California (USA) - Half of Hollywood is still amazed by her career path today! Maitland Ward (48) celebrated considerable success as an actress at a young age. But at 42, her career took a 180-degree turn : The US-American tried her luck in the porn industry from then on - with great success. Ward believes that she is now more respected than ever in both film industries.

As a teen and young adult, the actress born Ashley Maitland Welkos appeared in series such as "Rich and Beautiful" and "Life and Me". She later tried her hand at cosplay before she started posting erotic photos of herself online. In 2019, she finally starred in her first porn movie.

A move that Ward still doesn't regret today. "I really think people treat me with more respect now, honestly, especially even in Hollywood right now," the adult star said in an interview with Fox News.

She currently wants to have her memoirs, which will be published in 2022, filmed as a TV show, which is why she is in contact with some people from her former industry. "They're so respectful and so positive about my story, especially younger people and other people I talk to in Hollywood."

Producers are now "much more receptive" to her story.

She would feel a lot of positivity today. "I can create my own brand and my own content the way I want to."

But even earlier, Ward's drastic career change was accompanied by fewer prophecies of doom than many might have expected. "I really experienced a lot of positivity overall, which shocked everyone I knew."

The 48-year-old recalled: "Everyone thought people would just rip me to shreds and I would be judged and put through the wringer, but I got so much positivity and I think that's because I was so positive and so happy about it."

In her memoir "Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood", she described her new career as "soul-changing". "I had new self-confidence and a full-time job," Ward said happily at the time. This attitude does not seem to have changed to this day.