In real life, I wasn’t sure what to say. My brain would freeze or words would get caught in my mouth. When I was acting, I always knew what lines were coming next and was ready with a witty response. When I was me, I was cautious, afraid to do anything dangerous or wrong, but in character, I could do or say wild things because I was following the script’s direction. If I leaned in for a kiss, it was because I knew it would be reciprocated.
In real life, I was by no means the most popular girl in school but I played one on TV, stalking high school hallways followed by my minions. I didn’t have a boyfriend but I got to stand on Juliet’s balcony, calling for my Romeo, and have him appear and stare at me adoringly.
Happy the writer of this piece found being a child actor a happy experience but that's not the case for the majority of kids toiling in the film industry. Jennette McCurdy's book 'I'm Glad My Mom Died' and HBO's Showbiz Kids reveal why.