20 Celebrities Who Were Emancipated From Their Parents

A few young stars have taken the legal step of becoming independent from their parents, even as teenagers. They often do this to resolve family issues or to comply with strict rules on movie and TV sets. Becoming legally emancipated allows these performers to sign contracts, control their own money, and set their work hours—things normally restricted for minors. The reasons for these decisions vary, ranging from personal to financial and professional. Here’s a look at some well-known celebrities who’ve become emancipated and how it affected their lives.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore gained legal independence as a teenager, a significant step after growing up in the spotlight as a child actor. This emancipation gave her control over her career and money, allowing her to live on her own. Being able to sign her own contracts helped her move from playing child characters to more adult roles. She went on to create her own production company and maintained a successful career in film and TV.

Macaulay Culkin

After disagreements over how his money from hit movies was being managed, Macaulay Culkin legally became independent from his parents as a teenager. This gave him control over his finances and career. He then took a break from acting to live a more private life. Later, as an adult, he chose to return to acting and creative work, but only on projects he wanted to do.

Jena Malone

Jena Malone legally became an adult at a young age to have more say over her career and earnings. This allowed her to choose roles herself and handle the demanding requirements of filming, which can be challenging for young performers. She continued acting in both independent and mainstream movies, but with much more freedom. Becoming emancipated also made it easier to balance her education with her busy filming schedule and travel.

Ariel Winter

Ariel Winter legally became independent as a teen after a long court battle over who had control over her life. This gave her the freedom to make her own choices about school, medical care, and her career. She was then able to manage her own money and contracts for her acting work, including TV shows and voiceovers. Since then, she’s continued to act while also focusing on her education and speaking out on issues she cares about.

Juliette Lewis

Juliette Lewis became legally independent as a young teenager so she could work full-time as an actress. This legal step, called emancipation, allowed her to work longer hours on set than child labor laws usually permit and made it easier to sign contracts. It helped her quickly land significant roles in movies and TV. She also continued to pursue music while remaining in charge of her own career.

Michelle Williams

I’ve always been amazed by Michelle Williams’ drive! Even as a teenager, she was so determined to pursue acting that she legally emancipated herself – basically becoming an adult before her time. This allowed her to sign her own contracts and manage her schooling around filming, which was incredible. It really set her up for success, letting her build up a fantastic resume and land those big roles we all know and love. Plus, it meant she could handle her own finances early on, which is pretty impressive!

Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan gained independence from her parents at a young age, allowing her to live and work on her own terms. This legal change meant she could accept acting roles and handle her own finances directly. She then developed a career in film and television, alongside interests in fashion and writing. Ultimately, gaining this independence gave her greater control over all aspects of her life and career.

Corey Feldman

As a teenager, Corey Feldman legally became independent due to worries about how his money and career were being managed. This gave him control over his contracts and finances. He kept acting in movies and TV shows, and also started pursuing music. Becoming independent also allowed him to speak up for stronger protections for other young actors.

Jaime Pressly

I recently learned about Jaime Pressly’s fascinating start, and it really highlights her drive. As a teenager, she actually went to court to become legally independent from her parents! She needed to be able to travel the world for modeling, and being emancipated allowed her to sign contracts and handle all the logistics herself – things like visas and work schedules became so much easier. It’s incredible to think she took control of her career that young, and it clearly set the stage for her successful transition into television later on. It’s a testament to her ambition and business savvy.

Dominique Swain

Dominique Swain gained legal independence as a teenager to allow her to work longer hours and directly sign contracts on film sets – something usually not permitted for minors. This helped her land important roles and maintain a steady career. Later, she was able to easily move between smaller independent films and larger, more mainstream projects.

Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen legally became independent as a teenager when she decided to focus on music instead of acting. This allowed her to fully commit to touring with her band, recording music, and signing record deals. She was able to make her own decisions about things like band merchandise, licensing, and when and where to perform. Becoming legally independent also made it easier to balance her education with her busy music career.

Alicia Silverstone

As a young actress, Alicia Silverstone had to become legally independent to manage her busy filming schedule. This process, called emancipation, made it easier to sign contracts and work longer hours on set, as allowed by industry rules. It also meant she could directly control her earnings and career decisions. She became a leading actress and later expanded her work into producing and writing.

Courtney Love

I’ve always been fascinated by Courtney Love’s story. It’s incredible to me that she actually legally emancipated herself as a teenager – she had a really tough childhood with a lot of moving around. Becoming independent allowed her to start making her own decisions about her career, like signing deals to perform and record music. She was clearly determined, building a name for herself in different music scenes before finally hitting it big with her band. And it wasn’t just about the music, either – being emancipated meant she could manage her own tours and finances, which is pretty empowering.

Edward Furlong

Edward Furlong gained legal independence as a minor due to his early success and complicated financial and legal arrangements. This meant he could sign contracts and control his own earnings without needing permission from others. He continued acting while also adjusting to adult life in the public spotlight, and the legal change also gave him more control over his travel and public appearances.

Bijou Phillips

Bijou Phillips sought legal emancipation as a teenager, after beginning her career as a model and actress at a young age. This allowed her to live on her own in New York and later Los Angeles, and made it easier to travel internationally and handle contracts for her work in fashion and film. She continued to act in movies while also managing her own finances and business dealings.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne became legally independent as a teenager because she started working in film and TV at a young age. This meant she could manage her own contracts and schedule. She continued to act in a variety of films and shows, both big-budget and independent, and being legally independent also helped her balance work with her education.

Willa Holland

Willa Holland became legally independent as a teenager while consistently working on TV shows. This made things like scheduling and signing contracts much easier, as she was then treated as an adult performer. She continued to land demanding roles with long filming schedules, and being emancipated also simplified travel and appearances for promotional events.

Tatum O’Neal

After years as a child actor and dealing with family issues, Tatum O’Neal gained legal independence. This gave her control over her work contracts and finances, allowing her to continue acting in movies and TV shows on her own terms. It also helped her manage her public image and make her own personal choices.

Corey Haim

As a young and busy actor facing a lot of public attention, Corey Haim took legal steps to become independent from his parents. This emancipation gave him direct control over his contracts and work commitments, allowing him to manage his own money and decide for himself about acting roles, travel, and public appearances.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich gained legal independence as a teenager because she began modeling and acting at a young age. This allowed her to work longer hours on film sets and make her own contracts without needing a parent or guardian present. It helped her transition from playing child characters to more mature roles, and it also made it easier to travel internationally for work in both fashion and film.

Let us know if we left anyone out! Tell us in the comments who else you’re interested in learning about, and we’ll add them to the list.

2025-11-01 19:46