Former Disney star Maitland Ward claims adult film career has prompted 'more respect' from people

A former Disney star has opened up about her career in the adult film industry and why she feels like 'people treat her with more respect' now 'even in Hollywood'.

Maitland Ward - real name Ashley Maitland Welkos - rose to fame for her role as Rachel McGuire on Disney ABC sitcom Boy Meets World.

However, she retired from mainstream acting shortly after and ended up moving into the world of adult film instead which she says she 'got a lot of positivity' from.

In 2022, Ward revealed she earned 10 times as much money than she did during her time in Hollywood, saying: "Don't get me wrong. I was paid well in Hollywood, but nothing near what I am making now."

She claimed she 'never thought about content to make money', saying, 'I was just showing myself and showing who I am', and explaining that she wanted to have 'total control over what comes in and what goes out' when it comes to her career and brand.

Despite many being worried people 'were just going to rip' Ward 'apart', judge' and 'rake [her] across the coals' for moving into the world of adult film, the actor told Fox News Digital she 'got so much positivity' from her decision to change the direction of her career.

She reflected: "I didn’t get anybody coming out hating me for it or anything. I really got a lot of positivity overall, which shocked everyone I knew. [...] I think it’s because I was so positive about it, and I was so happy about it."

So positive has the response been that Ward 'really think[s] people treat [her] with more respect now'.

"Especially in Hollywood," she added, before revealing the response she's received to some upcoming plans.

Maitland Ward starred in Boy Meets World (ABC)

She explained she's pitching her memoir in TV format and people have been 'so respectful' to her ideas.

"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. And I really feel like I have a lot of positivity around it," Ward said.

Echoing comments she's made in previous years, she added: "I’m able to create my own brand, my own content, the way I want to create it."

That's not to say Ward didn't have 'a great time', on Boy Meets World, with the actor noting how 'very well received' she was on the show in a previous interview with Fox News Digital in 2022.

However, now, she's able to create 'full-length movies' and do projects she 'really feel[s] passionate about'.

Ward now has a career in the adult film industry (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Working with a female director on 'long erotic, pornographic art pieces' has been 'really special', alongside finding 'confidence in [her] body' from being 'naked', and her on-set experiences always seeing 'a lot of conversation' to ensure everyone is 'the most comfortable' they can be - Ward's experience in the adult film industry has been one of 'empowerment'.

She resolved: "To be able to stand in my own skin, to be able to create projects that I want to create and be proud of, to go against the mold and do something that other people haven’t done or have been too scared to do and to have the courage and confidence to do that. When you succeed at it, it’s like you feel so much more confident, because you’ve done something like nobody else has done."