Daniel Radcliffe was born to actor parents in London, England and soon began acting himself when he starred in the BBC adaptation of “David Copperfield.” In 2000, Radcliffe received the opportunity that would change his life forever when he was asked to audition for the lead role in “Harry Potter.” Seven Harry Potter films later, Radcliffe became radically famous and beloved by fans.
Though he has tried, Radcliffe has struggled to separate himself from the Harry Potter fandom so he could expand his range as an actor. Since leaving the franchise, he has starred in several films however he will always be best known as “the boy who lived.”
The Jonas Brothers
Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas hit the music scene with their catchy song “Please Be Mine” in 2005 which got the attention of Columbia Records president, Steve Greenberg. After touring and awaiting the release of their first official album, their single “Mandy” was featured on the Nickelodeon show “Zoey: 101.” In 2007, the Jonas Brothers were dropped by Columbia but then were signed by Hollywood Records.
They released their second, self-titled album in 2007 which reached number five on the Billboard Hot 200. From here, the Jonas Brothers really took off, recording, performing, and acting; primarily in Disney shows and movies like “Camp Rock” and “Jonas.” After a few more hits like “Paranoid” and “Send It On” the brothers went silent and it was discovered that they had split. Nick, Joe, and Kevin each attempted to go solo in their careers but they ultimately reunited in 2019.
Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney started out as a soap star on “All My Children” but broke into music after becoming a member of the boy band, “Dream Street.” At age fifteen he went solo and produced his first album, “Beautiful Soul” in 2004 which became number fifteen on the Billboard 200.
He released his second album, “Right Where You Want Me” in 2006 and also lent his talents to various Disney soundtracks. He had brief acting roles on Disney shows, “The Sweet Life of Zack and Cody” and “Hannah Montana.” Though McCartney has not necessarily created a larger-than-life career, he still acts, writes, and produces his own music.
Selena Gomez
Singer and actress, Selena Gomez, got her start alongside a big purple dinosaur on “Barney and Friends.” She was soon picked up by Disney and appeared on various tv shows like “Hannah Montana” and “The Sweet Life of Zack and Cody.” She finally landed her own Disney show, “The Wizards of Waverly Place” in 2007 which made her the next Disney starlet. Gomez simultaneously worked on her music career and became the lead singer for “Selena Gomez and the Scene.”
After a brief music break to focus on acting, Selena returned without “the Scene” and began creating her own solo albums such as “Stars Dance,” “Revival” and “Rare.” Today, some of her most beloved songs are "Same Old Love,” and “Lose You to Love Me.” However, Selena still continues to act! She is a star and producer of the hit series "Only Murders in the Building.
One Direction
In 2011, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson competed individually in the British singing competition, “The X Factor” but were joined together as a boy band by the end of the recording. Harry Styles came up with the band name “One Direction” and in 2011 they released the catchy single, “What Makes You Beautiful.” The song almost instantly made them a household name and they went on to release other hit singles like “One Thing” and “Live While We’re Young.”
After a few years of touring, tv appearances, and album releases, Zayn Malik left the group in 2015. The group continued without Malik and released other singles, most notably “Drag Me Down and “Perfect.” One Direction eventually dissolved, and each member worked on their individual careers, but it has been Harry Styles who has had the most successful career to date.