5 Disney Stars Who Took a Wrong Turn and 5 Who Ended Up Being Hollywood's Favorites

Disney fans love a clean origin story, the kind where the magic lights up and the career just keeps glowing. But sometimes a wrong turn happens fast, and suddenly a former Disney face is making headlines for the exact opposite reason.

This list is basically a before-and-after photo album. Bella Thorne’s post-Shake It Up era went off the rails with bold reinventions, viral social posts, and the chaos of OnlyFans drama. Meanwhile, Zendaya slid from Disney spotlight to HBO royalty with Euphoria, Emmy wins, and blockbuster roles that made her impossible to ignore.

And then you’ve got Miley Cyrus ditching “Hannah Montana” for pure spectacle, Selena Gomez turning Disney fame into global pop, and Shia LaBeouf starting on Even Stevens before Hollywood took one look and decided he was sticking around for the long haul.

1. Took a Wrong Turn: Bella Thorne

Bella Thorne was the star of Shake It Up, playing the lead character Cece. After that, her career did not take off as expected. Thorne experimented with her look, altering her hair color and donning risqué outfits.

Additionally, she became notorious for posting videos of herself kissing boys and girls on Twitter and for her OnlyFans drama. Despite all this, Thorne is confident in her identity and does not feel the need to conform. She has stated that she never sought to be a "Disney girl."

AP

2. Have It Together: Zendaya

Zendaya has become a renowned Hollywood icon, with her name popping up everywhere, from the news and television to billboards. She has been able to shed her Disney persona gracefully, and her role as Rue in the HBO show Euphoria has earned her an Emmy Award.

Furthermore, she has starred in major blockbuster films such as Marvel's Spider-Man series and The Greatest Showman, leaving her future looking very bright.

Getty Images

3. Took a Wrong Turn: Miley Cyrus

Today, Miley Cyrus is viewed as an outlandish and often controversial performer whose antics have caused many to question her mental state. She has certainly left behind her previously held "Hannah Montana" persona and blameless public image, and her 2013 MTV Video Music Awards performance of her hit single “Wrecking Ball” left the world in shock.

Despite a more subdued persona in recent years, it’s clear that the days of Hannah Montana are gone for good.

Getty Images

4. Have It Together: Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez has had a remarkable career, despite the drama surrounding Justin Bieber. She has transitioned from a Disney star to a worldwide phenomenon, captivating audiences with her musical ability. Her albums have been widely acclaimed, garnering much attention.

To ensure her well-being, Gomez has taken various breaks throughout her career, which have been highly beneficial.

Instagram @selenagomez

5. Took a Wrong Turn: Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf began his career as Louis Stevens on the Disney show Even Stevens. He had the potential to become one of the greats in Hollywood, but his erratic behavior got in the way.

He was involved in a multitude of scandals, from his battle with alcoholism to menacing others with a knife. He was even arrested due to his conduct.

Reuters

6. Have It Together: Ryan Gosling

Before Ryan Gosling became a major movie star, he was a member of the Mickey Mouse Club. His breakthrough role came with The Notebook, and since then, he has been featured in several successful films, including Blue Valentine, Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Place Beyond the Pines, and La La Land.

His thriving career shows no signs of slowing down.

Warner Bros. Pictures

That “who booked last minute” tension is similar to the group trip debate where someone wanted to exclude a friend for spontaneous booking.

7. Took a Wrong Turn: Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan is one of the most notorious examples of a Disney star gone wrong. Her first taste of fame came with her performance in the 1998 Disney family film The Parent Trap. Following this, she went on to star in many successful movies, such as Freaky Friday, Mean Girls, and Herbie: Fully Loaded.

However, in 2007, she was arrested for drunk driving, and this was followed by three stints in rehab and some time in jail. Lohan then became difficult to work with on set, and her reputation only worsened from that point onward. We rarely hear news of her now or see her on TV.

Reed Saxon – Pool/Getty Images

8. Have It Together: Anne Hathaway

Prior to her appearance in The Princess Diaries, Anne Hathaway was relatively unknown. She became a recognizable figure within the Disney universe and subsequently moved away from her "good girl" image with roles in Havoc and Brokeback Mountain.

It was her work in The Devil Wears Prada, however, that earned her the reputation of a Hollywood icon. Hathaway has since gone on to be one of the most successful actresses of her generation, appearing in a plethora of acclaimed roles.

Walt Disney Pictures

9. Took a Wrong Turn: Britney Spears

Britney Spears rose to fame during her days as a cute girl on The New Mickey Mouse Club. However, with the release of her single Baby One More Time, she quickly shed her innocent image and blurred the boundaries between teen and adult pop music.

Her songs were smash hits, and she became an instant pop icon. Unfortunately, this fame was short-lived as Britney experienced a major breakdown, culminating in her shaving her head, being taken to the hospital due to an amphetamine overdose, and getting into trouble with the police over a hit-and-run and her refusal to give up custody of her children.

NBC

10. Have It Together: Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera is a legendary pop singer best known for her incredible vocal range. She was a part of the legendary Mickey Mouse Club, which also featured Timberlake, Spears, and a few others.

Over the years, Aguilera has created a plethora of hits like "Genie In A Bottle," "What A Girl Wants," and "Come On Over." These days, she is widely recognized as one of the judges on the show The Voice.

TRAE PATTON/NBC

After Bella Thorne’s “never sought to be a Disney girl” attitude started trending, the whole vibe of her post-<i>Shake It Up</i> career became a lot harder to predict.

While Thorne was experimenting with look changes and controversial online moments, Zendaya was quietly stacking wins with <i>Euphoria</i>, an Emmy, and major film roles like <i>Spider-Man</i>.

Then Miley Cyrus fully burned the bridge to “Hannah Montana” with the 2013 VMAs performance of “Wrecking Ball,” and the shock factor became part of her brand.

The pressure of fame can also lead young people to make impulsive decisions, such as getting involved with drugs or alcohol to cope with the stress. It can also lead them to engage in risky behavior to try and gain attention or rebel against the public's expectations.

Fame can also isolate young people from their peers, leading to feelings of loneliness and disorientation. They may be unable to relate to their peers or find comfort in their friendships.

Parents, guardians, and mentors need to be aware of the pressures of fame and support young people in the public eye.

The Disney label didn’t make or break them, but the choices after it did.

Want the messy aftermath of damaged shoes and an awkward cost split? Read the pet-sitting dilemma where Reddit debated whether to charge a friend.