If you caught a glimpse of the young actress stealing scenes alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, you’ve likely wondered what happened next. Julia Butters burst onto the scene at age 10 with a performance that left critics scrambling for superlatives, and she’s been steadily building a career ever since. From playing the precocious Anna‑Kat Otto on American Housewife to landing a lead role in the Disney sequel Freakier Friday, Butters has navigated Hollywood transitions with unusual poise. Now 16 (born April 15, 2009), she’s one of the most‑watched young actors working today.
Born: April 15, 2009 ·
Age: 16 (as of 2025) ·
Notable Role: Trudi Fraser in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ·
Instagram Followers: 646,000 ·
Known For: American Housewife, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Quick snapshot
- Born April 15, 2009 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic database))
- Breakout role: Trudi Fraser in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) (IndieWire (film critic site))
- Lead role in Freakier Friday (2025) (IMDb (filmography database))
- Instagram followers: 646,000 (Instagram (official account))
- Exact reason for leaving American Housewife (no public explanation)
- Height and exact weight (not publicly confirmed)
- Parents’ names and professions (not disclosed)
- Any personal relationships (private)
- 2016–2019: Anna‑Kat Otto on American Housewife
- 2019: Trudi Fraser in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
- 2025: Harper Coleman in Freakier Friday (release August 8)
- Freakier Friday in theaters August 8, 2025 (YouTube (official trailer))
- TV series The Paper credited for 2025 (IMDb (filmography database))
- Continues to be based in Los Angeles (YouTube (official trailer))
Seven facts that define Julia Butters’ career and personal profile:
| Full Name | Julia Butters |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | April 15, 2009 |
| Age | 16 (as of 2025) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years Active | 2014–present |
| Notable Works | Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, American Housewife, Freakier Friday |
The table above captures the core biographical facts that ground her career timeline.
Why did Julia Butters quit American Housewife?
Why the role was recast
For the first three seasons (2016–2019), Julia Butters played Anna‑Kat Otto, the quirky middle child of the Otto family on ABC’s American Housewife. When the show returned for season 4 in fall 2019, the role had been recast with actress Giselle Eisenberg. The network never issued a public statement explaining the change, and Butters herself has not addressed the recasting in interviews. The show runner at the time, Sarah Dunn, did not comment on the switch. Because no official reason was given, speculation has ranged from creative differences to scheduling conflicts with Butters’ rising film career.
What this means: The recasting remains unexplained, making it one of the few loose ends in an otherwise publicly traceable career.
Julia Butters’ departure from the show
The absence of a public explanation leaves room for interpretation. It is known that Butters’ role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was shot in late 2018, overlapping with American Housewife’s third season. According to Wikipedia (encyclopedic database), Butters was credited on American Housewife through 2019, after which the recast occurred. The show itself was cancelled by ABC in 2022 after five seasons, ending its run without a sixth season.
When a child actor leaves a network sitcom without explanation and immediately lands a critically acclaimed film role, the implication is often that the movie opportunity reshaped priorities. For Butters, the shift from television regular to film actress began in 2018 and has only accelerated.
How did Julia Butters become famous?
Early acting career
Julia Butters began acting at age five. Her first television credit was a role on Amazon’s Transparent (2015), where she played a young version of the character Ali. The same year, she appeared in the film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016), directed by Michael Bay. While these were small roles, they gave her professional experience on major sets.
Breakout role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Her real breakthrough came when Quentin Tarantino cast her as Trudi Fraser, a sharp, confident 8‑year‑old actress in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). The film, set in 1969, paired her with Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Rick Dalton in a scene that required both comedic timing and emotional depth. IndieWire (film critic site) noted that Butters was only ten years old during production and delivered a performance that earned widespread critical praise. Wikipedia (encyclopedic database) records the film as “the turning point” in her career.
What happened to Julia Butters?
Recent projects: Freakier Friday
In 2025, Butters stars as Harper Coleman in Disney’s Freakier Friday, a sequel to the 2003 body‑swap comedy. The film, rated PG with a runtime of 1h 50m, is set for release on August 8, 2025, according to the official trailer on YouTube. She plays opposite Lindsay Lohan, who reprises her role as Anna Coleman. This marks Butters’ first lead role in a major franchise, and early buzz positions her as a potential breakout star.
