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‘Boy Meets World’ star Maitland Ward opens up about her journey from Hollywood to the adult film industry

The 45-year-old actress, after becoming quite famous for her sitcom, made a breakthrough in the adult film industry.

Maitland opened up her journey in her memoir “Rated X: How P*rn Liberated Me from Hollywood”, which got published on September 6, 2022. The memoir is titled,

“Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood.”

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Maitland Ward shared, “It’s about living your truth and not listening to what everyone is telling you to do. For so long, Hollywood was telling me that I could only be a certain way. The industry wanted to keep me in some box. I reached a point where I just wanted to do my own thing. I’m now my authentic self. There are always going to be people who will try to pigeonhole you, especially as a woman. For me to break out has been so liberating. I think that’s true for anyone in any industry. My story just happens to be a little more scandalous.”

“I was received very well, they were very nice to me.” She added “It was an odd thing to walk into a set that had been such a well-oiled machine and where they had grown up on the show. Everyone was established and knew how to work with each other, was coming in for the college years, and I was nervous about that. But I was accepted… and I had a great time on the show.”

Maitland Ward says Hollywood made her uncomfortable

In chapter 6 of her memoir, the actress allegedly shares that she was asked to try on lingerie in the office “more than once” by producers which were “primarily men.” In addition, the actress clarified she was never sexually assaulted but was extremely “uncomfortable” during her years as an actress.

She shared, “Yes, it was uncomfortable and odd, and I wasn’t sure why I needed to be doing this. I thought it was my job to behave and be a professional. Or whatever I thought that was at the time. But it was very uncomfortable and made me feel exposed and gawked at. Even Michael commented that he was so embarrassed about this because I’m so much like a daughter to him felt weird. I never understood why we didn’t just take pictures of everything in the wardrobe and choose from there. Why did I have to put on a show?”

“My confidence was low with my body,” Ward explained. “I was young, impressionable, and thought this is what you do. It would never happen today because somebody would get called out on it. And let me just say, I’m in porn, and I’ve never had to walk into a producer’s office or whatever and try on the lingerie for a shoot.”

She continued, “I knew Hollywood wasn’t for me, but I kept wanting to hang on,” said Ward.”Kept trying to think of ways to reinvent myself. I’m not one to give up easily. But my self-esteem was down. You’re hired for being a certain way, for looking a certain way. But if you stay the same, you lose success. The thing that makes you famous is the thing that will prevent you from ever getting hired for anything else.”

Hollywood is a machine that builds you up but then tears you down, says Ward

“I think a lot of actors struggle with that, especially if you were on a popular prime-time show. It’s hard to break out of the stereotype. Had wanted to do so many things, acting-wise. Wanted to play more dramatic roles, more emotional roles, and even more evil roles. Just wanted to play something different. And yet I wasn’t even allowed to audition for it. I wasn’t seen as anything different. And it became disheartening.”

It was after Maitland Ward married Terry Baxter, in 2006, that she started her career in the adult film industry. She claims her husband has been “super supportive.”

When asked about the criticism she receives, the actress shared,

“I have more fame, more money, and more acting opportunities than I ever had,” she added, “I get to create roles. I get lengthy, twisted dialogue. I get to write scripts. I get to do all the things that I wanted to do. I even have more respect now for doing exactly what I want to do unapologetically. How can you shame someone who is not ashamed? And women approach me all the time saying that I’ve empowered them to feel more comfortable in their sexuality.”

Boy Meets World cast supports her decision

She also added she has never received any negative feedback from the “Boy Meets World” cast. “Wilfred has been really sweet to me. He called me and said he was proud of me. He said he will never watch anything that I do, but he supports me. I’ve been best friends with Trina for years, and she supports me. I just don’t see how anyone can denounce me for being happy in life.” she shared

Ward shares that she is more herself than ever and said, “We are just people making a living to support our lives and families and out of all places, Hollywood shouldn’t be passing judgment.”

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