Hilary Duff Drops Bombshell: 'F---ing Done' with Lizzie McGuire Era!

Hilary Duff has recently opened up about her complex feelings regarding her iconic role as Lizzie McGuire, particularly her sentiments of being “done” with the character following the conclusion of the 2003 “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.” The film served as the cinematic capstone to the beloved two-season Disney Channel series that catapulted Duff to stardom.

Reflecting on the intense production schedule, Duff shared in a recent interview with Paper magazine that she had filmed 30 episodes in one year and 35 the next, leading to her rapid ascent into a “huge star” where everyone began calling her Lizzie. This overwhelming experience culminated during the filming of the movie in Italy, where she recalls feeling, “I’m fucking done with you.” At that point, her primary desire was for people to perceive her as Hilary Duff, separate from the character, as the experience “wasn’t fun anymore.”

Despite her past exhaustion and desire for distance from the role, Duff now views her connection to Lizzie McGuire and its associated music in a profoundly different light. The movie famously featured the now-iconic song “What Dreams Are Made Of,” which Duff has recently re-recorded for her upcoming 2026 “(Mine)” EP. She also performed the song live for the first time on her “Small Rooms, Big Nerves” Tour this year.

Speaking about her current perspective, Duff expressed, “So now when I sing it, it feels so much better, and I get to join the celebration of what it meant to people, and what it means to me now.” She clarified that her previous weariness wasn’t out of ungratefulness but rather a strenuous effort to forge her own identity as Hilary Duff, distinct from Lizzie. At the time, she resisted singing the song, partly because she didn’t even “own it,” feeling it wasn’t hers to perform. Now, she emphatically states, “But now I feel like it is.”

Her “(Mine)” EP is set to feature seven newly re-recorded versions of her greatest hits, which were originally included as bonus tracks on vinyl variants of her “Luck… or Something” album. Looking back at her early career, Duff remarked, “All of it was just so crazy.” She is thankful that the show and its music continue to resonate with people years later, acknowledging their enduring affection. When performing now, she feels fully present, stating, “Oh, I’m in this.” This contrasts sharply with her past self, when she felt she “wasn’t in my body yet.”

The original “Lizzie McGuire” show, which debuted in January 2001, also starred Lalaine, Adam Lamberg, Jake Thomas, Hallie Todd, and Robert Carradine. The series concluded in 2004 after a total of 65 episodes, in addition to the feature film, solidifying its place in pop culture history.