Call Her Daddy Jennette McCurdy: Half His Age
Jan 7, 2026
Jennette McCurdy, actress-turned-writer and author of the memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died, delves into her past as a child actor and the complexities of her tumultuous relationship with her mother. She shares insights from her novel, Half His Age, inspired by her own experiences with age-gap relationships, exploring themes of power, desire, and manipulation. Jennette candidly discusses her battle with an eating disorder, the healing power of therapy, and her decision to freeze her eggs while contemplating motherhood.
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Channel Anger Into Creative Work
- Use anger as a creative motivator to process unresolved trauma through writing or other expression.
- Jennette says anger fueled honest storytelling in Half His Age and helped her find closure.
Acting As A Tool For Her Mother
- Jennette began acting at six because her mother wanted to feel seen through her success and pushed her hard.
- When Jennette told her mother she wanted to stop, her mother reacted hysterically and shut down that choice.
Control Through Health Fears
- Jennette's mother weaponized cancer fears and calorie-counting to control puberty and body development.
- That control bonded them through secrecy and launched lifelong disordered eating patterns.
