Entertainment
iCarly star Jennette McCurdy opens up about ‘hellish’ acting career as she reflects on ‘pointless’ roles after retiring
Former Nickelodeon star Jennette McCurdy has once again shared details about why she chose to quit acting as she described her career as ‘hellish’.
The iCarly star spoke candidly about her struggles at the height of her fame as she discussed her time as a childhood actress on the March 10 episode of her podcast, Empty Inside.
The 28-year-old – who will not be taking part in the iCarly revival with former co-star Miranda Cosgrove – explained: ‘I was a famous 19-year-old and making a bunch of money, and I felt like I had everything at my fingertips.
‘But I was deeply unhappy, and I actually really resented my life because I didn’t like the projects that I was a part of.’
The Sam & Cat actress – which also starred Ariana Grande – stated that she realized her shows were an important part of many people’s childhoods but that didn’t make the process more enjoyable.
She continued: ‘It’s a difficult thing to say because the shows that I was on were so loved by so many people and so many kids, and I hear constantly, “You made my childhood.”
‘And I think that’s great that they had that experience. But that just was not my experience, and I felt a lot of shame—that I wasn’t able to identify at the time—because I didn’t like waltzing onto an over-lit, cheesy set and shouting a line. It felt so pointless and shallow.’
Jennette played Sam Puckett on iCarly for six seasons before she reprised the role on Sam & Cat, spending over seven years working on Nickelodeon.
The actress was best known for as Sam Puckett on iCarly, which signed off in 2012 after six seasons, and she later reprised the role on Sam & Cat opposite Ariana Grande.
Jennette explained she felt ‘very different from the character that I was playing’ and it left her feeling unsure about her own identity off-screen.
She continued: ‘To be known globally for this thing that’s not really me, it was just like, What the f–k am I doing?
‘How do I even find myself when I’m 19, and I’ve been famous for all the years that I would normally be stumbling through finding myself, yet I’m known as a thing that I’m not.’
The former actress added: ‘It just was—”hellish,” I think, is not too intense of a word.’
Jennette stated that leaving the acting business has been the best decision she could make as the podcaster stating: ‘I’m living a life that’s in accordance with who I am, and that feels a million times better.’
Years before, the actress also opened up about battling an eating disorder during her character as a child actress.
Got A Showbiz Story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Kris Jenner breaks down in tears as she prepares to say goodbye to Keeping Up With The Kardashians
