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My Escape from Hollywood: Unapologetic, Unfiltered, and Unashamed
A celebrity memoir unlike any other, this is an empowering, sex-positive, behind-the-scenes look at both Hollywood and the porn industry. Perfect for fans of Pleasure Activism and How to Make Love Like a Porn Star.Maitland Ward got her start in acting as a teenager when she was cast in The Bold and the Beautiful, but it wasn’t until she joined the later seasons of the sitcom Boy Meets World that she got her first taste of fame. As the loveable co-ed Rachel McGuire, Ward soon found herself being typecast as the good girl next door and was repeatedly denied darker, more intriguing roles. So she made a career change—one that required her to turn away from the Disney universe—and eventually established herself as one of the most-respected actresses in the porn industry today. Now, Ward reveals the ups and downs of her fascinating career, including personal stories from her time on one of the most beloved shows of the 1990s, in this anything but a run-of-the-mill memoir. By showing Hollywood and triple-X stardom in a whole new light, she offers a fresh and stirring perspective on the sex industry and “champions the discovery of freedom in sexuality” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Ultimately a story of hope and triumph, this is a sharp and provocative look at a former Disney princess who found her fairy tale in porn.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2022
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January 5, 2023
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Ultimately, any discussions whether porn is liberating or exploitative is going to get lost in what honestly is a lot of strange logic fallacies by a very sheltered and shallow person in this author. There is a great message that sex is fine and women shouldn't be stigmatized by wanting to enjoy it or even flaunt it. But at the same time, there are so many odd (read: kinda dumb) conclusions that it was hard to like or even respect Maitland Ward. The book was rather boring in its simpleness and nothing useful is being said or discussed here.The first half of the book is about growing up in a religious family, getting a break on a soap opera (Bold and the Beautiful), getting a break in a Disney TV series (Boy Meets World), and getting a break in a movie (White Chicks). About 60% in, the author realizes she likes to be sexy and perform sexy acts for money in the internet (as well as Cosplay sexy characters), coincidentally after Hollywood stops calling and isn't interested in her any more. Then we get the behind the scenes of her OnlyFans sex acts and subsequent break into porn with a movie.
It's hard not to notice that most of Ward's 'breaks' have been due to someone taking an interest in her and grandfathering her into a soap, a movie, or a tv series. Even her introduction or porn was due to a producer/director deciding to use her following/fame to bring an audience to her newest movie. Because Ward was sheltered through so much of life, it is that much harder to take any of her very narrow minded conclusions seriously.
Examples of Ward's takes:
- All celebrity sex tapes are leaked on purpose by the celebrities themselves (for more fame). Ward says they have crocodile tears while they rake in the money (she specifically mentions Hilton and Kardashian).
- Porn is not exploitative and there is no sex trafficking. Porn stars are well adjusted and happy people who just enjoy sex and make it fun for everyone.
- Porn is not pirated and there is no underage porn because actors have to prove on tape by showing driver's licenses with their faces that they are of legal age. No one would dare to pirate porn when the actors have shown they are legitimate.
- White Chicks, Boy Meets World, and her porn movie Drive are all works of art that defined a generation or genre.
- Porn stars are artists and deserve the same awards as mainstream actors - it is people who are uptight about sex who keep them from getting respect.
It is a really easy thing to have a simple view on subjects when you do not have to struggle or go through the harder routes. Ward had a built in audience of lookie-loos from the TV series for her porn and so never came in through the seedy bottom. Instead, she was brought in by seasoned veterans for whom it was in their best interest to coddle her. Similarly with her start on Boy Meets World, she was handpicked by the series producer and never went the sidewalk pounding route that disenfranchises to many. Even getting into only sex acts came through the help of a photographer doing sexy cosplay with her.
Are the memoirs about Hollywood interesting? Not really, she operated more on a periphery and interacted with B-list actors. Is the porn section titillating? Not really: it is hard to read of someone actually thinking with Bambi-eyed innocence that the industry isn't exploitative.
It is an easy read and is mostly about Ward's love of sex and how frustrated she has been that she wasn't allowed to express it openly (e.g., people got upset when she dressed as Star Wars Slave Leia and stuck a jawa in inappropriate places for the photo shoot). Honestly, in the end, I kind of want those 2 hours back -I was bored through most of the book and it was hard not to roll my eyes at the naivete. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
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March 21, 2022
Like many millennials, I am familiar with Maitland Ward as part of a staple of my youth. These last few years I would come across comments in random places on the internet: “did you know Rachel from Boy Meets World does porn now?” and I’d pause for just a sec and then continue minding my own business.
Rated X is a foray into one young woman’s experience in Hollywood, first on a well-known soap and then eventually on the TGIF lineup. Once mainstream tv opportunities started drying up, Ward took it upon herself to celebrate her sexuality, basically not caring what anyone *cough Disney cough* thought of her or what she wanted to do with her body.
I liked that she called people out by name–it was reminiscent of Busy Phillips’s (really great) memoir where she just goes to town outing those who wronged her. However Ward does it in a way that doesn’t make her seem too angry (when she has every right to be!) and she does seem thankful for many of her experiences and connections she’s made.
Not gonna lie, my eyes glazed over some parts of it. I’m not a prude but wow. I don’t know much about the porn industry so it was all very interesting and intimate. There are important messages regarding body and sex positivity and the roles women are expected to play in their lives. Overall, I’m happy she’s found something that makes her happy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
Rated X is a foray into one young woman’s experience in Hollywood, first on a well-known soap and then eventually on the TGIF lineup. Once mainstream tv opportunities started drying up, Ward took it upon herself to celebrate her sexuality, basically not caring what anyone *cough Disney cough* thought of her or what she wanted to do with her body.
I liked that she called people out by name–it was reminiscent of Busy Phillips’s (really great) memoir where she just goes to town outing those who wronged her. However Ward does it in a way that doesn’t make her seem too angry (when she has every right to be!) and she does seem thankful for many of her experiences and connections she’s made.
