A slew of former Disney Channel actors, truth TV favorites and other Hollywood stars who debuted on screen as children are expected to talk about their reporting to stardom in a Hulu documentary airing next month that will also serve as Demi Lovato’s movie. directorial debut.
“Child Star” premieres on the streaming service on Sept. 17 and features interviews with many of the other people whose breakthroughs came before they reached double-digit ages, and the effects of early fame on their careers, progression and later life.
Famed romantic comedy actress Drew Barrymore, who played her lead role in “E. T. ” at age 7 and she said she was partying in Hollywood at age 10, she will tell her story, which is similar to those told through Lovato and Christina Ricci, who will also participate in the documentary.
Others are expected to be interviewed, including former Nickelodeon star Kenan Thompson, “Dance Moms” JoJo Siwa and former Disney Channel actresses Raven-Symoné and Alyson Stoner, the latter of whom said the industry was designed to “watch young people’s lives tragically implode. “. »
Lovato, who was also at Disney before pursuing a solo music career explained by stints in rehab and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, told The Hollywood Reporter that she “didn’t realize that being a child can be traumatic. “
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“It’s not a talk, but it’s pretty straightforward,” said Nicola March, co-director of “Child Star. “
Lovato opened up to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday in an in-depth interview, explaining what to expect from the upcoming documentary and how it differs from other recent projects on similar topics, adding that it doesn’t rely on reports with a company or express person. . .
A number of former child stars over the last decade have decided to speak up about the trauma of their early experiences with fame, and several documentaries and docuseries have been made on the topic. The show “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” went viral earlier this year for its multi-part exposéon the culture fostered under former Nickelodeon producer Dan Schneider. The show, which has five episodes, featured actors Drake Bell (“Drake & Josh”), Alexa Nikolas (“Zoey 101”) and others talking about a work environment on set that allegedly included pornographic imagery, sexual abuse and harassment. Schneider later sued the show’s networks and producers for defamation, calling the show a “hit job.” The suit remains in litigation. A 2020 documentary called “Showbiz Kids” featured interviews with Cameron Boyce, Todd Bridges and Jada Pinkett Smith. Stoner, who has largely backed away from her work in Hollywood, has been open about the impact child stardom had on her life, attributing it to eating disorders, depression and anxiety, and several years ago penned an essay called “The Toddler to Trainwreck Industrial Complex.” Barrymore has used her talk show, “The Drew Barrymore Show,” to sporadically share looks into her own past and former Disney star Christy Carlson Romano has spoken up about her experience and advocates for mental health care on sets that include children.
Lovato, now 31, made her debut in “Barney”
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