Hilary Duff reacts to documentaries exposing the dark side of child stardom
Hilary Duff expressed sadness over the renewed scrutiny of children’s television culture.
- Hilary Duff expressed empathy for child stars featured in recent investigative documentaries.
- The actress felt lucky to avoid the severe "battle wounds" experienced by other young actors.
- Duff has maintained a professional career since the age of nine.
Hilary Duff has expressed that recent documentaries highlighting the darker side of child stardom have left her feeling "really quite sad."
Speaking at the Time100 Summit in conversation with Dan Macsai, the 38-year-old actress and singer addressed the renewed scrutiny on children’s television prompted by recent releases such as Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
Reflecting on her own journey, the Lizzie McGuire star described the experience of watching these exposés as "out-of-body," noting the obvious emotional weight they carry for former performers.
Duff, who rose to prominence in the early 2000s before expanding into film and music with hits like Metamorphosis, acknowledged the industry-wide reassessment of how young performers are safeguarded.
While she admitted to feeling a profound sadness for some of her contemporaries, she noted that her own experience was relatively protected.
"I feel very grateful that I wasn’t put in too many positions that left battle wounds on me," she remarked, acknowledging that while she had a "very different upbringing" than most children, it was filled with both missed and amazing experiences.
The actress, whose later work includes a successful run on the series Younger, recalled her transition from a "scrubby kid from Texas" to a global brand.
She highlighted the intense demands of the profession, explaining that she was expected to maintain adult levels of professionalism through exhaustion and illness starting at age nine.
Despite the "grind," Duff stated that these challenges completely formed her character. "I’m proud of that person," she added, emphasising that the discipline of her youth remains a foundational part of her identity today.