Former Disney actress Maitland Ward, whose real name is Ashley Maitland Welkos, recently discussed her evolving career in the entertainment industry during an interview with Fox News. Acknowledging a shift in how she is perceived, Ward stated that she now garners more respect as an adult film actress. This transformation is highlighted in the report dated March 15, 2025.
Background on Maitland Ward
Ward is best known for her role as Rachel McGuire on the beloved sitcom Boy Meets World and her portrayal of Jessica Forrester in CBS’s long-running soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful. Throughout her earlier career, she appeared in films such as Killing Mr. Griffin, Dish Dogs, and White Chicks.
According to InTouch Weekly, Ward entered the adult film industry in 2019, marking a significant career pivot.
Maitland Ward’s Newfound Respect in Hollywood
In her recent conversation with Fox News, Ward shared her experience of pitching her 2022 memoir, Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood, for television adaptation. She noted an increase in respect from individuals in the entertainment sector compared to her earlier days. As she articulated:
“I really think people treat me with more respect now, honestly, especially even in Hollywood right now. I’m pitching my memoir into a TV format and talking with people. They’re so respectful, and they’re so positive about my story, especially younger people and different people that I speak to in Hollywood and stuff. They’re just much more receptive to the story.”
Ward expressed her satisfaction with her work in the adult film scene, describing her content as “art pieces.”She highlighted that people are often surprised to learn that she collaborates with a female director. She emphasized:
“I’m creating full-length movies. I’m doing things like making projects that I really feel passionate about. I work with a female director, who has been amazing. And I think people are always surprised by that, that two women are creating these long erotic, p*rnographic art pieces. And I think that’s really special.”
The Disney Experience: Challenges and Constraints
Reflecting on her time at Disney, Ward revealed in a 2022 interview with Yahoo Lifestyle that the environment was significantly restrictive. She claimed that producers closely monitored the attire and behavior of young actors. Notably, she mentioned Michael Jacobs, a producer, who was insistent that she maintain a “good girl”image. Ward recounted:
“If I ever wore anything like that, or did anything suggestive like that in real life, Disney and producers and Hollywood would’ve come down on me. Especially the producer, Michael Jacobs, he was very adamant about me being chaste and the good girl. It was just very confusing. It hindered my sexual exploration and finding out who I was for a very long time.”
Additionally, she discussed inappropriate behaviors she experienced on set, where people commented on her appearance in objectifying ways. Ward noted:
“I was always looked at, in my view, as the more provocative one — people were fascinated by my long legs, and that I’m so tall and I have fiery red hair, and it was like it almost made that OK. People would come up and like pat you on the a*s or like give you a little pinch or say, ‘Oh, look how hot you are. Look at your t*ts.’
Ward’s memoir, Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood, was published by Atria Books in 2022, providing further insights into her journey and the challenges she faced as a young actress in Hollywood.