Every parent thinks their child is the smartest, cutest, and the most talented of children. Some children are just that and some make it to the Silver Screen. What quality do these children have that is so enduring to the viewing public? The “Magic Ingredient,” an adult like behavior being portrayed by a child. A child acting and speaking like an adult is an irresistible combination.
The “Adult” acting birth order There is one birth order whose recipient can act and speak like an adult at an early age. The Only child birth order. This child has no siblings and interacts mostly with adults, many times on the same level. Books are their first friends and reading is a habit they keep throughout life. Parents do not treat them as children, but as peers and their adult like behavior shows. This was apparent in the Hal Roach films. The behavior of the Little Rascals, latter their name was changed to Our Gang Comedies, showed this behavior. These children portrayed adults in miniature form and the public loved them.
Double Birth Orders
The Only
child is not the lone birth order of child actors. There are also Double birth orders that share the
adult like behavior of the Only child. Double birth orders occur when there
are four or more years between individual siblings; the spacing allows them to
be raised without sharing parental attention. These children combine the Only
birth order adult characteristics with their birth order number in the family,
giving them an adult persona.
Only Children Actors
Brooke Shields “She looks like an adult and thinks like one” said Eileen Ford. Brooke starred in Pretty Baby. Books and an education were also important as she graduated from Princeton.
Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas starred in the Our Gang Comedies.
Mickey Rooney started acting at age six and was in 300 films.
Tempestt Bledsoe started acting at age four. She played Vanessa Huxtable on the “The Cosby Show.”
Dorothy DeBorba had the ability to cry on cue, in the Our Gang Comedies.
Sarah Gellar started acting at age four. In keeping with the Only birth order she was a straight A student in school.
Gary Coleman started acting at age six and starred in “Different Strokes.”
Natalie Portman said, “I wouldn’t be an actress today if I’d had a sibling.”
One/Only’s
This child begins life as an Only child until a younger sibling is born four or more years later. This firstborn loves to be in charge and “boss” their younger sibling about. The combination of the Only child birth order and the firstborn birth order makes them very believable in their acting roles. They relate well with other child actors, which is foreign to the Only child who is most comfortable with adults.
One/Only Children Actors
Ron Howard played both the Opie Taylor and Richie Cunningham characters. True to his birth order, he is now directing films telling other actors what to do.
Dakota Fanning played Lucy Dawson in “I am Sam.”
Alyssa Milano played Tony Danza’s daughter in “Who’s the Boss.”
Lisa Bonet played Denise Huxtable on “The Cosby Show.”
Two/Only’s
When the number Two birth order is combined with the Only child birth order, you can get a princess or prince. The number Two birth order does not want to be told what to do; the Two/Only combination is an immovable object. This Double birth order likes to control their own space. They do not tell others what to do like the One/Only birth order. They can be very sweet if things are going their way but look out if they do not want to do something.
Two Only Actors
Helen Hunt started acting at age seven and was on “The Mary Tyler Moore” show. In keeping with her birth order she has said, “I don’t like people to think they know me. It makes me queasy.” When speaking about getting roles she said, “You’re not in control of anything….you’re in this wildly dependent position.”
Ann Jillian played Little Bo Beep in the Disney file “Babes in Toyland”
Natalie Wood started acting at age four. Was in the classic film “Miracle on 34th street.”
Britney
Spears started acting at age five in the Mickey Mouse Club; she has been called
“The Princess of Pop.” A fitting title.
Three/Only’s
When the Three-birth order is combined with the Only birth order, we get the real Drama Queen. Three/Only birth order children can be manipulative as they read other people very well. They have an intuitive sense of people and their current situation. They love to be center stage wherever they are. Highly tuned, they are easily susceptible to drug and alcohol problems.
Three Only Actors
Shirley Temple started acting at nine. She was known as, “little miss one take,” as she delivered her lines flawlessly. Her career was short lived, as she was unable to parlay her child image onto the adult stage.
Mariel Hemingway played in Lipstick. She recovered from mental health issues, and wrote her biography titled, “Finding My Balance.”
Patty Duke started acting at age four. She portrayed Helen Keller in “The Miracle Worker.” She is a health advocate and suffers from Bipolar disorder.
Judy Garland started acting at age two. She has been called one of the 10 greatest female stars of all time. Her addiction to alcohol and substance abuse lead to the end of her career.
Four/Only’s
The Four/Only birth order expresses the widest swings in personality, and has a constant inner conflict. The number Four birth order is the baby in the family who relies on others to help him. When combined with the Only birth order he gets another voice that says to him, “you can do this yourself,” whom does he believe? The Fourth child is not afraid of adults; he grew up where everyone in the family was older. All Double birth orders have two distinct personalities but this combination is the hardest to control.
Four Only Actors
Drew Barrymore started acting at age five. She was Gertie in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” Jodie Foster started acting at age six. Her roles in “Taxi Driver” and "Mayberry R.F.F." made her career.
Franke Jonas is the youngest of the Jonas brothers and started acting at age eight.
The Magic Ingredient
Not all
child actors are Only children. The addition of the Only birth order to a
child’s number at birth creates a Double birth order. These children can also
act like adults and shine on the Silver Screen. Having this knowledge, if you
want an actor or actress in the family, you may want to space your children
four or more years apart. This information allows you
to understand the unique personalities of each of the Double birth order
children. See you at the movies!
For more information about Birth Orders and the unique Double Birth orders, find it in my book, Life’s Fingerprint How Your Birth Oder Affects Your Path Throughout Life by Dr. Robert V.V. Hurst. You can also find more information on our website, www.mybirthorder.com
