Maitland Ward, best known for playing Rachel McGuire in Boy Meets World, earned widespread fame at just 21 years old.
But her time in Hollywood was no fairy tale, as per her claims when she was a young star.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, the former star turned adult performer alleged that as a teenager in the industry, she was exploited by a factory-like system.
“I can’t describe what Hollywood is like today because it’s a very different animal than it was when I was getting into it,” the 49-year-old told the outlet, starring in Investigation Discovery’s Hollywood Demons.
Criticizing the industry, Ward says, “At the time, I think they looked at these young actors like up-and-coming assets.”
In his view, Hollywood wants to control newcomers into a product it can sell, regardless of the identity of the actors.
“And I really believe that the studios wanted to mold and make these young actors into what they wanted, what they needed for the company and the audience, and how they felt.”
She adds, “I think it was like a factory environment. Like you were just selling a product, and you knew it yourself.”
At the time, Ward admitted that he did not find his treatment offensive.
“I mean, I didn’t think there was anything wrong at the time that was really going on. I mean, it was just feeling uncomfortable in my own body and all my emotions and things.”
“But I thought that was just me being stupid. I had to be professional. I had to be part of that Hollywood machine. And that’s exactly what it was,” Ward concluded.
