Hilary Duff Says Revisiting Early Fame Feels “Sad” After Recent TV Exposés

Hilary Duff says looking back at her early fame is emotional, especially after watching recent documentaries about child stars.

Duff, now 38, became famous in the early 2000s with the Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire. She later built a career in movies and music. Speaking at the Time100 Summit, she said documentaries like Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV and Framing Britney Spears made her reflect on that time in her life.

“It’s such a long time ago, but it feels strange to watch,” Duff said. “I feel really quite sad when I see those documentaries.”

These films have highlighted problems behind the scenes of children’s television and the pressures young celebrities often face. Quiet on Set, released in 2024, looks at alleged misconduct in popular kids’ shows, while Framing Britney Spears focuses on the intense public scrutiny Britney Spears experienced.

Duff said she feels lucky her own experience was not as harmful as some others. “I’m very grateful I wasn’t put in too many situations that left lasting damage,” she said.

Still, she acknowledged that starting work so young came with sacrifices. Duff began acting at age 9 and said she missed out on parts of a typical childhood. At the same time, she had unique opportunities.

“I’ve worked like an adult since I was a kid,” she said. “I had to be professional, even when I was tired or sick.”

Duff believes those experiences shaped who she is today. She said her success involved both hard work and some luck, but she is proud of the person she has become.