Mackenzie Phillips reveals harsh reality of child stardom, says ‘I felt like a trained monkey’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Mackenzie Phillips has reflected on the harsh realities of being a child actor, saying she “had no idea who I was” when she began working in the entertainment industry at a young age.
Speaking on Valerie Bertinelli’s podcast, the 66-year-old actor said becoming a star at 12 affected her personal growth and left her struggling to understand her own worth.
Mackenzie Phillips opens up about child stardom struggles
Phillips said she did not understand the “truth” of her own worth and value as a child actor, describing those qualities as inherent and “not up for debate.” She explained that as a young performer, it was easy to believe what other people said about her instead of relying on what she knew about herself.
“I will tell you that I felt like a trained monkey,” Phillips said, comparing her experience to being directed to perform different skills for others.
She said she was always good at memorizing lines and had been a bookworm as a child, often spending time in her room reading books.
However, she said she eventually forgot “the truth of who I really am — or was.”
Phillips added that she probably had “a sign on my back that said, ‘Prey,’” referring to predators, and felt like she had a “beacon shining from my head.” Bertinelli also suggested that Phillips’ childhood innocence contributed to the situation.
Bertinelli said that innocence included a willingness to please people and “be anything and everything for anybody if they ask of you.” Phillips said being treated that way made her feel “bigger and older,” although she did not understand the negative impact it would have at the time.
Mackenzie Phillips recalls ‘American Graffiti’ role at 12
Phillips also recalled booking her breakout role in the 1973 film 'American Graffiti' when she was just 12.
She said she attended what she described as a “hippie school,” where she and friends formed a band called Class.
The group consisted of Chris, Laura, Adam and Scott, with Phillips noting that her first name is Laura. She explained that Chris’ father was the head of Asylum Records and described the young performers as “little nepo babies, before that even existed as a term.”
Because of their parents’ influence, the band secured a spot at an open mic night at the Troubadour. During the performance, casting director Fred Roos, who worked on films including 'The Godfather,' spotted Phillips.
Roos was casting 'American Graffiti' and asked whether she would like to audition for a movie. Phillips recalled being excited by the opportunity, while her mother pointed out that she was 12. Roos assured her mother that he understood.
Phillips ultimately landed the role, saying she apparently auditioned against 300 other girls. However, she said she does not remember much of the experience because of “trauma blocking” from that period of her life.
When the Blu-ray was released, she saw clips from her screen tests but did not remember filming them. She recalled seeing herself as “this little little girl with a braided leather bracelet,” describing that as how she got 'American Graffiti.'
