It’s been nearly 30 years since Kevin Costner’s ambitious post-apocalyptic epic Waterworld hit theaters in 1995. While the film is often remembered for its massive budget overruns and lukewarm reception, one bright spot that critics and fans alike praised was the performance of its young child star, Tina Majorino.
Majorino played Enola, the mysterious girl with a map to dry land tattooed on her back. At just 10 years old, she held her own alongside Costner, delivering a performance that was both fierce and deeply emotional. Her role brought humanity to a chaotic water-bound dystopia, and many predicted a long and thriving Hollywood career for her.
Today, at 40, Tina Majorino looks completely unrecognizable from her days as the scrappy Enola. Gone are the windswept bangs and sunburned cheeks. Instead, Majorino is now a polished, confident woman who has continued working steadily in Hollywood.
After Waterworld, Majorino took a short break from acting but returned in her teens with memorable roles in Napoleon Dynamite, Veronica Mars, and as Dr. Heather Brooks in Grey’s Anatomy. She has also appeared in Big Love and True Blood, proving her versatility across genres from comedy to intense drama.
Despite her consistent work, many fans still remember her most vividly as the little girl from Waterworld. When asked in interviews about her time filming the ocean epic, Majorino often recalls the grueling months spent at sea but also praises Kevin Costner for treating her with respect as a young actor navigating a complicated role.
Currently, Majorino continues to act while also exploring writing and behind-the-camera projects. She is known to keep her personal life private, preferring to let her work speak for itself. Fans recently expressed shock and delight when her latest photos surfaced online, with comments like, “I can’t believe that’s Enola from Waterworld – she looks amazing!” and “Time flies, she was such a talented kid and still thriving.”
While Waterworld may have struggled at the box office, it became a cult classic over the years – and its child star grew up to prove that even Hollywood’s most doomed projects can produce lasting legacies.