Not gonna lie, my eyes glazed over some parts of it. I’m not a prude but wow. I don’t know much about the porn industry so it was all very interesting and intimate. There are important messages regarding body and sex positivity and the roles women are expected to play in their lives. Overall, I’m happy she’s found something that makes her happy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
July 4, 2022
A wonderfully entertaining read by Maitland Ward, relating her eventual disappointment with mainstream Hollywood. She switches to creating her own content and gets creative with cosplay, etc. She later goes into porn to continue her personal journey into exploring her sexuality, and really makes a splash. Fascinating crossover. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 12, 2022
I received an ARC from Netgalley/Publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When I came across this book I truly had no idea who she was until I read the description. If you are familiar with the show Boy Meets World, Maitland Ward played the character 'Rachel' in later seasons. As a fan of that show, and someone who tends to read books published by those who were in the porn business, I really wanted to read this book.
In the beginning she talks about her hopes and dreams of becoming an actress. Dreaming of "making it" as one typically does when moving out to LA. What I found most interesting about the book was us getting a good glimpse into her upbringing and how sex was viewed as well as how relationships were like for her early on. The norm for an autobiography. I felt that all of this was mostly short without details I would have enjoyed learning more about. If you are expecting a basic run down of a life this is not it. It quickly it starts to dive into her curiosity about sex and sexuality during her time on a soap that really sets the tone for the rest of the book.
While this is obviously a memoir about going from Hollywood to the adult film industry I did not really find it to be a compelling read. If the first two-three chapters aren't really your kind of vibe you will not want to bother finishing the book. It is clear that a lot of the detailed sexual encounters are more so for fans of her work in the adult film industry and not really for anyone who was curious about her overall life. Outside of being in the adult film industry...honestly...there would have never been a reason for Ward's book. Outside of a semi-decent stint on a soap, Boy Meet's World and an appearance in White Chicks (the only mainstream stuff I think anyone would know) there isn't much to speak on any of it. It seemed more like the Hollywood part was being disappointed for not getting roles as well as having some weird feelings with the 'Boy' producer, Michael Jacobs.
Overall, I would say that the message of not judging people in the industry she is now in I can stand by to an extent. I understand that sex work is something a lot of people are proud of. I can understand why there are memoirs out there about it, etc... This book just isn't what I would say is actually here to amplify the convo. It is definitely for the fans who are paying for online services or buying the adult products associated with her. As an everyday reader of all things I cannot give this book more than 1 - star.
When I came across this book I truly had no idea who she was until I read the description. If you are familiar with the show Boy Meets World, Maitland Ward played the character 'Rachel' in later seasons. As a fan of that show, and someone who tends to read books published by those who were in the porn business, I really wanted to read this book.
In the beginning she talks about her hopes and dreams of becoming an actress. Dreaming of "making it" as one typically does when moving out to LA. What I found most interesting about the book was us getting a good glimpse into her upbringing and how sex was viewed as well as how relationships were like for her early on. The norm for an autobiography. I felt that all of this was mostly short without details I would have enjoyed learning more about. If you are expecting a basic run down of a life this is not it. It quickly it starts to dive into her curiosity about sex and sexuality during her time on a soap that really sets the tone for the rest of the book.
While this is obviously a memoir about going from Hollywood to the adult film industry I did not really find it to be a compelling read. If the first two-three chapters aren't really your kind of vibe you will not want to bother finishing the book. It is clear that a lot of the detailed sexual encounters are more so for fans of her work in the adult film industry and not really for anyone who was curious about her overall life. Outside of being in the adult film industry...honestly...there would have never been a reason for Ward's book. Outside of a semi-decent stint on a soap, Boy Meet's World and an appearance in White Chicks (the only mainstream stuff I think anyone would know) there isn't much to speak on any of it. It seemed more like the Hollywood part was being disappointed for not getting roles as well as having some weird feelings with the 'Boy' producer, Michael Jacobs.
Overall, I would say that the message of not judging people in the industry she is now in I can stand by to an extent. I understand that sex work is something a lot of people are proud of. I can understand why there are memoirs out there about it, etc... This book just isn't what I would say is actually here to amplify the convo. It is definitely for the fans who are paying for online services or buying the adult products associated with her. As an everyday reader of all things I cannot give this book more than 1 - star.
February 3, 2023
This was a funny, entertaining memoir that gave insights into an industry I knew little about. I wasn’t that familiar with her previously but I heard her on a podcast and got interested in her story from there. I enjoyed this one!
August 16, 2022
Shocking, entertaining, and not for the faint hearted.
Her Hollywood career flagged after being typecast by a family-friendly role. After continued rejection and yet seemingly on the cusp of a career revival, she started wearing revealing dresses to press nights, tipping off the paps and revelling in the attention it brought, all against the advice of agents as her career started to go down a different path…
I enjoyed the way in which she wrote about being a teen girl growing up and becoming a young actress on a number one show. She writes about things most people would shy away and nothing seemed to get past her. I found reading about her life interesting and thought she created a colourful picture and I enjoyed her brutally honest insight on things.
She talks about her own personal take on feminist values and how it relates to nudity and sex work. It was an interesting perspective although I didn’t always agree with all that was said. Some parts felt contrived and hyper sexual as though playing up to fans or an audience who may read her book. Other parts felt a little self absorbed. However, there were moments of vulnerability and raw honesty underneath the armour of humour and shocking language. I found some of it absolutely hilarious, like spit your tea out, who has for the balls to write this type of stuff. It was pretty brave and outrageous.
Her Hollywood career flagged after being typecast by a family-friendly role. After continued rejection and yet seemingly on the cusp of a career revival, she started wearing revealing dresses to press nights, tipping off the paps and revelling in the attention it brought, all against the advice of agents as her career started to go down a different path…
I enjoyed the way in which she wrote about being a teen girl growing up and becoming a young actress on a number one show. She writes about things most people would shy away and nothing seemed to get past her. I found reading about her life interesting and thought she created a colourful picture and I enjoyed her brutally honest insight on things.
