Haley Joel Osment on child stardom, money decisions and dating as an actress.

When he was 11 years old, actress Haley Joel Osment was nominated for an Oscar. His resume was already long and impressive, but his role as Cole Sear in M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller The sixth sense made him an acting prodigy and a big star. Money, fame and awards quickly flowed his way.

But Osment has managed to avoid many of the usual hurdles that early fame can bring. This week he talks to Anna Sale about the many factors that led to his relatively smooth child star experience and his continued positivity in an industry that can be cruel and unpredictable.

Podcast production by Cameron Drews.

Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our Slate Plus membership program! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on many Slate shows, and full access to all articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at Slate.com/dsmplus.

And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We are very happy that you are here. Find us and follow us on Instagram. Anna’s newsletter can be found at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address to reach us with voice notes, pep talks, questions, and criticism is [email protected].