Bella Thorne Discusses Child Stardom and Mental Health

Bella Thorne, who gained fame as a child star, faced unique challenges in Hollywood. While she was expected to portray a child on screen, off screen, the industry demanded maturity. Thorne began her entertainment career as a model and eventually transitioned to television, with her breakthrough role appearing in Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up” alongside Zendaya.

During a conversation on “Call Her Daddy,” Thorne described the conflicting expectations of working long hours with adults despite being a child. She mentioned that when mistakes occurred, the responsibility felt like an adult’s, not a child’s.

“You’re … spending all of your hours a day on set with adults,” Thorne shared, highlighting the pressure she faced.

Reflecting on her journey, Thorne admitted that growing up under public scrutiny was not easy. “I don’t know that I ever handled it or balanced it out correctly,” she said to host Alexandra Cooper. Thorne revealed a lack of mental clarity during her early career but later took steps to address it.

Recently, Thorne emphasized prioritizing her mental health. After her work on “Color Your Hurt,” she realized the need to allow herself time to breathe and enjoy life. She noted that adulthood brought a newfound freedom, where personal choices were truly her own.

Turning 18 marked a significant change for Thorne. She recalled feeling “free” and realizing how different life was compared to before.

“I’m free,” Thorne reminisced. “Like I’m literally free. Like I’m walking into this house and no one’s asking me when I’m gonna be there.”

Thorne also addressed comparisons to other Disney stars such as Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato, which began when she was just 12 years old. She reflected on the pressure of potentially being labeled as Disney’s next “bad girl,” a concept she struggled to understand at that age.

Over the years, Thorne successfully transitioned away from her Disney persona, taking on a variety of film and television roles. She has also expanded her career to include more work behind the camera. In 2026, she is set to write, direct, and star in “Spring Breakers 2,” marking another milestone in her evolving career.