You Won't Recognize The Little Girl From Waterworld Today

While Kevin Costner headlined the 1995 film "Waterworld," starring as the mutant drifter known only as The Mariner, a young Tina Majorino played the pivotal role of Enola. The blue-eyed little girl was essential to the future of mankind, becoming the target of a group of violent pirates as a result. Landing among actors from the '90s that are totally unrecognizable today, the California native has come a long way since starring in the dystopian movie.

After taking a break during her adolescent years, Majorino continued acting as a young adult, landing some of her most iconic roles ever. Long-time fans will recognize her as the quirky Deb in "Napoleon Dynamite" before taking on the role of Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie in the hit TV series "Veronica Mars." "The transition was just based on my passion," she told Studio 10 about going from a child star to an adult actor. "I just was going after the roles that I knew would challenge me."

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In the 2020s, Majorino dabbled in the horror genre, appearing in an episode of the "Into The Dark" anthology series, co-starring as a "Misery"-inspired captor in the episode "Delivered." She returned to the indie realm with "I, Challenger," a 2022 comedy film also featuring James Duval and Margaret Cho. "This is the thing that I love the most," Majorino told Muse TV about her acting career. "Being in this industry is what feels like home to me and, even after all of these years, I'm still in love."

Though there are some amazing memoirs written by former childstars, Tina Majorino could definitely add her life story to the mix. In addition to appearing in "Waterworld," she established herself as a budding talent in star-studded projects like "When a Man Loves a Woman," "Corrina, Corrina," and "Big Love." The California native hasn't published anything yet, but she has opened up about her mental health journey as an adult.

While Majorino has struggled with anxiety most of her life, the COVID-19 pandemic served as a major perspective-changer and prompted the actor to launch the "No Pressure" podcast with her brother Kevin. "It really came from conversations I was having with my brother during the pandemic," she told Studio 10 about the show. "We can talk about anything that we want, but specifically, we are huge advocates for mental health, so we talk about a lot of those issues."

After launching in January of 2021, the podcast returned for a second season in 2022 and shared a new year update in 2024. Outside of the cathartic outlet, Majorino spoke with Club Mental about her healthy habits, naming weekly therapy, firm boundaries, and daily meditation as a few of her essential tools. "It's hard to be a human," she said. "The difference now is that I have a deep knowingness that I'm learning tools that will carry me throughout the rest of my life."