Skip to main content

Olivia Rodrigo is one of the biggest stars at the moment. She found mainstream success earlier this year with hit songs such as “Drivers License,” “Deja Vu,” and “Good 4 U.”

Rodrigo is only 18 years old and is still in the process of growing up. Unlike many people her age, however, she is doing it in show business. Rodrigo recently shared a “really terrifying” thing about growing up in the entertainment industry.

Olivia Rodrigo wearing a ponytail in front of dark background
Olivia Rodrigo | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Olivia Rodrigo has been in the industry for several years

Rodrigo has been acting and singing since a young age. When she was in middle school, she and her family moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue a career in entertainment.

In 2015, Rodrigo starred in the direct-to-video film An American Girl: Grace Stirs Up Success

Then in 2016, she started playing Paige Olvera on the Disney Channel series Bizaardvark. This gave her some recognition among kids and teens.

She continued working with Disney when, in 2019, she landed the role of Nini Salazar-Roberts on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. She got to showcase more of her singing and songwriting skills on the show.

Rodrigo started releasing music under Interscope Records and Geffen Records in 2021. It didn’t take long before she topped charts worldwide and became an acclaimed artist.

Olivia Rodrigo opens up about 1 ‘really terrifying’ thing in the industry

There are a lot of benefits to being in the limelight as an entertainer. However, Rodrigo is also well aware of some significant downsides.

In a new interview with Teen Vogue, Rodrigo talked about growing up in front of the world. She noted that it is “really terrifying” to feel that one cannot make mistakes as a teen.

“That’s something I’ve always felt confused over [while] growing up,” she said. “When you’re in the industry, you’re sort of treated like a child but expected to act like an adult. That’s a really terrifying thought, to think that I’m not allowed to make any mistakes, because I think that’s how you grow as a person.”

She added, “I’m no different from any other 18-year-old out there. I’m definitely going to make a lot of mistakes in my life and in my career probably too. That’s just life.”

Olivia Rodrigo said she had an ‘identity crisis’

Related

Olivia Rodrigo Demanded Her Producer Not Watch ‘High School Musical’ — She ‘Wanted to Be Taken Seriously’

In an interview with Elle in April 2021, Rodrigo shared that the entertainment industry expects kids to know who they are. This caused an “identity crisis” for her during an age when she was still just exploring who she could be.

The outlet shared that she asked herself questions such as, “Who the f*** am I? Who cares about me? How do I treat people?”

Rodrigo also added, “Most 14-year-olds aren’t in a room with adults being like, ‘So, what’s your brand?’”

Rodrigo is now establishing an identity as a singer/songwriter. She has touched people all over the world with her raw, honest lyrics about life and love, and it seems Rodrigo will continue doing just this.