Where are the child stars of the best Christmas movies today? From Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin to Love Actually’s Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Mara Wilson from Miracle on 34th Street

Dec 16 , 2021

Where are Macaulay Culkin and Thomas Brodie-Sangster after classic Christmas films, Home Alone and Love Actually? Photos: 20th Century Fox, Getty Images for Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, Universal Pictures, Dave Benett/Getty Images for Omega

Fame in a Christmas film means fame for life – as the classics get wheeled out every year without fail – but not all young stars go on to pursue a Hollywood life

After starring in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Taylor Momsen starred in Gossip Girl and formed the band The Pretty Reckless – fellow rocker Culkin now models for Gucci

Finding fame early can do strange things to a developing mind, and no young actors are more affected by the spotlight than those who star in holiday movies – wheeled out year after year without fail, guaranteeing a lifetime of some notoriety whatever path you choose to later pursue.

So where are they now? Many child actors from famous festive films quietly step away from Hollywood seeking a dose of normalcy. Others, like Thomas Brodie-Sangster of Love Actually, have continued to land starring roles. A third path? Peter Billingsley from A Christmas Story now works behind the scenes as a producer.

Macaulay Culkin is best known as the mischief-making protagonist in the Home Alone films

Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) in the 1990 Christmas film Home Alone. Photo: 20th Century Fox

The Home Alone films, which came out in the 1990s, are holiday classics. Culkin was 10 when the first movie premiered. He starred in other 90s films, such as My Girl and Richie Rich.

He took a break from acting in 1994, but he returned to the screen sporadically from 2003. This year, he appeared in American Horror Story and became a dad.

Macaulay Culkin walks the runway for Gucci Love Parade on November 2. Photo: Getty Images/AFP

Culkin also wrote an autobiography, co-founded a pizza-themed Velvet Underground tribute band called The Pizza Underground with which he toured before they split up in 2018, and hosted a podcast called Bunny Ears.

He has continued acting as well – among his roles, he played Michael Alig in Party Monster in 2003, and he did voice-over work for Robot Chicken. He also appeared in American Horror Story in August.

He welcomed a son, Dakota Song Culkin, in April with Brenda Song. In November, Culkin made a surprise catwalk appearance at the Gucci Love Parade show on Hollywood Boulevard.

Mara Wilson starred in the 1994 remake of the holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street