She talks about her own personal take on feminist values and how it relates to nudity and sex work. It was an interesting perspective although I didn’t always agree with all that was said. Some parts felt contrived and hyper sexual as though playing up to fans or an audience who may read her book. Other parts felt a little self absorbed. However, there were moments of vulnerability and raw honesty underneath the armour of humour and shocking language. I found some of it absolutely hilarious, like spit your tea out, who has for the balls to write this type of stuff. It was pretty brave and outrageous.
April 10, 2023
I thought this was refreshing compared to a lot of other celebrity books. Her inner monologue as she eventually moved toward porn was interesting and not a story you hear all that often. It made me interested to look into her other content as I found her writing style really playful and she has a great speaking voice.
October 20, 2022
Good for her
March 4, 2024
Unnecessary information about this woman’s sex life. I get it, the book is about her transition into the adult film world but are all of these details necessary? I only read about halfway through the book, my breaking point was when she went into descriptive detail about her experience with two of her costars that worked together on a Hollywood movie. This book doesn’t feel like a real memoir, it feels like a pornstar trying to give her perverted audience even more detail about how sexual she is. I enjoyed reading about her time on Boy Meets World as I loved that show growing up, it touched on her experience with over-sexualization of her character and herself with her co-workers. She also explains how she enjoyed having this attention, which seems a bit hypocritical seeing as how she was just complaining about it a page before. This book isn’t made to know more about her as a person, it’s meant for the audience to desire her as an object and draw attention to her newer work as an adult film actress. I didn’t read about how she became this sort of actress, nor do I care to. Overall, boring book with every page consisting of some sort of pointless sexual experience, a lot of it is detailed sexual experience from her as a child which is an uncomfortable read and I can’t see anyone enjoying reading these parts, besides her newer audience and followers who only know her for one thing.
Read
September 27, 20223.5 stars.
October 6, 2022
Early in her memoir Rated X, Maitland Ward relates a story about how her first boyfriend discovered a cache of Penthouse Letters and then read them to her over the phone. As the story of Ward's life and career unfolds, I couldn't help but think that this was her own take on a letter to the adult magazine.
Ward is either best known for her role in ABC's Boy Meets World or her racy photos that she's "reinvented" herself on social media.
A lot of the run time of Rated X is Ward patting herself on the back for being who she is and what she's become today. She is unashamed of the career path she's taken, nor is she necessarily worried about the bridges she has burned within the professional community. A common theme of later chapters, after Ward overhears an agent saying her career is pretty much over, is that she and her family are all proud of who and what she's become and that Hollywood can just get over it.
I don't mind that Ward feels empowered by her chosen path. I don't mind that she feels like she has to be her own champion and throws her success back in the face of everyone who ever doubted her. However, as the chapters slowly blur together the closer to the present we get, I kept waiting for something more substantial to emerge than Ward's observation of "Hey, look at me. I do porn and I'm fine."
It's similar to how I feel about DVD commentaries on recent shows or movies -- the participants haven't necessarily had the time and distance to really get a perspective on what they've done and its impact. I feel like Ward is so caught up in the justification of her current career and choices, that we don't have much deeper consideration of what those choices can and will mean to her.
In many ways, it felt like this was a "strike while the iron is hot" kiss-and-tell memoir, designed to keep Ward's name and face in front of the media. Indeed, upon its publication, I did see multiple articles that referenced some of the more salacious details and observances from Ward.
But, in the end, I couldn't help coming away from this one feeling like it was more of a bag of chips instead of a substantial meal in terms of reading/listening. Ward telling her own stories on the audio was both intriguing and disconcerting. In the end, it feels like the last few chapters are more designed to draw attention to Ward now and justify her choices, rather than being truly interesting or offering any new or interesting observations.
Read this one at your own risk. It's not for the easily offended.
Ward is either best known for her role in ABC's Boy Meets World or her racy photos that she's "reinvented" herself on social media.
A lot of the run time of Rated X is Ward patting herself on the back for being who she is and what she's become today. She is unashamed of the career path she's taken, nor is she necessarily worried about the bridges she has burned within the professional community. A common theme of later chapters, after Ward overhears an agent saying her career is pretty much over, is that she and her family are all proud of who and what she's become and that Hollywood can just get over it.
I don't mind that Ward feels empowered by her chosen path. I don't mind that she feels like she has to be her own champion and throws her success back in the face of everyone who ever doubted her. However, as the chapters slowly blur together the closer to the present we get, I kept waiting for something more substantial to emerge than Ward's observation of "Hey, look at me. I do porn and I'm fine."
It's similar to how I feel about DVD commentaries on recent shows or movies -- the participants haven't necessarily had the time and distance to really get a perspective on what they've done and its impact. I feel like Ward is so caught up in the justification of her current career and choices, that we don't have much deeper consideration of what those choices can and will mean to her.
In many ways, it felt like this was a "strike while the iron is hot" kiss-and-tell memoir, designed to keep Ward's name and face in front of the media. Indeed, upon its publication, I did see multiple articles that referenced some of the more salacious details and observances from Ward.
But, in the end, I couldn't help coming away from this one feeling like it was more of a bag of chips instead of a substantial meal in terms of reading/listening. Ward telling her own stories on the audio was both intriguing and disconcerting. In the end, it feels like the last few chapters are more designed to draw attention to Ward now and justify her choices, rather than being truly interesting or offering any new or interesting observations.
Read this one at your own risk. It's not for the easily offended.
