Sidney Greenbush, who famously shared the role of Carrie Ingalls with her twin sister Lindsay Greenbush on the beloved series "Little House on the Prairie," believes many young actors face significant challenges once their time in the spotlight concludes. Greenbush considers herself fortunate to have discovered purpose and satisfaction away from the demands of the entertainment industry, now focusing on her new children's book, "Seven Sisters: The Lantern of Humanity," and an environmentally conscious online community, Greenbush Twins & Company.
Reflecting on her past career, Greenbush offered insights into the difficulties many child performers encounter, attributing her own positive trajectory to the unwavering support of her parents.
The Sudden End of Child Stardom
Greenbush described a common experience for young stars: "People go from being in the popular crowd, and everybody wants to know their opinion, to all of a sudden, the show ends, and they get dropped." She elaborated on the comprehensive nature of this abrupt shift, explaining, "They get dropped by the network. They get dropped by the social circles. They try to get other jobs, but Hollywood sees them as stereotypical characters, and they don't break out of that."
For children, this transition can be particularly disorienting. "For child actors, you don't really understand why that happens, or you think you did something wrong — if you could just be better, funnier, more talented, taller or have blonde hair," Greenbush stated. She emphasized the profound emotional toll this can take, noting, "It's really a struggle for them because those little self-doubt voices [play] in your head."
Navigating Post-Hollywood Life
Greenbush credits her decision to move beyond Hollywood and explore other interests as crucial for avoiding the common pitfalls that have affected many former child stars. She recalled an early post-"Little House" experience: "After 'Little House' ended, I did a guest spot in a movie called 'Hambone and Hillie.' Going through that whole experience of auditioning and being one of maybe 1,500 children, and then seeing them hire older actors to play younger, you feel like you're just trying to swim upstream. You don't know why you were popular, and now you're not."
She also shared a memory involving her sister: "I remember when they were making the movie 'Return to Oz.' My sister made it to the final three girls who were selected." Despite screen tests, another girl was chosen "for the silliest of reasons." Greenbush recognized the immense pressure on children in such situations. "It's a lot of pressure for children. So I decided I was going to explore other things because sometimes you go to what they call 'cattle calls,' where there are so many people competing for the same role. The casting directors aren't always nice."
Parental Guidance and On-Set Advocacy
While her father, Billy Green Bush, was an actor, Greenbush highlighted that her mother never pressured her or her sister into pursuing stardom. "My mom didn't push us toward acting because she wanted it to be our choice if we wanted to do it," Greenbush explained. The opportunity arose unexpectedly, and her mother thought, "We'll try it and see where it goes." This organic approach led to an eight-year career, never a pre-planned path by her parents.
Greenbush and her sister were merely three years old when they began filming the pilot for "Little House on the Prairie," the beloved family drama adapted from Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic frontier novels. Their journey to the iconic series began fortuitously when a family friend heard about a casting call for twin girls and connected their father to the opportunity. Following an appearance in the television movie "Sunshine," director Joseph Sargent recommended the twins for "Little House on the Prairie."
Even during their time as child stars, Greenbush's mother diligently maintained a clear boundary between their professional and personal lives. To safeguard their privacy, she referred to them by different names off-set than those used during filming.
Greenbush described her mother as their staunchest advocate, always vigilant and ready to intervene if she perceived any safety concerns. "Things for child actors have changed a lot over the years," she noted. "We did have social workers on the set. But really, it fell to my mom to make sure we were dressed, ready to go and not grumpy."
She recounted the logistical challenges: "She struggled in the early years because there were two of us. She couldn't be on set with one of us while watching the other. So, for the first couple of years, they hired a woman to help my mom. If my mom went to the set with my sister, the woman they hired stayed with me."
Her mother's protective instincts extended to on-set safety. "My mom would speak out when she felt they were doing things that were dangerous or not in our best interest," Greenbush affirmed. "The 'Ma's Holiday' episode is a perfect example because everybody always asks about my sister being on the roof. The truth is she was fully harnessed and attached to the roof. If that hadn't been the case, my mother would never, ever, ever have allowed that to happen."
Lasting Legacy and New Beginnings
Greenbush cherishes her memories of bringing "Little House on the Prairie" to life, recalling how showrunner Michael Landon would play with her and her sister, and Melissa Gilbert would dress them up for Halloween trick-or-treating.
She expresses excitement about a new generation discovering "Little House on the Prairie" as Netflix prepares to reboot the cherished series, scheduled to premiere on July 9. This revival offers a fresh audience the opportunity to engage with the stories that captivated viewers decades ago.
Today, Greenbush has found new directions beyond the entertainment world. She shared that the core morals and life lessons embedded in "Little House on the Prairie" inspired her to author her own children's book and cultivate an online community. She believes that in entertainment, "when you lose your authenticity, people feel it immediately."
Greenbush emphasizes that parents play the most crucial role in safeguarding child actors, beginning with respecting their children's desires. "Number one, let it be their choice," she advises. "If you see they want to do it, and they have the drive to do it, then let them choose to do it." However, she cautions about the extensive demands beyond just acting classes and auditions. "So anytime they say, 'This isn't for me. I don't want to do this anymore,' let them stop. Don't force them to do it."
She acknowledges the allure of fame, stating, "There's so much that goes along with acting. A lot of times, people crave being famous. Then, when they get there, they realize it's completely different from what they thought it would be."
Greenbush encourages young performers to prioritize their well-being. "And if you get to that point and think it's too much, it's OK to do what so many child actors did — and what we did — which is take a step back, pause for a moment and decide whether that's really the avenue you want to take going forward. There's no harm in taking a moment to navigate those waters."
