Dylan Sprouse calls his childhood acting career ‘child labour’ in shocking Hollywood confession

The conversation also featured actor Mark Indelicato, whom Sprouse has known since they were around 12 or 13. Their shared experiences as young performers became a major part of the discussion.

Sprouse reflected on the demands placed on children who work in television, explaining that the experience could resemble an ordinary full time office job despite taking place on a soundstage. He described a routine involving arriving at work, clocking in, working through the day and eventually leaving, while pointing out that the setting was very different from a traditional office.

"It’s a full office job," Sprouse said. "You go in, you clock in, you clock out, you have a cubicle, you work obviously, you’re on a stage and it’s different, but it’s the same hours.

"He then made the striking comparison that has drawn attention to the conversation. "It’s child labor," Sprouse said, joking that children in earlier eras had worked in coal mines while young actors were performing on television.

He added, "We just sang and danced. It’s still child labor. "The comment was clearly delivered with humour, but Sprouse also connected his childhood career to difficulties that have followed him into adulthood.

He said working from the age of 8 to 17 contributed to what he described as a "workaholic attitude", while his sense of self became closely connected to whether he was working. Sprouse explained that stepping away from acting could leave him facing a noticeable emotional void because working had been part of his identity for so long.

He said his self esteem had, for a long time, been tied closely to his ability to work and be on set. Indelicato, who became known for playing Justin Suarez on. Ugly Betty, shared similar feelings during the conversation.

The two actors discussed the anxiety that can emerge when work disappears after years of having a demanding professional routine from childhood. For Sprouse, having his twin brother Cole alongside him was an important source of support.

The brothers began acting as children and later became major Disney Channel stars through. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Their shared experiences meant Sprouse had someone close to him who understood the unusual pressures of growing up in front of an audience.

The twins were still children when they became central figures on. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, which turned them into recognisable young stars. Sprouse has previously spoken about the complicated aspects of childhood fame, and his latest comments add another perspective on how those years influenced his relationship with work.

He also expressed gratitude for having people such as Cole and Indelicato around him. Sprouse acknowledged that growing up in the entertainment industry came with its own difficulties, while recognising the value of having peers who experienced similar pressures.

The conversation arrives during another major personal chapter for Sprouse. He and model Barbara Palvin are expecting their first child together, with the couple confirming in July that they are having a baby girl. They first announced the pregnancy in May during the Cannes Film Festival.