This Child Star Left Hollywood Became an Alcoholic — What Is Her Life like Now as She Turns 42

• This child star, known for her role as Curly Sue in the 1991 film “Curly Sue,” was a beloved actress who captured the hearts of many.
• However, her journey from Hollywood to adulthood was fraught with challenges, including a struggle with alcoholism.
• As she turns 42, we explore her life then and now.

This actress’s journey to fame started at a young age. The child star was cast as Curly Sue in the film “Curly Sue,” where she captivated audiences with her acting prowess.

The film tells the story of a homeless man and his young friend who survived the streets by conning people. The two met a woman who they soon realized needed them more than they needed her.

The child star as Curly Sue had a distinctive and memorable look that warmed the hearts of audiences. Her character was best known for her striking mass of curly, dark brown hair. Her wild, unruly curls added to her charm and made her instantly recognizable.

When the child star auditioned for Curly Sue, she felt certain the role was meant for her, despite her straight hair. She mentioned that she didn’t naturally have curly hair, but she had undergone two perms, and the production team curled her hair every day regardless.

Additionally, the child star’s wardrobe and overall style in the movie reflected her adventurous and carefree spirit, as well as her life on the streets with her guardian, Bill Dancer.

The child star’s style and physical appearance in the film were integral to her character, embodying her spunky, resilient nature and her endearing personality.

Aside from this film, the child star appeared in other productions such as “Parenthood” in 1989 and “Meet Dave” in 2008. At age five, the child star also became a junior vocalist champion on “Star Search.” She was the youngest singer to ever appear on the show.

The child star also showed how wide her acting range is when she appeared on an episode of “The Golden Girls.” In 1992, she played the character Melissa in the episode “Sophia’s Wedding: Part 1.”

Though her role was brief, her fashion and style were reflective of the show’s aesthetic and the era’s trends. Her outfits typically included layers, such as a sweatshirt over a t-shirt, paired with jeans or leggings.

She also donned cute, age-appropriate dresses with simple patterns or solid colors. These dresses were often paired with tights or socks, reflecting a more formal and tidy look suitable for a family-oriented show.

Moreover, the child star attended movie premieres in simple but cute dresses. She wore a black polka-dotted dress adorned with colorful floral patterns during the premiere of “Home Alone 2 – Lost in New York” in 1992. The child star’s style continued to evolve and so did her career.

Years later, the child star explained what it felt like being in her position, “Life as a child star was a normal life for me. I never really saw myself as anything special or different, other than the fact that I worked at a young age.”

After a successful early career as a child star, the actress chose to leave Hollywood and take a break from the spotlight. “I was just getting to the point where it just wasn’t fun for me anymore. There was no joy in it for me. I think I just wanted to be doing normal kid things,” she divulged.

Even so, the child star still attended events in the Hollywood scene, showcasing how her style had evolved now as a teenager. At one event, she sported straight hair instead of her signature curls, wearing a chic ensemble of jeans paired with a blue t-shirt and a playful pink-blue tie.

Her outfit was elevated with a stylish black belt, matching black shoes, and a sophisticated black coat. She adorned her fingers with rings and added bangles and a watch to her wrist, completing her look with a blend of elegance and modern flair.

In cases where she curled her voluminous hair, she dyed it, creating a blend of black and brown tones that complemented her gorgeous face impeccably.

At another event, she showcased her penchant for casual looks, donning jeans paired with a stylish pink sweater and a chic black handbag.

Balancing a mug in one hand and several shopping bags in the other, she exuded effortless charm. Her hair, parted in the middle, accentuated her radiant smile, adding to her overall allure.

Black also truly complimented her, accentuating her radiant skin. Her evolving style ventured into elegant dresses, like the striking black one she wore at the event, paired effortlessly with a matching handbag.

Her hair swept into a chic low ponytail, combined with the subtle sparkle of silver drop earrings, made her ensemble look magnificent.

As she entered her 30s, the child star went for more daring outfits. She once dazzled in a sparkling black midi dress, its short sleeves hinting at her décolletage, exuding confidence.

Her hair swept gracefully to one side of her face, framed her features with elegance, and added to the beauty of her entire look. By this time, the child star had made steps in her career as a singer, which she took up stepping away from acting.

The child star in this story is Alisan Porter. She had a hard time adjusting to life when the spotlight started dimming after her time in “Curly Sue” ended.

The actress took a dangerous path because she constantly wondered why she felt so low after her child star era ended. “Where is that adoration? Where is that love? And how can I feel that again,” she recalled wondering.

Alisan resorted to alcohol and drugs to try and fill the void. “I did cocaine, I smoked pot, I drank, I took whatever pill people were taking at the time,” she divulged.

By 18, Alisan was partying every day and ended up losing all the money she made as a child star. Luckily, she managed to stop before she was in too deep. She admitted that she was an alcoholic and began her journey in sobriety in 2007.

Alisan felt scared, trapped, and sad before she made the bold step to go sober. She was ready to get better or go broke doing drugs and drinking alcohol. She chose to get better, prayed to the god she believed in, and called her mother.

The journey was hard but worth it. She went off to treatment a few days after calling her mom. For the next four years went to meetings, worked her steps, got a sponsor, meditated, and prayed to the god of her own understanding.

Alisan felt like she had grown up. In 2022, she proudly said, “I have been sober now for eight years. I really feel like that is when my life started.” Alisan also admitted that sobriety is a touchy topic as one never knows when they are going to wake up and find that the disease has won.

Sobriety gave Alisan everything she ever wanted but had never managed to get. After “Curly Sue,” she made a significant comeback in the entertainment industry through her participation in the reality TV show “The Voice.”

