Hilary Duff reveals she was ‘f***ing done’ with Lizzie McGuire after show ended

The singer says she struggled to establish her identity beyond the Disney character after becoming a household name

Hilary Duff has opened up about feeling exhausted by her Lizzie McGuire fame after the hit Disney Channel series ended, admitting she once wanted nothing to do with the character or its most famous song.

In an interview with Paper magazine, Duff reflected on filming The Lizzie McGuire Movie, which followed the television series and featured the memorable track “What Dreams Are Made Of”.

The singer said the demanding production schedule had taken a toll on her. She filmed 30 episodes during one year and another 35 the following year, while her growing popularity meant audiences increasingly identified her exclusively with Lizzie.

“I was pretty done with Lizzie at that time,” Duff said, explaining that she wanted people to recognise her as an individual rather than constantly associate her with the Disney character.

The experience also affected her relationship with “What Dreams Are Made Of”. Duff recalled reaching a point when she felt she would never perform the song again, partly because she did not own it and wanted to move beyond her television persona.

However, her perspective has changed over time. Duff recently re-recorded the track for her *(Mine)* EP and performed it live for the first time during her Small Rooms, Big Nerves Tour.

She said singing it now feels different because she can appreciate what the song means to fans while also embracing it as part of her own musical history.

Duff also admitted that looking back, she would welcome the opportunity to revisit parts of that period. Although she remains grateful that audiences connected with the show and film, she said she was not fully comfortable with the experience at the time.

Lizzie McGuire premiered in January 2001 and ran for two seasons, ending in 2004 after 65 episodes. The film helped cement the character’s lasting place in pop culture.