Actress Bella Thorne has opened up about the pressures of growing up as a child star in Hollywood, saying the industry expected her to remain a child on screen while behaving like an adult in every other respect. Thorne, who began her career as a child model before moving into television with roles including HBO's "Big Love", says this contradiction shaped much of her early experience in the entertainment industry. Her comments add to a growing number of former child stars speaking publicly about the difficulties of navigating fame at a young age.

Thorne has previously spoken about her bond with fellow former Disney star Zendaya and the way she was often cast or compared as a "bad girl" during her Disney Channel years. The remarks form part of a wider conversation among former young performers, several of whom have recently discussed the toll early fame took on their mental health and personal development.