November 17, 2022
This is a tough one for me to rate. I truly appreciate the honesty and vulnerability put forth by Ward in this memoir and I do think there's probably an important message about sex positivity in the book, but I feel like the message got bogged down in somewhat poor execution. This is a personal thing, but I really don't care for graphic sexual depictions in memoirs, and this one has that in spades. I continued on anyway, because I figured going into it that there would be some of that, although not to the extent that there was. Ward talks about writing erotic fiction and she definitely was showing off that facet of her work in this book, which personally, I didn't think was necessary. I understand that part of her "mission" per say was probably to normalize the porn industry, but I think the message could have been better served by toning it down a bit. Those interludes were often interspersed with other parts of her life with no real rhyme or reason, making the whole narrative feel very jumpy and like it didn't flow well. Also, while I truly appreciate that she doesn't tone down her pride in her work and life, it often feels a bit self-aggrandizing, while in other instances she seems oddly naïve about her chosen industry by refusing to acknowledge the problematic elements and issues with it. I think this book was okay at best and don't think I can honestly think of anyone I'd necessarily recommend it to, although it's worth giving a shot if you're intrigued by the synopsis.
January 1, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was a fan of Boy Meets Girl but wasn't that familiar with Maitland Ward, nor her subsequent career. Before I read the promotion for this book if you'd asked me where she was I'd have assumed she retired like many child stars did. This book was an interesting look not only at Ward's own path, but the broader intersection between Hollyweird and the adult film industry.
Quick, but in depth read. I'd definitely like to read more like this.
I was a fan of Boy Meets Girl but wasn't that familiar with Maitland Ward, nor her subsequent career. Before I read the promotion for this book if you'd asked me where she was I'd have assumed she retired like many child stars did. This book was an interesting look not only at Ward's own path, but the broader intersection between Hollyweird and the adult film industry.
Quick, but in depth read. I'd definitely like to read more like this.
August 31, 2022
This book was so good! I had no idea what Maitland was up to in the years since Boy Meets World, or that she was one of the sisters in White Chicks - without the red hair I didn't recognize her. She's had an incredible life and a great journey and I applaud her for living her life and voicing her truth and doing what she wants and standing up to the haters. She's awesome and this book was fantastic. 4.5 stars rounded up and I hope she writes more.
February 21, 2023
The intro is so interesting with her family's puritanical values, but the book quickly devolves into self-indulgent whining about how hard life in Hollywood was for her. As if there aren't thousands of other people that experience that same difficulty everyday...
July 9, 2022
Maitland's story was inspiring and unapologetic. I'm very interested in looking into more of her projects.
Read
October 31, 2022Good for Maitland for being empowered and confident! This was a great read.
September 6, 2023
Interesting bio about a sitcom artist turned porn star. Good to see read her story about moving from one to another.
May 16, 2024
It's funny and honest. It's also sad and eye-opening. But more than that it's hopeful and inspiring.
October 5, 2022
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5
There have been a few books and 'tell-alls' from people (specifically women) in the porn industry, but few, if any, come from someone who worked as a high-profile Hollywood actor prior to making the conscious decision to start working in porn. Maitland Ward was a teenager when she worked on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful and a young woman when she was cast in the role of 'The Girl Next Door' Rachel McGuire on the successful Boy Meets World series and in the film White Chicks.
But Maitland quickly ran into casting issues - as in, no one wanted to cast her in anything ... especially anything beyond the cute arm-candy girl - and she got frustrated with The Industry. She continued to interact with fans at conventions and found she really enjoyed doing cosplay. Her fans seemed to really like it as well, which is not surprising since she leaned toward the more exploitative cosplay (ie dressing as Slave Girl Leia from Star Wars). Each time she did this, which often got press attention, her manager would tell her that such action would make her untouchable in Hollywood. Not much of a threat if Hollywood isn't casting you anyway.
Ward developed her cosplay, creating an OnlyFans account (a website where people can load videos and photos and then fans can then subscribe [for a fee] to look at the videos and fees) and realized that she still had a lot of fans who would shell out good money to catch a glimpse of her. This led to some nudity (good money there). She often posed for cosplay photos with a friend who also did some porn and Maitland had a lot of questions about how this worked. She was then introduced to a porn producer who was wanting to make some 'serious' porn ... films with hardcore action but also with a story (and dialog) which would require actual acting abilities. Maitland Ward, with a built-in fan base and some real acting experience, was just what this producer was looking for.
The first third of the book details a lot of Maitland's upbringing (strict, repressed, religious) and her constant curiosity regarding sex, as well as the leering males she had to put up with for years (I'm not quite sure the purpose of all the information about a specific male actor from her The Bold and the Beautiful days).
What Ward doesn't note (perhaps because she's not aware of it?) is how much of her 'legit career' was pretty much handed to her. As an actor, she didn't suffer through hundreds of cattle calls just to be excited by a callback much less getting a role.
The second third of the book talks about her no longer getting cast and her interest in cosplay and developing her fan base through online sites like OnlyFans, which leads to her involvement in porn. And then the last third of the book is how she is changing the face of porn by bringing it some legitimacy with her acting and with the producer willing to spend money on actual sets and costumes and porn actors.
Ward does take a lot of credit for her presumed changing attitudes toward porn (I can't say if there's a change in attitudes or not). Her awards (porn has its own versions of the Oscars) for her performances give her some credence.
Ward is clearly excited by this new phase of her career and by her discovery that she can combine acting with sex - something she really likes (she also constantly tells us that her husband is very supportive of her new career), and I think it's great when anyone is excited by what they are doing. But I also think she has a bit of a Pollyanna attitude (a naked Pollyanna, of course) about the porn industry and her new profession. She may have gone a little too far to call her new porn films 'art,' but what is art is generally pretty subjective.
I believe it's true that the professionals in porn - specifically those in the porn film industry - are likely pretty good people (I've read other such books and I had a friend years ago who worked behind the scenes in porn), but she doesn't touch on the seedy side of porn which seems to have taken off with the ease of getting porn on the internet.
There are some parts of the book, very specifically some of the frank sex discussion, that I didn't need. I didn't need all the background (pun not intended) on the preparation for and then the act of anal sex. This was definitely a "TMI" moment.
