Former “Boy Meets World” star Maitland Ward shocked the world when she mentioned goodbye to the squeaky-clean world of Disney and hi there to porn. Her resolution to ditch mainstream Hollywood for raunchy, X-rated content material stemmed partly from restricted alternatives resulting from typecasting — an issue she’s all too conversant in, having performed beloved redhead Rachel McGuire and, as a teen, Jessica Forrester on CBS cleaning soap “The Daring and the Lovely” — in addition to her personal sexual awakening, realizing she will be able to categorical her personal wishes and nonetheless be a revered entertainer. A champion of intercourse positivity, Ward, 45, says her transition into grownup movie work has lastly given her difficult appearing roles she’s at all times craved and granted her recognition — her pornographic debut landed her an Grownup Video Information award (usually known as the Oscars of grownup leisure) and assist from followers who admire her for residing her fact. In her new guide, “RATED X” (Atria Books, a Division of Simon & Schuster, out Sept. 6), Ward calls out the double requirements positioned on younger ladies in Hollywood, usually barred from being “too attractive” however nonetheless preyed upon by the male-dominated business. Right here, Ward writes of 1 such insidious behind-closed-doors encounter when she mentioned she was compelled to strip down for “Boy Meets World” present bosses, lengthy earlier than she realized the facility of getting bare on her personal phrases. — Nadine DeNinno
I used to be requested to strive on lingerie for [“Boy Meets World”] producers within the workplace. This occurred greater than as soon as, as Rachel was the one character to persistently take off her garments. An assistant would collect me from my dressing room and take me upstairs the place I’d be supplied with a collection of choices, some playful and girlish, some so provocative I knew that Disney would by no means approve them, however nonetheless I'd strive them on. I’d strip down behind a curtain so skinny I’m positive they might see the silhouette of my bare type. As I modified, I may hear the group of them — principally males — making small discuss and laughing as an viewers would earlier than a present. Once I stepped out, I used to be directed to face within the heart whereas they’d make their judgments on whether or not it confirmed an excessive amount of or not practically sufficient to get the boys excited.
“You’re like a daughter to me,” Michael [Jacobs, the show’s creator] mentioned, shaking his head, with amusing of embarrassment.
After which I’d be directed to strive on one thing else.
Maitland Ward, Danielle Fishel and Trina McGee starred within the collection, which ran from 1993 to 2000.
Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage, Rider Sturdy, Matthew Lawrence, Will Friedle and Maitland Ward in a Season 7 episode.
Ward performed Rachel McGuire, Jack and Eric's new roommate firstly of season 6.
Maitland Ward and Will Friedle on set.
Rider Sturdy, Ben Savage, Trina McGee, Danielle Fishel, Matthew Lawrence, Maitland Ward.
Ward, far left, says that though she's been handled higher in porn than within the TV business, she nonetheless loves her former "Boy Meets World" co-stars.
Matthew Lawrence and Maitland Ward of their "Boy Meets World" days.
Maitland Ward on "Boy Meets World."
Michael particularly picked out the famed purple quantity for the episode the place Rachel danced round washing dishes to show Cory [Ben Savage] and Shawn [Rider Strong], in addition to their girlfriends, a lesson. “It’s not an excessive amount of however simply sufficient; these guys will go loopy,” he mentioned. Throughout the last season, Rachel moved in with the ladies after separating from Jack [Matthew Lawrence]. They mentioned it might develop my storylines, however actually it simply felt prefer it allowed for an additional set of boys to ogle me.
When it got here to Rachel, the writers portrayed Cory and Shawn like f – – kboys. They had been these nice guys to the ladies they beloved, however when Rachel got here round, they obtained sexually overcharged, which appeared to morph into one thing dismissive and edged with hostility. When Rachel didn’t carry out the best way they favored or anticipated, they obtained offended. Not like Eric [Will Friedle] and Jack, who tripped throughout themselves to earn Rachel’s affections, these two thought it might be enjoyable to sneak round whereas she was within the bathe and rummage by way of her diary pages and panties. When she caught them, clad solely in a towel, she was furious, demanding they respect her privateness. They wrote her off as being delicate and never any enjoyable, and even their girlfriends agreed with them. Rachel determined that the best way to show these boys a lesson was to get right down to her undergarments, as a result of how else may you educate males to not invade your privateness aside from dancing round in some model of your underwear? After all, dancing round by yourself on this approach wouldn't be acceptable; it might imply you had been morally questionable. This turned Rachel’s mode of operation: in the event you can’t nag them to dying, hypnotize them whereas half-naked into doing what you need.
