Ariel Winter is opening up about the downsides of fame during her time on the iconic ABC sitcom “Modern Family.”
In a conversation with People, Winter said that while playing Alex Dunphy on 11 seasons of the 22-time Emmy-winner, the media brutally critiqued her physical appearance. In the early seasons of the show, Winter was only 14 years old, which made the negative attention all the more difficult to deal with.
More from Variety
Judy Greer Turned Down Audition for ‘Modern Family’s’ Claire Dunphy Because She Didn’t Want to Be ‘America’s Mom’: The Role ‘Felt So Limiting’
‘Modern Family’ Star Eric Stonestreet Says ABC Rejecting Mitch-Cameron Spinoff ‘Felt a Little Hurtful’: ‘It Would Have Been a Slam Dunk’
‘Modern Family’ to Join Nick at Nite Lineup
“It was every headline I read about myself, like, grown people writing articles about me saying how I looked terrible or pregnant or like a fat slut. I mean, I was 14,” Winter said. “It totally damaged my self-esteem.”
“No matter what I was going through, I was a target,” she added. “It made it very difficult to look at myself in the mirror and go, ‘I love this version of me.’”
After “Modern Family” came to an end in 2020, Winter said that she and her boyfriend left L.A., but maintains that she “didn’t leave the industry.” Outside of acting, Winter works with the advocacy group SOSA (Safe From Online Sex Abuse), which helps protect young people from predators online.
“Technically, yes, I’m a survivor. I’ve gone through some shit,” Winter said. “But a lot of people have gone through some shit. Calling me a survivor takes away from what I’m here for, which is to help others and shine a spotlight on those that need it.”
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series – The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and ‘Hot Ones’ Stir Up Buzz
Oscars Predictions 2026: ‘Sinners’ Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