Yes, I did go to watch some of Ward's porn and honestly, I didn't enjoy it. It was much too rough and aggressive for me and I wasn't expecting that. I didn't watch a whole film, just a scene, so maybe I selected the wrong one?
It will be interesting to follow Ward's career from here. Does she stay in porn? Does she get some 'legit' offers again now that she's getting a lot of attention? Does she shun porn at some point? Does she fade into obscurity?
Looking for a good book? Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me From Hollywood by Maitland Ward is a quick read biography of a young women many watched on the Disney channel who is now making porn films with the hope of bringing the 'legit' and porn industries together.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
There have been a few books and 'tell-alls' from people (specifically women) in the porn industry, but few, if any, come from someone who worked as a high-profile Hollywood actor prior to making the conscious decision to start working in porn. Maitland Ward was a teenager when she worked on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful and a young woman when she was cast in the role of 'The Girl Next Door' Rachel McGuire on the successful Boy Meets World series and in the film White Chicks.
But Maitland quickly ran into casting issues - as in, no one wanted to cast her in anything ... especially anything beyond the cute arm-candy girl - and she got frustrated with The Industry. She continued to interact with fans at conventions and found she really enjoyed doing cosplay. Her fans seemed to really like it as well, which is not surprising since she leaned toward the more exploitative cosplay (ie dressing as Slave Girl Leia from Star Wars). Each time she did this, which often got press attention, her manager would tell her that such action would make her untouchable in Hollywood. Not much of a threat if Hollywood isn't casting you anyway.
Ward developed her cosplay, creating an OnlyFans account (a website where people can load videos and photos and then fans can then subscribe [for a fee] to look at the videos and fees) and realized that she still had a lot of fans who would shell out good money to catch a glimpse of her. This led to some nudity (good money there). She often posed for cosplay photos with a friend who also did some porn and Maitland had a lot of questions about how this worked. She was then introduced to a porn producer who was wanting to make some 'serious' porn ... films with hardcore action but also with a story (and dialog) which would require actual acting abilities. Maitland Ward, with a built-in fan base and some real acting experience, was just what this producer was looking for.
The first third of the book details a lot of Maitland's upbringing (strict, repressed, religious) and her constant curiosity regarding sex, as well as the leering males she had to put up with for years (I'm not quite sure the purpose of all the information about a specific male actor from her The Bold and the Beautiful days).
What Ward doesn't note (perhaps because she's not aware of it?) is how much of her 'legit career' was pretty much handed to her. As an actor, she didn't suffer through hundreds of cattle calls just to be excited by a callback much less getting a role.
The second third of the book talks about her no longer getting cast and her interest in cosplay and developing her fan base through online sites like OnlyFans, which leads to her involvement in porn. And then the last third of the book is how she is changing the face of porn by bringing it some legitimacy with her acting and with the producer willing to spend money on actual sets and costumes and porn actors.
Ward does take a lot of credit for her presumed changing attitudes toward porn (I can't say if there's a change in attitudes or not). Her awards (porn has its own versions of the Oscars) for her performances give her some credence.
Ward is clearly excited by this new phase of her career and by her discovery that she can combine acting with sex - something she really likes (she also constantly tells us that her husband is very supportive of her new career), and I think it's great when anyone is excited by what they are doing. But I also think she has a bit of a Pollyanna attitude (a naked Pollyanna, of course) about the porn industry and her new profession. She may have gone a little too far to call her new porn films 'art,' but what is art is generally pretty subjective.
I believe it's true that the professionals in porn - specifically those in the porn film industry - are likely pretty good people (I've read other such books and I had a friend years ago who worked behind the scenes in porn), but she doesn't touch on the seedy side of porn which seems to have taken off with the ease of getting porn on the internet.
There are some parts of the book, very specifically some of the frank sex discussion, that I didn't need. I didn't need all the background (pun not intended) on the preparation for and then the act of anal sex. This was definitely a "TMI" moment.
Yes, I did go to watch some of Ward's porn and honestly, I didn't enjoy it. It was much too rough and aggressive for me and I wasn't expecting that. I didn't watch a whole film, just a scene, so maybe I selected the wrong one?
It will be interesting to follow Ward's career from here. Does she stay in porn? Does she get some 'legit' offers again now that she's getting a lot of attention? Does she shun porn at some point? Does she fade into obscurity?
Looking for a good book? Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me From Hollywood by Maitland Ward is a quick read biography of a young women many watched on the Disney channel who is now making porn films with the hope of bringing the 'legit' and porn industries together.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2023
I read this book right after finishing Elliot Page’s autobiography, “Pageboy,” and I found them to be surprisingly similar. Both are about Hollywood actresses chaffing under the constraints of their success who decide to throw caution to the wind, live authentically, and end up finding happiness and fulfillment. The only difference, really, is that Page did so by embracing his trans identity while Maitland Ward did so by *checks notes* getting gang-banged. I’m joking. I don’t want to be accused of slut-shaming or not being sex-positive. Seriously, though, “Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me From Hollywood” is a freewheeling, entertaining memoir about how a person’s true path sometimes doesn’t look anywhere close to what they expected. Ward gets a little self-righteous near the end when she talks about “breaking barriers” and “changing attitudes” - I mean, she didn’t cure cancer or anything - but, in general, “Rated X” is a spicy, silly good time. Not sure I’ll ever watch “Boy Meets World” reruns the same way, though.
December 7, 2022
Oh my gosh, this book is incredible! I grew up watching soap operas and Boy Meets World so this story was tailored made for me. Maitland's story is so captivating and wonderfully told that I couldn't stop reading! I read half the book in one sitting. It's just so good. More books need to be written about people who do sex work. Stories like this help to remove the stigma and shame that so many of us (particularly those of us who were raised as girls and raised in purity culture) have about sex and our bodies. I am so happy this book exists. Thank you Maitland.
