the little girl roles she started with.

Rohini NaIr  
The Asian Age