Hilary Duff gets candid about early fame and emotional impact of child star docs

Hilary Duff has reflected on her early rise to fame, saying she feels “very grateful” to have avoided the kind of lasting “battle wounds” that have affected some child stars in the industry.

The former Lizzie McGuire star shared her thoughts during an appearance at the Time100 Summit, where she spoke with Dan Macsai about growing up in the spotlight.

Now 38, Duff admitted that watching recent documentaries about child stardom has been an emotional experience.

She pointed to projects like Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV and Framing Britney Spears, which highlight the pressures and challenges faced by young performers.

“It’s such a long time ago, but it’s an out-of-body experience,” Duff said. “I feel really quite sad when I watch a lot of those documentaries for obvious reasons.”

Despite acknowledging the darker side of fame, Duff emphasized that her own journey was different.

“I feel very grateful that I wasn’t put in too many positions that left battle wounds on me,” she shared.

The actress noted she began working at just nine years old, gaining early exposure to the demands of professional life.

While that meant missing out on certain childhood experiences, she said it also brought unique opportunities that shaped her career.

“I had a very different upbringing… a lot of missed experiences, but also a lot of amazing ones,” Duff explained.

Reflecting on her path, the star described moments of disbelief at how far she has come from her roots.

“I’m a scrubby kid from Texas… sometimes I’m like, ‘How did I get here?’” she said.

Duff also underscored the discipline required to sustain a career from such a young age, recalling how she had to consistently meet adult expectations in professional environments.

“I had to be able to hold my own in a room full of adults… through exhaustion or sickness or whatever, just keep grinding,” she said.

Looking back, Duff said those experiences ultimately shaped her identity and work ethic.

“It’s taught me a lot and it’s completely formed who I am—and I’m proud of that person,” she added.