Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 3
Dylan Sprouse Calls Child Acting Child Labor at 34, Citing Lasting Mental Hurdles
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 3

Dylan Sprouse Calls Child Acting Child Labor at 34, Citing Lasting Mental Hurdles

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 3

Summary

  • On his "Wildmen" podcast, Dylan Sprouse said child acting is "child labor," arguing TV work for kids functions like a full-time job with office-like hours.
  • Sprouse said the experience still shapes him at 34, describing "mental hurdles" about staying in an industry he entered as a child and a self-esteem tie to being on set.
  • Speaking with former "Ugly Betty" child star Mark Indelicato, he said he grew up with a workaholic mindset and felt a "void" whenever a project ended.
  • Sprouse and twin brother Cole began acting as infants, shared roles in "Big Daddy" and "Grace Under Fire," and became stars on Disney's "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody."

Insights

How does the glamorous world of child stardom secretly mask the harsh realities of regulated child labor?
Are current legal protections truly enough to save child actors from the hidden emotional trauma of early fame?
What happens to a child star's identity when the cameras stop rolling and the applause finally fades away?