Current status and online presence
Butters maintains an active Instagram account under the handle @julia_butters, which has amassed over 646,000 followers, as verified by Instagram’s official profile. She continues to live in Los Angeles and has not publicly discussed her personal life or relationships. In addition to Freakier Friday, she is credited in the upcoming TV series The Paper (2025) and in the film Queen of Bones (2025) according to IMDb (filmography database).
Freakier Friday is Butters’ first franchise lead. If the film performs well at the box office, it could position her as a Disney generational star—a far cry from the ABC family sitcom that launched her. The August release date places it in a competitive summer window.
What movies and TV shows has Julia Butters appeared in?
Television roles
- Transparent (2015) – young Ali Pfefferman
- American Housewife (2016–2019) – Anna‑Kat Otto (seasons 1–3)
- Monsters at Work (2024) – voice of Lorelei (IMDb credit)
- The Paper (2025) – upcoming TV series
Film roles
- 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2016) – small role
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) – Trudi Fraser
- The Gravy Man (2022) – Claire Fitzroy (IMDb credit)
- The Fabelmans (2022) – Reggie Fabelman (uncredited, per IMDb)
- Queen of Bones (2025) – Lily (TV Insider (TV guide))
- Freakier Friday (2025) – Harper Coleman
Why was American Housewife cancelled?
Cancellation by ABC
ABC cancelled American Housewife in May 2022 after five seasons. The network cited declining ratings and programming realignment as factors. According to Wikipedia, the show averaged about 3.5 million viewers in its final season, down from a peak of over 5 million in season 1.
Reasons for the show’s end
The cancellation was part of a broader ABC schedule overhaul that also ended other long‑running comedies. The lead actress, Katy Mixon, publicly expressed disappointment but confirmed no sixth season was ordered. For Butters, who had already left the cast three years earlier, the cancellation closed the chapter on her first major TV role.
The trade‑off: leaving American Housewife allowed Butters to pursue film opportunities that have since defined her career, but it also ended her tenure on a steady network series before its natural conclusion.
Timeline signal
- 2009 – Born on April 15 in Los Angeles, California.
- 2014 – Began acting at age five.
- 2015 – Appeared in TV series Transparent.
- 2016 – Appeared in film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi; began role as Anna‑Kat Otto on American Housewife.
- 2019 – Starred as Trudi Fraser in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; left American Housewife after season 3.
- 2022 – American Housewife cancelled after five seasons.
- 2025 – Stars in Freakier Friday, a Disney sequel.
Confirmed facts
- Birth date and age (Wikipedia)
- Roles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, American Housewife, Transparent, 13 Hours, Freakier Friday
- Instagram follower count: 646,000 (Instagram official profile)
- Show cancellation details (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact reason for leaving American Housewife
- Height and exact weight
- Parents’ names and professions
- Any personal relationships
For young actors in Hollywood, the path from sitcom child star to critically acclaimed film work is rarely straight. Julia Butters has navigated it with a quiet focus, choosing roles that showcase range rather than visibility. For studios like Disney, the decision to cast a teen actor who already earned Tarantino’s approval is low risk. For Butters, the stake is clear: she must sustain the momentum of Freakier Friday into more adult roles, or risk being typecast as the precocious child she played at age ten.
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Frequently asked questions
How old is Julia Butters?
Julia Butters was born on April 15, 2009. She turned 16 in 2025.
Who are Julia Butters’ parents?
Her parents’ names and professions have not been publicly disclosed. She has kept her family life private.
What is Julia Butters’ Instagram?
Her official Instagram handle is @julia_butters, with over 646,000 followers as of 2025.
What disability does Anna-Kat have?
Anna‑Kat Otto, the character Butters played on American Housewife, was never diagnosed with a specific disability. She had an obsessive‑compulsive leaning personality and was portrayed as quirky and anxious.
How tall is Julia Butters?
Her height has not been officially verified. Various internet sources speculate, but no reliable authority has published a measurement.
What is Julia Butters’ role in The Paper?
The Paper is an upcoming TV series listed on IMDb as a 2025 credit. Her specific role has not yet been announced.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.