Melissa Gilbert Opened Up About The Pressures Of Living In Hollywood

On September 11, 2024, the beloved hit show “Little House On The Prairie” will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The TV show ran for nine seasons from 1974 to 1983 on NBC and introduced us to Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder. The memorable role launched Gilbert into instant fame at a very young age.

Gilbert was only 9 when she took on the role of Laura Ingalls in “Little House,” but had been working in Hollywood since she was 2 years old. When asked by PEOPLE about being a child star she said, “I had an incredible time growing up.” Gilbert’s problems with Hollywood started when she got older. She admitted:

“All of the pressures, I faced all of them, when you live in Los Angeles, it’s like living at the mall when you work at the mall. Literally, everyone is in the business. When you walk into a restaurant, every head turns to see who walked in. Everybody’s always looking, curious, competing and that’s a really difficult thing, especially for a female actor. It puts a lot of pressure on staying thin and staying young and really it makes it hard to feel comfortable in one’s own skin, because [of] the aging process.”

Gilbert faced issues embracing her aging as she got older due to the highly competitive and pressure filled environment of Los Angeles.

RELATED: “Little House On The Prairie” Cast Discusses Possibility Of A Reboot

Where Is Melissa Gilbert Now?

Following Gilbert’s Los Angeles exodus she married fellow actor Timothy Busfield in 2013. The couple bought a cottage in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York in 2018.

Gilbert shared a sweet tribute to her love on their 11-year anniversary saying:

“Eleven years ago today. I am the luckiest girl in the world. @timbusfield I love you ♾️! #infinity #anniversary #luckygirl #lovemyhusband”

 

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RELATED: Melissa Gilbert Reveals There Was 1 “Mean” ‘Little House’ Cast Member

Gilbert continues to push back on insecurities by founding a company called Modern Prairie that proudly identifies as a “brand created by and for modern, mature women.” The brand sells crafting kits, home decor, mature stylish clothing, and even includes a blog so their followers can stay connected to Gilbert.

The “Little House” actor declared her vision for the company on her website:

“As we age, it can feel like a struggle to be seen and heard which can result in feeling isolated, or as though we don’t belong. At Modern Prairie, we want to elevate our community and amplify your voices by creating a space where women can share their stories, ask questions and learn from each other.”

Melissa Gilbert opened up further about her issues with aging and her body image on the TODAY Show, watch the full interview below!