Actress and singer Hilary Duff, a former Disney Channel youth star, has spoken about the exhaustion she experienced while portraying her iconic character Lizzie McGuire. In a recent interview with Paper magazine, Duff revealed that by the time filming for "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" began in 2003, she was already feeling overwhelmed by the role that had catapulted her to fame.
The Disney television series "Lizzie McGuire" debuted in January 2001 and ran for two seasons, comprising a total of 65 episodes. The show concluded with a film in 2003, bringing the fictional storyline to a close. The cast included notable actors such as Lalaine, Adam Lamberg, Jake Thomas, Hallie Todd, and Robert Carradine.
During the filming of Lizzie, Hilary Duff expressed a sense of exhaustion with the character, having completed 30 episodes in one year and 35 the following year. Her rapid rise to fame, with everyone referring to her as Lizzie, contributed to her growing frustration. This sentiment intensified when she traveled to Italy to film a movie, leading her to feel a desire for people to view her beyond the Lizzie persona, and for the experience to be enjoyable once again.
During that time, the performer was focused on establishing herself as an artist beyond her character. She had become exhausted from the demands of her role and sought to differentiate her identity from the character. As a result, she considered abandoning a particular song that was closely associated with her character, feeling it no longer belonged to her. However, she has since come to reclaim the song as her own.
The film features the song "What Dreams Are Made Of," which Duff re-recorded for his 2026 EP "(Mine)" and performed live for the first time during his "Small Rooms, Big Nerves" tour in the current year.
Duff's connection to her signature character has evolved significantly over time. Her current perspective on the character is more positive, allowing her to appreciate the significance it holds for both herself and her audience.
The artist fondly reminisces about that period, expressing a deep desire to relive it. Despite the chaos that surrounded her, she is grateful for the enduring connection she has made with her audience over the years. However, upon reflection, she acknowledges feeling disconnected from her own life at the time, as if she was still finding her place in the world.
Duff's "(Mine)" EP features seven reimagined versions of his most popular songs, initially released as bonus tracks on the vinyl editions of his album "Luck... or Something".