May 19, 2022
I read Rated X because I saw that Rachel from Boy Meets World (a show I watched during my early and middle teen years) had gone on to become a porn star. “How in the hell did that happen?”, I thought to myself. It’s not every day you hear about a mainstream actress going in that direction, so I was curious what exactly happened there. After finishing the book, I now know exactly how and why it happened…in all the extremely graphic detail. And when I say “graphic”, I mean it. If you are at all put off by explicit descriptions of sexual acts, you should stay far, far away from this book, because you’re going to have a bad time here. Rated X starts out with Ward telling you about her stints on a soap opera (I’ve already forgotten which one), moving on to Boy Meets World and then the pinnacle of her mainstream movie career, which was a comedy that I never saw called “White Chicks”. After that, she moves on into the adult entertainment business.
Now, I don’t want to disparage what people in the porn business do, because they work just like the rest of us. Just because their business is kind of seedy doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value (and it has a ton of value because it’s a multibillion dollar industry). People look down on sex workers because of their trade, but you know…people are buying it and buying a lot, so I’m thinking there are a lot of hypocrites out there. However, I don’t know if I’d go as far as Maidland Ward does in calling porn “art”. Though to be fair, I suppose anything can be art so I guess it can be. I don’t see Anal Angels 37 being put up on a pedestal in a gallery anytime soon, though. I guess if she is proud of what she’s doing, then that’s cool and she has every right to her opinion.
I’m also not sure I agree with Ward’s constant insistence that porn is a glamourous and positive business. That may well have been her experience, but I don’t think it’s the experience of a lot of women who get into it. The big companies probably offer a lot of incentive but there are a lot of people out there that are not above-board and women do get trafficked, abused, raped, drugged, etc. While I support Ward’s love of doing what she does as well as any woman (or man) who wants to do that, I think it’s important not to glamourize it to the point that young naïve people may get themselves into a dangerous situation. That’s something that kept bothering me about this book is that Ward never acknowledges that there is any downside or to porn or even that there are people in the business that are less than concerned with women’s empowerment.
Overall, the book did have interesting bits. The most interesting to me was how Hollywood chews up and spits out young actors and actresses. Acting is a tough business and most people don’t ever make it. It was enlightening reading about her experience and how she overcame being one of the ones who didn’t “make it”. I’m glad Maitland found something that she really enjoys and that she has had a great experience following her exit from mainstream Hollywood. She seems to genuinely love what she does and that’s awesome. Rated X was sometimes funny, sometimes interesting, occasionally uncomfortable and often graphic but it was an experience that I’m glad I undertook. I’m not sure I really understand the appeal of a lot of the things she does, but to each his or her own. Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of the book. As always, it is much appreciated.
Now, I don’t want to disparage what people in the porn business do, because they work just like the rest of us. Just because their business is kind of seedy doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value (and it has a ton of value because it’s a multibillion dollar industry). People look down on sex workers because of their trade, but you know…people are buying it and buying a lot, so I’m thinking there are a lot of hypocrites out there. However, I don’t know if I’d go as far as Maidland Ward does in calling porn “art”. Though to be fair, I suppose anything can be art so I guess it can be. I don’t see Anal Angels 37 being put up on a pedestal in a gallery anytime soon, though. I guess if she is proud of what she’s doing, then that’s cool and she has every right to her opinion.
I’m also not sure I agree with Ward’s constant insistence that porn is a glamourous and positive business. That may well have been her experience, but I don’t think it’s the experience of a lot of women who get into it. The big companies probably offer a lot of incentive but there are a lot of people out there that are not above-board and women do get trafficked, abused, raped, drugged, etc. While I support Ward’s love of doing what she does as well as any woman (or man) who wants to do that, I think it’s important not to glamourize it to the point that young naïve people may get themselves into a dangerous situation. That’s something that kept bothering me about this book is that Ward never acknowledges that there is any downside or to porn or even that there are people in the business that are less than concerned with women’s empowerment.
Overall, the book did have interesting bits. The most interesting to me was how Hollywood chews up and spits out young actors and actresses. Acting is a tough business and most people don’t ever make it. It was enlightening reading about her experience and how she overcame being one of the ones who didn’t “make it”. I’m glad Maitland found something that she really enjoys and that she has had a great experience following her exit from mainstream Hollywood. She seems to genuinely love what she does and that’s awesome. Rated X was sometimes funny, sometimes interesting, occasionally uncomfortable and often graphic but it was an experience that I’m glad I undertook. I’m not sure I really understand the appeal of a lot of the things she does, but to each his or her own. Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of the book. As always, it is much appreciated.
May 27, 2023
"I think me doing porn really did make Jesus proud."
If that is the kind of statement you welcome then you'll enjoy this book from a former soap and family sitcom star who spends too much of the book defending her being addicted to sexuality while condemning most of society for "shaming" her.
I found the early parts of the book that dealt with her Hollywood years to be very entertaining and well written, but once she starts spewing anti-male hatred and promoting the most liberal of causes it was just another dumb porn star memoir justifying what most of us would consider abnormal unethical, and immoral.
Early in the book she mocks her childhood religious family and claims they made outlandish statements, such as if she has premarital sex not only will God not forgive her but "you'll have to be burned at the stake by the Beast because you'll never get up in the Rapture." This is either a total misrepresentation of her godly grandmother or it's Ward's attempt at bad humor.
She goes on as a teen to first have sex with a female friend and then a boy who she specifically asks to take her virginity. Soon she's interested in BDSM but a college Bible study friend tells her that if she does that God wouldn't love her anymore. Again, this sounds like a distortion of reality--I know of no Christian who would ever make any of the statements she claims others said to her in this book. It seems that she is attempting to deflect from her bad choices by painting religious people to be totally hateful.
She seems unqualified when she stumbles into roles on Bold and Beautiful and Boy Meets World. Obviously it was her looks and wild sexual attitude that helped her get the jobs but she turns that against the producers and writers for always wanting to sexualize her. So this girl that wants sex, oozes sex, and wants to be bold sexually is complaining that men are drawn to her sexually? Too much of the book is filled with contradictions and hypocrisies where Ward benefits from her open sexually but then slams those who think of her in a sexual way.
