Chloë Grace Moretz Looks Unchanged Two Decades After ‘The Amityville Horror’ Made Her a Star
Chloë Grace Moretz first captured attention as a child actor and has grown into one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers. Born in 1997, Moretz began her career with small roles on television, including a part in CBS’s The Guardian. Her first film role was in Heart of the Beholder, but it was her performance in the 2005 remake of The Amityville Horror that marked her breakthrough, earning her a Young Artist Award nomination and putting her on the radar of major filmmakers.
Following Amityville, Moretz balanced TV guest appearances with supporting roles in films such as Big Momma’s House 2 and The Poker House. She also lent her voice to the American version of My Friends Tigger & Pooh and took recurring roles in shows like Dirty Sexy Money and Desperate Housewives. Her early work displayed her ability to handle complex roles even as a young actress.
Her career took a defining turn in 2010 when she starred as Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass. Moretz trained with Jackie Chan’s stunt team and performed most of her own stunts, which drew critical attention and sparked discussions about the intensity of such a role for someone her age. Roger Ebert commented, “Say what you will about her character, but Chloë Grace Moretz has presence and appeal.” The same year, she played a young vampire in Let Me In, further proving her talent for intense, mature roles despite her youth.
In the following years, Moretz continued to take on challenging roles. She appeared in Texas Killing Fields (2011), Martin Scorsese’s Hugo (2011), and Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows (2012). She reprised Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass 2 (2013) and took the lead in the 2013 remake of Carrie. Alongside live-action roles, she explored voice acting in video games, including Kick-Ass: The Game and Dishonored, showing versatility across mediums.
By 2014, Moretz began exploring theater, making her Off-Broadway debut in The Library. That same year, she starred in If I Stay, playing a young musician facing a life-altering accident. In 2016, she led The 5th Wave, demonstrating her ability to carry major franchise films. She also reassessed her career, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m just becoming more picky and particular about what roles I’m choosing…let’s make stuff that really, really hits hard with who I am.”
In recent years, Moretz has expanded into animated films and producing. She voiced Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family films, starred in The Peripheral on Amazon Prime, and executive-produced the Snapchat series Coming Out, highlighting LGBTQ experiences. She continues to advocate for equality, openly identifying as a gay woman in 2024, and supports feminist causes.
Chloë Grace Moretz’s breakthrough in The Amityville Horror set the stage for a career built on bold choices and complex roles. From early horror and action films to animated projects and producing, she has proven her range and resilience in Hollywood. Her dedication to strong, challenging characters continues to shape her career and influence the industry.
Moretz’s journey shows how a single breakthrough role can define a young actor’s path. What do you think about her evolution from child star to a versatile actor and producer? Share your thoughts in the comments.