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Ward made her small-screen debut on CBS' long-running "The Daring and the Lovely."
Maitland Ward performed Jessica Forrester alongside Dylan Neal's character, Dylan Shaw.
Ward in 1999.
Actress Maitland Ward attends the twenty fourth Annual American Cinematheque Award Honoring Clint Eastwood on February 29, 1996.
Maitland Ward on "The Daring and the Lovely" within the '90s.
Actress Maitland Ward attends the ABC Summer time TCA Press Tour on July 16, 1998 at Ritz-Carlton Lodge in Pasadena, California.
Ward in 1999.
Maitland Ward attends the movie premiere of "White Chicks" in 2004.
I can’t say I didn’t like the eye. The viewers hooted and whistled after I got here onstage and began to bop. There was one thing exhilarating about eyeballs mounted on my scantily clad body, although I wasn’t all that snug with my physique but. The diploma of my nudity wasn’t the issue I had with the entire thing. The truth is, if they'd come to me and requested my ideas on the matter, I'd have had a number of enjoyable with it. What bothered me was that I may by no means get previous the sensation that the writers had been having enjoyable at my expense and devaluing me — like I used to be a punch line to a joke I'd by no means be aware about.
Carrying no garments by yourself phrases is loads completely different from being bare for another person.
Actress Maitland Ward accepts the award for Finest Supporting Actress through the 2020 Grownup Video Information Awards.
Maitland Ward in 2022.
Maitland Ward in 2022.
Maitland Ward in 2022.
Within the subsequent decade, she spent her time assembly followers of the beloved Disney collection at cosplay occasions and Comedian-Cons.
Ward says cosplay permits her to get artistic with sexed-up costumes to specific her internal passions.
“Can’t we discover out extra about Rachel and who she is?” I requested Michael as we rehearsed for Cory and Topanga’s [Danielle Fishel] wedding ceremony. Whereas the yr prior there appeared like there was some plan for her, this season she appeared like a prop — a failed experiment however one that also supplied thrills.
“Rachel is nice. Everybody loves her,” he mentioned. I knew this couldn’t be true. She had solely three character traits: nag, tease or full ditz. And she or he appeared to navigate all three with none actual rhyme or cause.
“I've just a few concepts,” I mentioned, although not loudly sufficient to stop him speaking over me.
“We’ll get to it,” he mentioned.
Maitland Ward and grownup movie director/actress Kayden Kross, who wrote and directed "Drive."
Maitland Ward in 2022.
“It's best to play dumb extra.” This got here from Jerry Levine throughout rehearsal. Jerry turned identified taking part in Stiles from ‘Teen Wolf’ and was additionally one among our administrators and Michael’s longtime pal. “You’re extra likable that approach; typically you come off as loads.” And the best way he mentioned it, I felt like he was taking a private shot.
I didn’t have the nerve to talk up. I simply obtained quiet and began to query myself. Was I asking an excessive amount of for Rachel to have extra worth? Was I inflicting waves as a result of I didn’t simply learn my traces and shut my mouth? I danced for them with out grievance, and even after I was chilly and felt fats, I smiled as I stood there in that room and tried on all these outfits. Wasn’t all that sufficient? Was I being punished?
I wore a crop prime one week, and Michael known as me apart. “What are you doing?” he requested me as he pointed to my naked stomach. It wasn’t an particularly attractive prime. It had Oompa Loompas on it. Will and I had simply laughed about that, and he teased he wished to borrow it.
Maitland Ward
Maitland Ward, of "Boy Meets World" fame, is pleased with her pivot to porn.
“I simply thought it was cute,” I mentioned.
“Placed on a sweater for rehearsal. You don’t need everybody pondering you’re determined.”
I didn’t really feel determined, and I definitely wasn’t attempting to painting something like that.
“You've got expertise. It's best to take your self critically,” he mentioned. I didn’t perceive how exhibiting my stomach button had something to do with the depth of my expertise or character, or why it was okay to indicate myself like this on the present however not alone time.
I placed on the sweater.
Copyright © 2022 by Maitland Ward. From RATED X by Maitland Ward. Reprinted by permission of Atria Books, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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