Maitland Ward, a former actress on the teen sitcom Boy Meets World who transitioned into the adult entertainment industry, says she has no regrets about leaving mainstream Hollywood. In a recent interview, she revealed that her career in pornography has been far more lucrative than her previous work.
From Sitcom Star to Adult Film Icon
Ward, now 49, joined the cast of Boy Meets World in 1998, playing Rachel McGuire until the series ended in 2000. She also appeared in the film White Chicks and the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. In 2019, she abandoned her mainstream career to enter the porn industry, where she has built a massive following.
Speaking on HBO Max's documentary series Hollywood Demons, Ward explained that the change allowed her to take ownership of her life and earn significantly more money. "On Boy Meets World, I think I made $20,000 or $25,000 an episode," she said. "In porn or OnlyFans, I can get six figures a month. There is also my adult film sales and I am creating this brand. I can make it go for as long as I want it to go."
The Dark Side of Hollywood
In a separate interview with Fox News, Ward described being put into "provocative" positions as a minor on set and feeling like a product of a "twisted male gaze." She reflected on the exploitative nature of the entertainment industry, stating, "I can't speak to how Hollywood is today because it's such a different animal than it was back when I was getting into it. Back then, I think they looked at these young actors as like property coming in."
Ward added that studios aimed to mold young actors into what they needed for the company and the audience. "You were just a product being sold, and you knew that yourself," she said. "I mean, I didn't think anything was wrong at the time with anything that was going on really. I mean it felt ill at ease in my own body and all my feelings and stuff, but I thought that was just me being stupid. I have to be professional. I have to be part of that Hollywood machine. And that's really what it was."
Ward's story highlights the stark contrast between the glamour of Hollywood and the realities faced by many young performers, as well as the financial and personal empowerment she found in the adult film industry.
