'Skins' Child Star Realizes She Was Abused After Reading Jennette McCurdy's Memoir

The actress thanked the author in an Instagram comment.

Former actor Jenette McCurdy's memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, was undoubtedly one of, if not the, most talked about books of 2022.

The iCarly star detailed her childhood as a Nickelodeon actress, in which she claimed her mother had taught her disordered eating, subjected her and her siblings to dangerous living conditions, and emotionally abused her, all while guilting her into acting—something she didn't enjoy doing.

As the new author celebrates the book's successful year—including 20 weeks on the New York Times' best sellers' list—readers have flooded her comments with their appreciation for her vulnerability and honesty.

Many thanked her for putting words to feelings that they hadn't been able to describe themselves.

"Finished your book yesterday. Thank you so much for it. You put into words all those tiny details that us who grew up with emotional enmeshment know all too well. Like pretending to like the ice cream... Thank you, it is an important read ✨," one said.

"I just finished it yesterday and it is SO deserved. I could go into detail about how much I saw my family and upbringing in your book but I see from the comments you've heard it before. I just want to say thank you for sharing. Realizing in adulthood that my mom was neglectful and abusive when I grew up thinking I had the "cool mom" was so difficult and it helps to know I'm not alone," wrote another. 

Those sentiments were shared by Kaya Scodelario, another former child actress originally of Skins fame.

As reported by Paper, Scodelario wrote underneath one of McCurdy's recent Instagram posts: "Jennette you don't know me but I just wanted to say thank you so much for putting into words something I've never been able to. Thanks to you (and an amazing therapist) I now see that I had an abusive mother and was screwed by the industry. Your book made me laugh and cry in a way I've need to so badly for years. Thank you. I'm sure writing it was triggering and stressful but I hope you are aware of how many people you have helped."

The actress starred on the controversial British teen drama at just 14 years old, where cast members were subjected to traumatic experiences on set—especially when it came to the graphic sex scenes they were made to film. Scodelario has previously opened up about the show as a "deep-rooted cause" of issues she still faces today, but has not elaborated further on her relationship with her mother.

Still, it's not every day someone blows the lid off the industry. The more people that speak up, the sooner things will change.