Hilary Duff has revealed she was "pretty done with Lizzie at that time," saying she was exhausted by the character and once vowed never to sing the show's theme song again. The 39-year-old actress and singer made the comments in a cover story for Paper magazine.
She said the pace of the show had been relentless, recalling that it ran to 30 episodes in one year and 35 in the next. Duff said that at the time she was "pretty exhausted by it" and was trying to build an identity as Hilary Duff, separate from Lizzie.
"I turned into a huge star. Everyone called me Lizzie," she said.
Then she vowed: "I'm never singing that song." She also described how strange it was "being a child star and trying to cross that bridge into adulthood." Her feelings have since changed. Duff now performs What Dreams Are Made Of on her tour and re-recorded it for her 2026 EP Mine.
She first sang it live this year on the Small Rooms, Big Nerves Tour. Singing it now "feels so much better," she said, adding that as a teenager she "wasn't in my body yet." "When I perform it now, I'm like, oh, I'm in this," she said.
"I get to join the celebration of what it meant to people, and what it means to me now." The EP features seven re-recorded hits that first appeared as bonus tracks on vinyl variants of her 2025 album, Luck... or Something. The transition from a child star to an adult artist is often fraught with challenges, and Duff's candid admission highlights the pressure of maintaining a public persona while growing up.
Her return to these iconic tracks marks a reconciliation with her past. Fans have responded positively to the re-recordings, noting that the maturity in her voice adds a new layer to the nostalgic songs.
Duff continues to balance her acting career with her musical endeavors. As she looks toward the future, the actress remains focused on projects that allow her creative freedom.
Her journey from the Disney era to her current status as a seasoned performer serves as an inspiration to many. The music industry continues to evolve, and Duff's ability to reclaim her narrative through her music is a testament to her resilience and growth as an artist in the modern entertainment landscape.