Soleil Moon Frye’s new documentary,Kid90,tracks the actress' childhood and teenage years in Hollywood — including close relationships with fellow stars, drug use, mental health struggles, the pressures of fame and, of course, young love.
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The documentary also looks back on some other child stars and their own experiences growing up in the entertainment industry. (A youngLeonardo DiCapriomakes a few appearances.)
Whether you’re a fellow ’90s kid or simply looking to learn more about your favorite child stars, here’s everything to know about the popular new doc.
Soleil Moon Frye/ Hulu
Frye used her own footage and diaries to piece the film together.
Frye carried around a video camera and documented her life long before cell phones made that the norm. At the start ofKid90, she explains that at the time, she somehow knew that one day her footage would help make up a cohesive story.
“I think it’s fascinating to be able to go back and have a true chronological blueprint of what it was to grow up as a teenager in the ’90s,” she says. “And part of me believes that somewhere inside that teenage girl knew that she was going to have a story to tell, knew that she was going to go on an adventure. And she was going to document every f—ing second of it, so that she could share it someday.”
In addition to her camera footage, pictures and voicemails, Frye also picks up some old diaries and reads directly from them, providing a glimpse into the mind of a young teenager.
It documents the unique pressures of child stardom — good and bad.
Frye, who was first cast inPunky Brewsterwhen she was just 7 years old, makes it clear that she wanted to act as a young girl.
ButKid90also unpacks some of the downfalls of child stardom. In one scene, Gosselaar, 47, recounts being told on set, “You have to act like an adult,” despite being a preteen at the time.
The young actors were also exposed to a tumultuous environment early on, and the documentary underlines partying and drug use.David Arquette, who has been open about hisstruggles with addiction, says at one point in the film that “it got dark.”
“The greatest thing I can do now iscarry those memories with me,” she told PEOPLE. “It’s part of my self-discovery. I’m raw and I’m emotional, but I am who I am.”
Soleil Moon Frye and Jonathan Brandis.Soleil Moon Frye/ Hulu
It looks back on the star’s first romantic relationships.
Frye’s diary also chronicled her first crushes and relationships — in one entry, she describedJohnny Deppas her “future husband” and drew hearts aroundMark Wahlberg’s name in another.
She also recounts herfirst sexual experiencewith actorCharlie Sheen, to whom she lost her virginity.
“He’s somebody I’ve had a crush on for years. He’s a person that intrigues me and excites me,” Frye says in one scene, as she reads from a diary entry that described “the most strange and incredible day ever.”
The journal entry — from Dec. 18, 1994, when she was 18 years old — also compares her experience with Sheen, 55, to Carrie Bradshaw’s relationship with Mr. Big inSex and the City.
Kid90is streaming on Hulu.
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source: people.com