The Boy Meets World sections are the best, with plenty of insight into the show and the follow-up Girl Meets World. But there is less about White Chicks and a long time span when she just skips over what she was doing without any acting offers. She does give the names of some Hollywood types that she doesn't think highly of and spills about some hookups, including sex with Terry Crews.
She stumbled into porn and her husband supported her having sex with other men and women. He was the one who shot some of her first scenes. Ward claims to have found better scripts and co-workers in porn than in mainstream entertainment. Right.
In the porn sections there is often TMI, such as a whole chapter on her prepping to do an anal scene. Gross.
Sadly too much of the book is her constantly trying to use her "platform" to preach an "anything goes" leftist agenda. Never does she seem to have any concern about moral right and wrong or how her actions may negatively impact others in society. It's all about her personal happiness and satisfaction. She's not truly liberated as she claims on the book cover, she's just out of control and rebelling against her childhood morals despite still clearly acting like a child who wants all the attention by doing outrageous things without a conscience.
If that is the kind of statement you welcome then you'll enjoy this book from a former soap and family sitcom star who spends too much of the book defending her being addicted to sexuality while condemning most of society for "shaming" her.
I found the early parts of the book that dealt with her Hollywood years to be very entertaining and well written, but once she starts spewing anti-male hatred and promoting the most liberal of causes it was just another dumb porn star memoir justifying what most of us would consider abnormal unethical, and immoral.
Early in the book she mocks her childhood religious family and claims they made outlandish statements, such as if she has premarital sex not only will God not forgive her but "you'll have to be burned at the stake by the Beast because you'll never get up in the Rapture." This is either a total misrepresentation of her godly grandmother or it's Ward's attempt at bad humor.
She goes on as a teen to first have sex with a female friend and then a boy who she specifically asks to take her virginity. Soon she's interested in BDSM but a college Bible study friend tells her that if she does that God wouldn't love her anymore. Again, this sounds like a distortion of reality--I know of no Christian who would ever make any of the statements she claims others said to her in this book. It seems that she is attempting to deflect from her bad choices by painting religious people to be totally hateful.
She seems unqualified when she stumbles into roles on Bold and Beautiful and Boy Meets World. Obviously it was her looks and wild sexual attitude that helped her get the jobs but she turns that against the producers and writers for always wanting to sexualize her. So this girl that wants sex, oozes sex, and wants to be bold sexually is complaining that men are drawn to her sexually? Too much of the book is filled with contradictions and hypocrisies where Ward benefits from her open sexually but then slams those who think of her in a sexual way.
The Boy Meets World sections are the best, with plenty of insight into the show and the follow-up Girl Meets World. But there is less about White Chicks and a long time span when she just skips over what she was doing without any acting offers. She does give the names of some Hollywood types that she doesn't think highly of and spills about some hookups, including sex with Terry Crews.
She stumbled into porn and her husband supported her having sex with other men and women. He was the one who shot some of her first scenes. Ward claims to have found better scripts and co-workers in porn than in mainstream entertainment. Right.
In the porn sections there is often TMI, such as a whole chapter on her prepping to do an anal scene. Gross.
Sadly too much of the book is her constantly trying to use her "platform" to preach an "anything goes" leftist agenda. Never does she seem to have any concern about moral right and wrong or how her actions may negatively impact others in society. It's all about her personal happiness and satisfaction. She's not truly liberated as she claims on the book cover, she's just out of control and rebelling against her childhood morals despite still clearly acting like a child who wants all the attention by doing outrageous things without a conscience.
September 12, 2022
Rated X takes you through Maitland Ward’s journey from soap star, to sitcom star to a liberated porn star making her own path back into the sitcom realm. Maitland talks to you like a friend throughout the book with her humor shining through from start to finish. Her writing style is easy to follow and she doesn’t bore you with nonsense fluff to keep the narrative going. You’re on the journey with her as she discovers her sexual identity and it’s easy to cheer her on as she progresses from mainstream into the porn industry. I really enjoyed how authentic, raw and emotional she is in detailing her journey. She’s not afraid to name names and shine a light on how demeaning and one dimensional people can be.
The chapters surrounding her time on Boy Meets World really spotlight 90s sitcoms and how she was viewed as nothing more than dumb and pretty not just as a character but an actress as well. While that was typical of her and other actresses experiences during that time, it looks much uglier in today’s lense for the men behind those actions.
The book is obviously sex and body image positive and details her struggles and barriers getting to where she is today. She puts a positive light on her marriage which would seem unconventional to most but is founded on support and love. Maitland empowers women, and in describing her journey advises other women to trust their gut, push forward and create your own joy against mainstream standards. She has forged her own path to happiness even if it doesn’t look the same to others and it’s a great read.
Thank you to Atria Books for this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The chapters surrounding her time on Boy Meets World really spotlight 90s sitcoms and how she was viewed as nothing more than dumb and pretty not just as a character but an actress as well. While that was typical of her and other actresses experiences during that time, it looks much uglier in today’s lense for the men behind those actions.
The book is obviously sex and body image positive and details her struggles and barriers getting to where she is today. She puts a positive light on her marriage which would seem unconventional to most but is founded on support and love. Maitland empowers women, and in describing her journey advises other women to trust their gut, push forward and create your own joy against mainstream standards. She has forged her own path to happiness even if it doesn’t look the same to others and it’s a great read.
Thank you to Atria Books for this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2022
I would rate this book at 3 1/2 stars out of 5.