She revealed that being an actress was great but not her goal in life as she felt deep inside that she was meant to be a singer. Alisan was grateful for “The Voice” as it gave her a chance to pursue her dreams.

Alisan’s audition on “The Voice” was a standout moment. She performed “Blue Bayou” by Linda Ronstadt, delivering a powerful and emotive rendition that turned all four chairs of the celebrity coaches.

Throughout the competition, Alisan consistently impressed both the judges and the audience with her versatility and strong performances. Her song choices varied, demonstrating her ability to tackle different genres and styles with ease.

She always had show-stopper performances, earning her rave reviews and sealing her victory. Her hard work and dedication culminated in her winning the 10th season of “The Voice.” Alisan became the first artist to win the show with a female coach, Christina Aguilera.

When she won, she thanked her fans, “YOU. GUYS. I WON THE VOICE!!!!!!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭thank you from the deepest part of my heart. Everyone who voted and supported me!!!!!!”

Alisan said she will be forever indebted to everyone who supported her desire to win. She encouraged her fans to pursue their wildest dreams, noting that they do come true.

The singer added, ” Follow your heart. Never give up. NEVER let anyone tell you you can’t. You CAN. I walked through so many fears. All of my fears.”

The win also felt like a shift to another era for Alisan. She noted that winning “The Voice” gave her a chance to move on from being just the child star on “Curly Sue.”

“I am now the girl who won ‘The Voice.’ I would like you all to know. I’ve waited 30 something years for that! She’s dead!,” shared Alisan, who had been ready to shed her child star fame for a long time.

Three years after she won, Alisan still had the spirit of gratitude in her when she wrote, “I celebrate this win in my life, it was a transformative time for me. Everyone deserves to celebrate their wins and triumphs.”

Still, in 2020, Alisan Porter reflected on a past performance video, expressing that she was living in fear and insecurity at the time she was on “The Voice.” She admitted that the performance was inauthentic and driven by a desperate need to prove herself, despite feeling embarrassed.

Alisan wishes she had presented herself more genuinely, without the facade of makeup and wigs, to reveal her true struggles. She is grateful for that period for teaching her what she didn’t need and appreciates her current journey of authenticity.

Alisan’s life is still eventful even after “The Voice.” She is a mom of three. She shares her son Mason Blaise and daughter Aria Sage with her ex-husband Brian Autenrieth, whom she was married to from 2012 to 2017.

In 2021, she welcomed her third child, a daughter named Shilo Bee with her second husband Justin de Vera, a professional dancer. Alisan was happy to give birth to her third child as she was not sure she would experience motherhood again after welcoming her first two kids.

After she gave birth, Alisan shared an inspiring message about her experience having a baby at 40, emphasizing her acceptance and love for her postpartum body.

She celebrated her body for carrying and delivering her three children and rejected societal pressures to “bounce right back” or be “perfect.” Instead, Alisan focused on a natural and healthy progression, embracing her body’s changes and advocating for self-love and nourishment.

The reaction to Alisan’s message was overwhelmingly positive, with fans praising her honesty and empowerment. One fan exclaimed, “How wonderful to see a celebrity be real and let us know it’s normal and natural to look like you just spent 9 months creating a beautiful soul,” while another gushed, “I love this post. Thank you for sharing yourself and being so raw. ❤️”

A third fan added, “Women are super humans because of the ability to grow a human inside of us!!! You grew three wonderful humans!!! You’re magical! Love you!” The positive feedback continued with observations such as, “Love your honesty and openness. You are absolutely amazing!!

“One of the few celebs who are real on this where gyms etc have to be involved with others right off. Thank you! Congratulations! Such a beautiful family ,❤️” a fan praised Alisan.

In 2022, Alisan shared a heartfelt gratitude list, reflecting on the many blessings in her life. Her list highlighted the importance of sobriety, family, and personal growth. She expressed her gratitude for being sober and having healthy kids, as well as a loving partner and a higher power.

The singer, who mentioned her appreciation for the farmers market, the experience of breastfeeding, and a bright future, also posted a charming mirror selfie with her daughter. They both looked happy while posing with two chickens, capturing a moment of joy and contentment.

Over the years, Alison has had to deal with fans who cannot believe that the little girl they used to know on “Star Search,” “Curly Sue,” and “Parenthood” is now all grown. Some fans have pointed out that she has lost her beauty, saying, “She’s not gorgeous anymore.”

Other people agreed with this comment, adding, “She’s not even gorgeous let alone flat out gorgeous.” “You think that’s gorgeous. Lmfao,” another user wrote dismissing Alisan’s beauty.

Alisan Porter is now living quite a fulfilling life, deeply focused on her children. Her firstborn son is in middle school, and Alisan is actively involved in his education, regularly attending meet-the-teacher and parents’ nights.

Both she and her husband are navigating their bustling careers with aplomb. Notably, Justin made headlines for his appearance as a ‘Ken’ dancer at the 2024 Oscars, adding a glamorous touch to their already vibrant life.

Alisan continues to make waves in the music industry, either by releasing her own songs or collaborating with other artists. Her recent release, “See In The Dark,” debuted four months ago and has been well-received, adding to what has already been an amazing year for her.

In a delightful escape from their busy schedules, Alisan and her family recently enjoyed a memorable trip to Disneyland. They shared a heartwarming video showcasing the fun, relaxation, and love they experienced together. This balance of professional success and cherished family moments truly encapsulates the remarkable year Alisan is having.

Alisan has come a long way from her days as a child star, having bravely battled alcoholism to emerge stronger and more focused. Today, she is doing what she loves—singing—and is surrounded by a family she loves and who loves her back.