Bella Thorne has spoken out about the unique pressures she faced growing up in Hollywood, describing a dynamic where she was expected to act like a child on screen but handle adult responsibilities off-camera.
Thorne, who began her career as a child model before gaining widespread recognition as CeCe Jones in the Disney Channel series "Shake It Up," shared her experiences on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast. She explained that spending long hours on set with adults and being exposed to adult conversations created a complex environment for a developing child.
"You're ... spending all of your hours a day on set with adults, you know, that is – it's like such a different, the brain's like how do I– And I'm expected to be this child, but I'm also working like hours like an adult and being in adult conversations," Thorne said. "And when I f--k up it's my bad, not like a child – It's my bad. Like you're an adult, it's your bad."
She reflected on the public scrutiny of her life and expressed uncertainty about whether she ever managed these pressures effectively. Thorne noted that she has spent the last two years focusing on her mental health, a shift that became particularly important after a draining experience working on "Color Your Hurt." She emphasized the need to give herself space and grace, something she felt she didn't do as a child.
The actress recalled a significant shift when she turned 18, describing a feeling of liberation. "I was like, 'I'm free,'" she said. "Like I'm literally free. Like I'm walking into this house and no one's asking me when I'm like, when I'm gonna be there, when this time or when I'm gonna leave. It ... was such a weird – and you don't know what's weird until someone else tells you it's weird."
Thorne also touched on the comparisons made between her and other prominent Disney Channel stars of her era, such as Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato. She recalled being asked at age 12 or 13 if she would become the next "bad girl" of Disney, a question that was difficult to process at such a young age.
"I remember when I was 12, people asking me if I was gonna be – comparing us all, all the Disney girls and with Miley and Selena and this new era – and asking which was gonna be the next bad girl," Thorne claimed. "And, 'Are you gonna be like Lindsay Lohan?' And like all these things at 12, 13 – you're just, your brain is like trying so hard."
Beyond her acting career, Thorne has also moved into directing and writing. In August 2026, she was slated to write, direct, and star in "Spring Breakers 2," following her feature directorial debut.