Six years ago, former Disney star Maitlandward immersed her toes in the world of porn, but she hasn't looked back since.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, the former Disney star discovered fame while starring as Rachel McKiel in the late season of her beloved '90s television show Boy Meets World', revealing about her transition from a child actress to an adult film star and to “empowerment.”
“I really think I have more respect for me now, especially now, even in Hollywood,” Ward said. “I pitch my memoirs into television format and talk to people. They're very respectful. They're very positive about my stories, especially the different people I talk about in Hollywood and so on. They're much more embracing the stories.
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Maitlandward says he has gained “more respect” among his peers since he first started porn. (Getty Images)
“I didn't come across anyone who hated me because of that or something,” she added her decision to pursue porn. “I had a lot of positivity. It shocked everyone I knew. Everyone thought people were just ripping me off, and I was judged by the side of the coal and tried to rawl it, but I became very aggressive.
Ward, who first starred as Jessica Forester in “The Bold and the Beautiful” from 1994 to 1996, made waves when she appeared on “Boy Meets World” in the late 90s.
“I was very well accepted, they were very kind to me,” Ward told Fox News Digital in 2022.
Maitlandward portrayed Rachel McKiel in the later season of “Boy Meets World.” (Getty Images)
Watch: The former Disney star claims that people will treat her with “more respect” after they start their porn career
However, since the show's rap, Ward has discovered that it has been successful in a less traditional industry: porn.
“I'm making full-length films, I'm doing things like creating projects that I feel really passionate about,” she said. “I work with an incredible female director, and I think people are always surprised that two women are creating these long erotic porn art pieces. I think it's really special.”
She said she found a wealth of confidence through her work in the adult film industry, who struggled with body image at a young age.
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“I wouldn't have been able to do it to get naked on my own and have confidence in my body and myself [before]”Ward admitted.” Porn really gave that empowerment, the things that allowed me to stand on my skin, create projects I want to create, create projects I'm proud of, oppose the mold, and really give me the courage and confidence that others aren't doing or are scared of. When you succeed with it, you feel so confident because you did something like no one else did. ”
Ward kicked off his career in porn in 2019. (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
“On a set of porn sets, I have been the most comfortable I've ever felt on the set, especially in intimate circumstances.
This is not the first time Ward has been opened about her career path.
Word, who published her memoirs, “Rating X: How Porn Freed Me From Hollywood” In 2022, she told Fox News Digital that she felt that porn really opened the door to feel her “real self.”
The adult movie star told Fox News Digital, “On the set of a porn set, I felt the most comfortable I've ever felt on the set.” (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
“I think it's a really powerful story for women and everyone,” Ward said at the time. “It's about living your truth and not hearing what everyone is telling you. For a long time, Hollywood has said to me that it's a certain way. The industry wanted to put me in a box. I wanted to do my thing. I wanted to be a real self. It just happens to be a little more scandalous.”
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While appearing on the Pod Meat World podcast recently, Ward, who took part in a fierce exchange with his former Boys' Meat World co-stars, said he was trying to focus on positive things and use the experience as a learning curve.
“When I was younger I was very uncomfortable. Did I look sexy enough? Did I get thin enough? She recalls. “And I feel so sad about her because I'm turning around and saying, 'Oh, God, these photos are so pretty.” And I looked terrible back then.
Ward recently found himself in a fierce interaction with his previous co-stars when he appeared on the “Pod Meets World” podcast. (ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images via Disney General Entertainment Content)
“I hope my younger self knew that she had the power in that power and that she could use it for her own interests and for her own institutions and truly stand in it,” she concluded. “But honestly, you have to go all the way down the road for it to really mean anything.”
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