Jennette McCurdy: A Teen Actress Unafraid to Speak Out

Jennette McCurdy is best known for her role as Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon’s hit series iCarly, but her life off set is anything but glamorous. In her bestselling memoir The Secret Life of iCarly’s Jennette McCurdy: A Teen Actress Unafraid to Speak Out (Penguin Press), the actress shares intimate details about her childhood, relationship with her mother and years-long battle with disordered eating.

McCurdy recounts her mother as an abusive and controlling woman who coerced and pressured her into becoming a star at an early age. It was this environment which contributed to McCurdy developing eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

She reported in her book that she was always hungry and her weight fluctuated wildly due to severe anxiety. When her doctor noticed she was losing weight rapidly, he recommended that she stop eating so much; however, her mother refused to listen.

Her life on set wasn’t always pleasant: She recounts numerous uncomfortable interactions with her castmates and producers, as well as feeling resentful for being a teen star. At one point, she even expressed that she wished she could have left before it started in order to have more personal time.

She was an actor on iCarly and also featured in several other television shows such as True Jackson, VP, Malcolm in the Middle and Lincoln Heights. Additionally, she appeared in several commercials for Sprint.

She has an official YouTube channel where she talks about her life, career and favorite things. Her videos have been viewed millions of times. She has won multiple awards and been nominated for many more.

In her 2022 memoir, she detailed her decision to leave iCarly after an emotionally damaging encounter with its creator Dan Schneider, who made her consume an apple while underage and touch her inappropriately. Additionally, in this poignant book, she recounted how her mother’s death from breast cancer marked a pivotal moment in her life.

McCurdy had troubled relationships with her parents, but was supported by her grandparents and was able to receive counseling and therapy for her disordered eating. Ultimately, she managed to put the pieces of her life back together and now works as a writer and director.

The iCarly star has released her new single “Generation Love,” produced by Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts and taken from her debut album. To promote it, she’s currently on a mall tour and asks that fans donate some money to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

She is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has collaborated with some renowned artists. Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber have all praised her music. Additionally, she collaborated with rapper Pitbull to release a video for their song “Put Your Arms Around Someone.”