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Maitland Ward went from being a sitcom star to an grownup movie star.
From 1998 till 2000, the actress performed Rachel McGuire within the final two seasons of ABC’s “Boy Meets World.” After her time on the collection, Ward later broke into the grownup movie trade. She has detailed her stunning profession path in a memoir revealed on Sept. 6 titled “Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood.”
“I believe it’s an empowering story for girls and everybody actually,” Ward, 45, advised Fox Information Digital. “It’s about residing your reality and never listening to what everyone seems to be telling you to do. For therefore lengthy, Hollywood was telling me that I may solely be a sure method. The trade needed to maintain me in some field. I reached a degree the place I simply needed to do my very own factor. I’m now my genuine self. There are all the time going to be individuals who will attempt to pigeonhole you, particularly as a lady. For me to interrupt out has been so liberating. I believe that’s true for anybody in any trade. My story simply occurs to be a bit extra scandalous.”
Maitland Ward is embracing her “genuine self” within the grownup movie trade.
(Gabe Ginsberg/WireImage)
The California native stated that as a toddler she dreamed of turning into an actress. Her first function was that of Jessica Forrester on “The Daring and the Lovely” from 1994 till 1996. After the cleaning soap opera, she discovered herself on the set of “Boy Meets World,” a healthful coming-of-age comedy created by Michael Jacobs. Ward joined a close-knit solid as the brand new woman.
“I used to be acquired very effectively, they have been very good to me,” Ward defined. “It was an odd factor to stroll right into a set that had been such a well-oiled machine and the place that they had grown up on the present. Everybody was established and knew easy methods to work with one another. I used to be coming in for the school years, and I used to be nervous about that. However I used to be accepted… and I had a good time on the present.”
In chapter six of her guide, Ward alleged that she was requested to strive on lingerie for producers, “primarily males,” within the workplace “greater than as soon as” as her character’s private model advanced. Ward confused she was by no means sexually assaulted however the total expertise made her “uncomfortable.”
Maitland Ward performed Rachel McGuire on the final two seasons of the ABC sitcom “Boy Meets World” from 1998 to 2000.
(ABC Photograph Archives/Disney Common Leisure Content material by way of Getty Pictures)
“Sure, it was uncomfortable and odd, and I wasn’t certain why I wanted to be doing this,” she advised Fox Information Digital. “I assumed it was my job to behave and be an expert. Or no matter I assumed that was on the time. However it was very uncomfortable and made me really feel uncovered and gawked at. Even Michael commented that he was so embarrassed about this as a result of I’m a lot like a daughter to him [that it] felt bizarre. I by no means understood why we didn’t simply take footage of every little thing in wardrobe and select from there. Why did I’ve to placed on a present?”
“My confidence was low with my physique.” Ward stated. “I used to be younger, impressionable and thought that is what you do. It might by no means occur immediately as a result of someone would get known as out on it. And let me simply say, I’m in porn, and I’ve by no means needed to stroll right into a producer’s workplace or no matter and take a look at on the lingerie for a shoot.”
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An lawyer for Jacobs didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
Maitland Ward has written a memoir about discovering fame within the grownup movie trade.
(Atria Books)
Ward stated that she observed her character, who lived with roommates Eric Matthews (Will Friedle) and Jack Hunter (Matthew Lawrence), grew to become widespread amongst male audiences.
“I keep in mind one time some guys within the studio viewers would whistle at me,” she recalled. “I keep in mind considering, ‘Oh my God, they really see me as attractive.’ As a result of I didn’t discover myself attractive. I assumed I used to be pretending to be form of attractive for the present, you realize, with my little dances. However I nonetheless wasn’t assured in my physique. I keep in mind these 4 guys have been like, ‘Rachel, we love you. You’re so sizzling.’ I simply thought that was loopy to me.”
After “Boy Meets World,” she appeared in 2004’s “White Chicks.” However she finally discovered herself being typecast.
Maitland Ward stated she was uninterested in being pigeonholed in Hollywood.
(Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)
“I knew Hollywood wasn’t for me, however I saved wanting to hold on,” stated Ward. “I saved attempting to think about methods to reinvent myself. I’m not one to surrender simply. However my shallowness was down. You’re employed for being a sure method, for trying a sure method. However in the event you keep the identical, you lose success. The factor that makes you well-known is the factor that can forestall you from ever getting employed for the rest.”
“Hollywood is a machine that builds you up however then tears you down,” she continued. “I believe plenty of actors battle with that, particularly in the event you have been on a preferred prime-time present. It’s arduous to interrupt out of the stereotype. I had needed to take action many issues, performing clever. I needed to play extra dramatic roles, extra emotional roles, much more evil roles. I simply needed to play one thing completely different. And but I wasn’t even allowed to audition for it. I wasn’t seen as something completely different. And it grew to become disheartening.”
Ward stated she studied screenwriting at UCLA in hopes of forging a distinct profession path. However then she began posting pictures of herself both in “cute bikinis” or cosplay on social media. Her following instantly multiplied.
Maitland Ward is dressed as Poison Ivy from “Batman” at Comedian Con Revolution in Ontario, California, on Could 18, 2019.
(Albert L. Ortega/Getty Pictures)
“My pictures would typically get taken down as a result of they have been too attractive,” stated Ward. “Some followers reached out and stated, ‘Why don’t you promote content material?’ I didn’t know precisely what it meant till I discovered you’ll be able to promote your footage and do no matter you need with out restriction. I began a Patreon and in every week I had hundreds of subscribers… and I needed to discover my sexuality.”
‘BOY MEETS WORLD’ STAR-TURNED-PORN ACTRESS MAITLAND WARD PENNING TELL-ALL ABOUT LIFE AFTER DISNEY
Ward began making grownup movies after she married her husband, Terry Baxter, in 2006. She stated her partner has been “tremendous supportive.”
Maitland Ward is proven attending the 2020 Grownup Video Information Awards at The Joint inside Arduous Rock Resort and On line casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 25, 2020.
(Ethan Miller/Getty Pictures)
Ward insisted she isn’t fazed by any criticism for her resolution to pursue the grownup movie trade.
“I’ve extra fame, more cash and extra performing alternatives than I ever had,” she stated. “I get to create roles. I get prolonged, twisted dialogue. I get to write down scripts. I get to do all of the issues that I needed to do. I even have extra respect now for doing precisely what I need to do unapologetically. How will you disgrace somebody who just isn’t ashamed? And ladies strategy me on a regular basis saying that I’ve empowered them to really feel extra snug of their sexuality.”
As for her former “Boy Meets World” castmates, Ward stated she hasn’t acquired any detrimental suggestions.
From left: Matthew Lawrence, Maitland Ward and Will Friedle in “Boy Meets World.” Ward advised Fox Information Digital that Friedle, specifically, has been supportive of her grownup movie profession.
(ABC Photograph Archives/Disney Common Leisure Content material by way of Getty Pictures)
“Wilfred [Friedle] has been actually candy to me,” she stated. “He known as me and stated he was happy with me. He stated he won’t ever watch something that I do, however he helps me. I’ve been greatest buddies with Trina [McGee] for years, and he or she helps me. I simply don’t see how anybody can denounce me for being completely happy in life.”
Immediately, Ward stated she has by no means felt extra snug in her pores and skin.
“We’re simply folks making a residing to assist our lives and households,” she insisted. “And out of all locations, Hollywood shouldn’t be passing judgment.”