Maitland Ward you may be familiar with as a star on a program called Boy Meets World that was popular on network television. She was on this program in years 6 and 7 of the series where she played the character Racheal. What you may not know is she got her start in the soap opera world. This story told by herself starts out with her growing up in Long Beach and how she made it into Television. After what she claims to have been discarded by Hollywood, she made a transition that few if any have taken from mainstream acting into the adult entertainment world and being very successful at it. Along the way she openly discusses her sex life starting with her first-time having sex up to and including some of her performances on film. She discusses her relationships with both men and women and her living in the life of an open relationship if you will with what her husband supporting with. Her claim in this book is to be seen as a beacon for sexually empowered women and strive to change the view of those that work in the various forms of the industry and noting that not all are forced to be there some are definitely willing participants. If you had any doubts, there are definitely some graphics description of sex acts both on personal and professional level and the chapter on Anal play was an eye opener. There were times that this book seemed sophomoric at best and while not one to be religious myself and cannot seem agreeing with her statement that she thinks doing porn made Jesus proud. Give this read and see what you think.
Maitland Ward you may be familiar with as a star on a program called Boy Meets World that was popular on network television. She was on this program in years 6 and 7 of the series where she played the character Racheal. What you may not know is she got her start in the soap opera world. This story told by herself starts out with her growing up in Long Beach and how she made it into Television. After what she claims to have been discarded by Hollywood, she made a transition that few if any have taken from mainstream acting into the adult entertainment world and being very successful at it. Along the way she openly discusses her sex life starting with her first-time having sex up to and including some of her performances on film. She discusses her relationships with both men and women and her living in the life of an open relationship if you will with what her husband supporting with. Her claim in this book is to be seen as a beacon for sexually empowered women and strive to change the view of those that work in the various forms of the industry and noting that not all are forced to be there some are definitely willing participants. If you had any doubts, there are definitely some graphics description of sex acts both on personal and professional level and the chapter on Anal play was an eye opener. There were times that this book seemed sophomoric at best and while not one to be religious myself and cannot seem agreeing with her statement that she thinks doing porn made Jesus proud. Give this read and see what you think.
July 27, 2022
And for your next scintillating read give a gander to Maitland Ward’s new memoir #Rated X which is. For those of you not familiar with Ms.Ward, she’s an actress who was a member of the ensemble teen cast of the 90’s sitcom hit Boy Meets World which was produced by an entertainment conglomerate I’ll leave unnamed but in an earlier life was responsible for The Mickey Mouse Club. Let’s just say Boy Meets World was a far cry from Annette meets Cubby. After a seven year run the show is canceled and Maitland finds herself mired in Hollywood bull…. and without steady work. As the world turns one thing leads to another and she gradually morphs into an adult film star and her career takes off. By her account the people she works with in the porn industry to be more real than the ones she dealt with in the “legit” show biz. To borrow one of my favorite Franny And Zooey quotes' “ Give me an honest con man any day”. No doubt about it, #Rated X is outrageous and will offend some readers but for those of you who can handle graphic adult material you’ll find this riches to rags to riches saga the story of an aggressive woman who is very comfortable with her own sexuality. Four stars.
April 25, 2022
The journey Maitland Ward embarked upon I only vaguely remember unfolding in the media, and I think it's most people's thoughts to wonder how they came into the adult entertainment world and that it must mean they weren't a successful actor or got into drugs or a hard lifestyle. After reading Maitland's memoir, it's refreshing to hear in her own words, this simply wasn't the case! I like how honest and open she is about her experiences and feelings. I'm sure many Boy Meets World fans will want to read this book, and I like that she is again, very truthful in how she dealt with sexism towards her, and her relationships to the other actors. She doesn't bash them by any means, and seems like she has maintained good rapport with them. Sex positivity is what you will find in this book, and it's pretty graphic, so disclaimer for that. All in all, I think fans of Maitland, whether it's from Boy, her soap opera days, Comic-Con, and if you only know her from porn, will appreciate this point of view. I would recommend to anyone interesting in the adult services industries!
March 17, 2022
Review
(I will say I tried to post this exact review on #barnesandnoble and it was flagged for profanity)
I received an ARC of Ward’s Rated X and read it in a single afternoon. It’s a fabulous memoir about finding your true self in a world that often tells women we are wrong for enjoying our bodies and sex. Maitland obviously started out as a mainstream actress, but when the work dried up she took matters into her own hands and finally discovered her calling. Throwing a huge middle finger to Hollywood and all the naysayers, she has become a savvy businesswoman, desired actress in the porn industry, and a spokesperson for the rights of women in the field. Overall this was a five star read!
(I will say I tried to post this exact review on #barnesandnoble and it was flagged for profanity)
I received an ARC of Ward’s Rated X and read it in a single afternoon. It’s a fabulous memoir about finding your true self in a world that often tells women we are wrong for enjoying our bodies and sex. Maitland obviously started out as a mainstream actress, but when the work dried up she took matters into her own hands and finally discovered her calling. Throwing a huge middle finger to Hollywood and all the naysayers, she has become a savvy businesswoman, desired actress in the porn industry, and a spokesperson for the rights of women in the field. Overall this was a five star read!
June 29, 2022
If you have a vagina - You will love this book
If you've struggled with sexuality and intimacy - You will love this book
If you've ever wondered about the porn industry - You will love this book
If you're a fan of celebrity gossip - You will love this book
If you have a brain - You will love this book
Basically - I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone.
With phrases like "I didn't wear panties the night my life changed" - this book cements itself as a fun read. And then, with Ward's thoughtful takes on individual agency, sexuality, and intimacy, it also cements itself as a meaningful perspective on the possibility of female empowerment in the porn industry.
One million thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a fantastic read!
If you've struggled with sexuality and intimacy - You will love this book
If you've ever wondered about the porn industry - You will love this book
If you're a fan of celebrity gossip - You will love this book
If you have a brain - You will love this book
Basically - I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone.
With phrases like "I didn't wear panties the night my life changed" - this book cements itself as a fun read. And then, with Ward's thoughtful takes on individual agency, sexuality, and intimacy, it also cements itself as a meaningful perspective on the possibility of female empowerment in the porn industry.
One million thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a fantastic read!
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