Former child star Dylan Sprouse slams early acting career as ‘child labour’

Disney star Dylan Sprouse has likened his early acting days as “child labour.”

Sprouse, 34, starred in The Suite Life of Zac and Cody with his twin brother, Cole, on Disney Channel from 2005 to 2008, as well as the series spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck from 2008 to 2011.

“Some kids used to work in coal mines and guard the mine cart door when they were 15, we just sang and danced. It’s still child labour,” Sprouse said on his Wildmen podcast.

“I’ve described this to people a lot before, when you’re working on television, it’s a day job. You go in, you clock in, you clock out, you have a cubicle, you work, obviously, you’re on a stage, and it’s different, but it’s the same hours. You work it like that.”

He confessed that his self-esteem became tied to his work, even at a young age, which led to him feeling a “void” every time he would wrap up filming a project.

“I still have my own mental hurdles as an adult acting now in the same industry I’ve been in forever,” he said.

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Actor Mark Indelicato, who joined Sprouse and host the podcast, and agreed with Sprouse that your self-worth does become tied to work, adding it’s a concept many would not understand.

Indelicato also rose to fame at a young age, starring in Ugly Better when he was 12.

“We have to grapple with the reality of our lived experience, as does everyone, but I think what makes it a little bit different is that most people do not have our lived experience,” Indelicato said.

“So we have to keep each other close as a means of being able to lament to people who understand.”

Sprouse added he was lucky to have his brother, Cole, to go through the highs and lows with.

Both twins have continued to act in their adulthood, with Cole best known for his role as Jughead in Riverdale. Dylan has starred in several projects, including romance movie Beautiful Disaster.

Dylan married Victoria’s Secret model Barbara Palvin in 2023. The couple are expecting their first child together.

He has said in previous podcast appearances that he wouldn’t stop his child from acting if they wanted to do so.