1 Shirley Temple:

The greatest child star of all, she sang On the Good Ship Lollipop at the age of six.

2 Mickey Rooney: Still alive at 92, the son of a Glasgow emigrant has been on stage since he was two.

3 Elizabeth Taylor: She was nine when she made her first movie, There's One Born Every Minute.

4 Roddy McDowall: Found fame aged 12 in How Green Was My Valley.

5 Natalie Wood: Starred in the Christmas classic Miracle on 34th Street when she was only eight.

6 Judy Garland: Frances Gumm had been acting for several years when she played in The Wizard of Oz aged 16.

7 Jackie Coogan: Began as a child star in silent films before becoming Uncle Fester in The Addams Family.

8 Loretta Young: Starred in her first silent movie, The Primrose Ring, at the tender age of just three.

9 Deanna Durbin: The singer and dancer signed a movie contract aged just 10.

10 Donald O'Connor: Was performing in films from 12 before his starring role in Singin' in the Rain.