Wicked star Ariana Grande calls for 'protection' of child stars after finding fame on Nickelodeon as a teen
Oscar-nominated actress and singer Ariana Grande has called for “more protection” of child stars.
The 31-year-old pop singer shot to fame as a teenager when she took on the role of Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon sitcom Victorious in the late 2000s and while she “loved” that time so much, still needed “support” to get through it all.
“Being in this industry at all, as a child, as an adult, as anything is a balance of kind of survive and thrive,” she told the BBC World Service’s Arts Hour.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“There are so many beautiful things that come with being an actor and being a performer, and I remember falling in love with my character and that being such a gift to my life.
“Playing Cat Valentine was my very first experience getting absolutely lost in a character, I loved it so much.
“My best friend Liz Gillies had the same experience with Jade, her character (on Victorious). There were so many beautiful things that we learned.
“But I think being in this industry, you need that support.
“Every single thing about it is quite strange and is quite alien.
“Even just the experience of acting in and of itself, you’re not yourself. It’s a very strange thing.
“Just working like an adult as a child is an adjustment as well. Doing school in a little tiny room and having to take certain exams to graduate early so you can work adult hours sooner.
“These are all choices that we made but it definitely, I think, this industry should be a more protected place for kids, for adults, for anyone.”
The Wicked star - whose comments come after former Nickelodeon executive Dan Schenider faced allegations of creating a toxic work environment for child actors in the documentary Quiet On Set - admitted that she “worries” about those in the industry who lack “support” and wants to help create change in the future.
“I worry about those who don’t have that support and it’s something I hope we can be a part of positive part of that change together by talking about it,” she said.
