Tue Jan 28 04:50:00 IST 2025: ## Ariana Grande Reflects on Challenging Hollywood Childhood During ‘Victorious’ Years
**LOS ANGELES –** Ariana Grande has opened up about the challenges of navigating the Hollywood industry as a child star. Speaking to the BBC World Service’s Arts Hour, the singer and actress, known for her role as Cat Valentine in Nickelodeon’s *Victorious*, described her early experiences as “strange and alien.”
Grande shared that while she loved playing Cat Valentine and cherished the close bond she formed with co-star Elizabeth Gillies, the overall experience was demanding. She highlighted the difficulties of balancing intense work schedules with schooling, including accelerating her education to work adult hours earlier.
“Even just the experience of acting in and of itself, you’re not yourself,” she explained, emphasizing the unusual nature of the work and the adjustments required to function as an adult while still a child.
Grande expressed concern for young actors who lack the support system she had, advocating for a more protective environment within the industry. She believes open discussion is crucial to creating positive change for child and adult performers alike.
First Piper 