Danielle Fishel was just 12 when she stole our hearts — and Cory Matthews’ too — as Topanga Lawrence on Boy Meets World in 1993. Recently, the Dancing With the Stars contestant has been open about the less joyful aspects of that era in her life.
“My body was a problem,” she tells Us Weekly exclusively about the criticism she faced in the final seasons of the sitcom. “Those episodes are hard to watch.”
Now 44, Fishel is rewriting the rules. She talks to Us about sons Adler, 6, and Keaton, 4, with husband Jensen Carp; her directing career (including episodes of Shifting Gears and Lopez vs. Lopez); surviving breast cancer and life in the spotlight as a teenager in the 1990s.
On your podcast Pod Meets World, you talk about beauty standards when you were younger. Can you say more?
I was aware, even if nobody said it to me directly… that as far as the people in power were concerned, my body was a problem… I remember around the time of [1998’s] prom episode being aware that they didn’t want me wearing something sleeveless.
Rider Strong, who played Shawn, has said you were hard to be around during season 7, the series’ last.
I just so did not want to be there; I was uncomfortable on set every day. There was this feeling that I was no longer attractive because I had gained weight. I just wanted to be anywhere other than on set. I was probably a curmudgeon.
Do you guys laugh about that now?
Oh, yeah. That’s one of the real joys of having friends you’ve known for 30 years. You can look back and be like, “You’re not wrong.”
What emotions pop up when you think about that time now?
I feel some cognitive dissonance because I’m aware that what my eyes are seeing doesn’t match up with the way I feel watching. It just doesn’t feel good… The season 7 episodes are tainted with the feeling of incredible insecurity and fear of being on camera, which was hard for me to shake and probably why I didn’t really want to go forward with a career on camera.
What would you say to the higher-ups if you could go back in time?
I wouldn’t say or do [anything] differently other than be more accepting and loving of myself.
Has your past affected the way you work with kids on set?
I had incredible directors that I got to rely on and trust while I was on Boy Meets World, that made me feel safe, that encouraged me to get in touch with my creative side and have agency over the choices I made. I try to emulate them now as a director. And on Girl Meets World [from 2014–17], I had great directors to learn from, and obviously worked with incredibly talented kids. I want kids to know that sets, especially when I am there, are safe spaces, and my door is always open. They can come talk to me if something doesn’t feel right.
How do you do that with your sons?
We talk a lot about how everybody’s bodies are different, everybody’s skin is different, everybody’s hair is different. We make a big deal about there not being a right or wrong way to be.
And now they’re taking dance classes! Were they inspired by DWTS?
They wouldn’t admit it, but I think they were. Both of them were like, “I want to do dance!”
You’ve partnered with Lysol for spring — why was that important?
I don’t like to see a bunch of stuff all over my counters or fingerprints or sticky stuff. I like to point out [to my kids] the things that are bothering me and making me feel overstimulated… Mommy’s much nicer and more fun when my insides feel good… It’s been great — my kids are much more willing to help me clean up!
You finished cancer treatment last year. How do you feel?
I feel great. I’ve had two mammograms since; both have been clear. I see my oncologist a couple of times a year [and] my general practitioner every four months. I’m good about staying on top of my tests because that’s how I found my cancer to begin with. So I still preach that to everybody: If you recognize me, it’s probably time for a mammogram.
