An ex-Disney star who is now working as an adult film actress has opened up about a clause that had to be added into her contract.
Maitland Ward, 48, the former Boy Meets World star, transitioned into the adult entertainment world in 2019 and has revealed what working in the industry is really like, shedding light on the lesser-known clauses written into her contracts, and challenging widespread misconceptions.
Many people imagine the porn world as a cesspool of sleazy men, chaotic orgies, and women being pressured into uncomfortable situations. But Ward says her own experience couldn’t be more different.
Ward, who began her adult film career in 2019 and was named XBIZ Porn Performer of the Year in 2022, addressed these stereotypes in the wake of the 2021 movie Pleasure.
The film, directed by Swedish feminist Ninja Thyberg, dramatizes the darker side of porn, telling the story of Bella Cherry (played by Sofia Kappel), a young woman who grapples with anxiety and coercion before filming her first scene.
In the movie, male crew members are portrayed as predatory and unprofessional, ogling the performers and making them feel uneasy. Ward, however, says the reality she’s seen on set is the polar opposite.
The actress insists most people behind the camera are simply doing their jobs and are hardly titillated by what they’re filming.
“Most of the guys are so bored with it, they’ve seen it all a million times,” she told The Sun. “They’re probably thinking about lunch or picking the kids up from school. Honestly, nobody is staring at you drooling. There aren’t creepy guys jerking off in the corner, it’s a professional environment. We enjoy it, but ultimately, it’s work.”
Ward began her acting career in the 90s on The Bold and the Beautiful, but it was her role on Boy Meets World from 1998 to 2000 that made her a familiar face.
Later, she says she was dismissed by Hollywood as being “too old to be sexy,” which motivated her to pivot to adult films.
Despite what people assume, Ward insists she’s never once been pressured to do anything she didn’t fully consent to.
“I have never, ever in a million years been pressured to do something I didn’t want to do by any male director or performer,” she said. “On the sets I work on, if you say no, filming stops immediately, no questions asked.”
She explained that modern porn contracts are designed to protect performers and ensure that every detail is agreed upon beforehand. “People think a porn set is some wild, nonstop orgy, but it’s actually more structured than you’d believe,” she continued. “Every sexual position is negotiated in advance and put in writing. You sign a document confirming exactly what you consent to do on camera.”
Performers must also certify that they aren’t under the influence of any substances or pressure from anyone else. “Even those so-called celebrity sex tapes, if you see them being sold in a store with a cover and everything, you better believe they signed off on it,” she noted.
Ward also emphasized the physical demands of the job, saying performers often need breaks, hydration, and stamina to keep going. “Believe me, it’s hard work. If you’re doing a 45-minute acrobatic scene with two guys, it’s exhausting,” she said. “It’s like a choreographed dance routine, like ice skaters performing for an audience.”
Off camera, Ward is married to Terry Baxter, a real estate agent who fully supports her career. She also revealed that contrary to the public’s assumptions, she isn’t constantly sleeping with an endless parade of men.
“My girlfriends tease me, saying, ‘Oh my God, you must be having sex with all these different guys every day.’ But let me tell you, there are maybe 15 top male performers in the business, and you end up working with the same ones over and over,” she explained. “There really isn’t that much variety.”