Actress Lindsay Lohan has candidly reflected on her turbulent rise to stardom, revealing that early fame left her feeling unprotected and overwhelmed, despite massive success in Hollywood.
In a new interview with Vogue Arabia, the 39-year-old star revisited her early career following the release of Mean Girls, admitting she often felt vulnerable as a teenage actress navigating life in Los Angeles. Lohan said she now believes she should have listened to her parents and moved back to New York City instead of attempting to build a life in Hollywood at such a young age.
“While a lot of it was fun, it was hard when I was young. It was a double-edged sword,” she shared. “Now I look back and wonder, ‘Why didn’t anyone just take me out of there and protect me more?’ You don’t know how to do that yourself when you’re a teenager.”
Lohan, best known for films like Freaky Friday, has since built a new chapter of her life in Dubai, where she lives with her husband and young child. She explained that her decision to relocate was intentional — to put as much distance as possible between herself and Hollywood.
“I wasn’t finding roles I loved. It’s not a life I wanted to live. It’s not a real life,” she said. “It pushed me so far away that I moved to the other side of the world. And I’m so glad I followed my gut.”
Her reflections echo recent comments by fellow former child star Hilary Duff, who also spoke about the emotional challenges of growing up in the spotlight. Duff, famed for her role in Lizzie McGuire, revealed that she and Lohan eventually ended their long-running feud by meeting at a bar, taking shots, and talking things through as adults.
Both stars now emphasize healing, perspective, and personal growth after navigating the pressures of early fame.