In the 90s, Danielle Fishel was on television screens across the country. As “Boy Meets World” skyrocketed in popularity, so did her star power.
After “Boy Meets World” ended in 2000, Danielle went on to accept a handful of smaller roles. However, she slowly began to fade from the spotlight.
Decades later, the actress is bravely speaking up about the body shaming she experienced on the set of the teen comedy.
Danielle Fishel Admits Feeling Insecure About Her Body
Over the past few years, Danielle Fishel and some of her other “Boy Meets World” castmates have found a resurgence of success with their podcast, “Pod Meets World.” During the course of the podcast, Danielle has opened up about many issues she faced as the female lead, including body insecurities.
“My body was a problem,” Danielle bravely told Us Weekly in a new interview, noting her anxieties grew worse during the final seasons. “Those episodes are hard to watch.”
In the interview, the actress detailed specific instances. She revealed that her character was often given long-sleeved outfits to wear, including prom and wedding episodes.
“I feel some cognitive dissonance because I’m aware that what my eyes are seeing doesn’t match up with the way I feel watching. It just doesn’t feel good…” Danielle admitted. “The season 7 episodes are tainted with the feeling of incredible insecurity and fear of being on camera, which was hard for me to shake and probably why I didn’t really want to go forward with a career on camera.”
The 44-year-old confessed she would be kinder to herself if she could do it all over again. Today, Danielle Fishel uses her own experience to make film sets a safer environment for children and teens.
“I had incredible directors that I got to rely on and trust while I was on ‘Boy Meets World,’ that made me feel safe, that encouraged me to get in touch with my creative side and have agency over the choices I made,” the “Dancing With the Stars” alum continued. “I want kids to know that sets, especially when I am there, are safe spaces, and my door is always open. They can come talk to me if something doesn’t feel right.”
The Actress Speaks Kindly of Her ‘DWTS’ Co-Stars
Danielle Fishel and her dance partner Pasha Pashkov didn’t win “Dancing With the Stars” last season. But even so, the actress walked away with many new friends and a newfound sense of confidence.
In a recent interview, she gushed about her season 34 castmates, especially champion Robert Irwin.
“Robert and I have a very special friendship. We’ve been in communication many times since the end of the season,” Danielle told Parade. “He and his mother so generously invited me and my whole family to come and visit them at the Australia Zoo. We’re now in the process of trying to find a time to make that trip happen.”
“Dancing With the Stars” will likely come back to ABC this September.
