iCarly is one of the many classic TV shows poised to make a comeback in the near future, and fans couldn’t be happier to see the old gang back together. However, one of the familiar faces they won’t be seeing on the Paramount+ revival is Carly’s best friend Sam Puckett, who was played by Jennette McCurdy. From the moment the sequel series’ cast was officially announced, many fans wondered why McCurdy wouldn’t be returning for the show. Well, she recently got candid about her time on Nickelodeon, and the former actress admitted she’s “ashamed” of her past acting career.
Jennette McCurdy has mostly stayed out of the limelight since departing Nickelodeon in 2014 and has acted sparingly since then. On a recent episode of her Empty Inside podcast, McCurdy admitted she’s ashamed of much of her acting work, even saying that she resents her career in a lot of ways:
My experience with acting is, I’m so ashamed of the parts that I’ve done in the past. I get that this answer is super unlikable and it’s like, ‘Oh, boo-hoo, you were famous when you were a kid. Oh, cry me a river.’ But it is true to me, so that’s the most I can offer. But it’s like, I resent my career in a lot of ways. I feel so unfulfilled by the roles that I played and felt like it was the most just like cheesy, embarrassing.
Needless to say, Jennette McCurdy did not hold back when expressing her feelings about her acting days. On the same episode, McCurdy doubled down on her sentiments, saying she mostly felt embarrassed about being a Nickelodeon star:
I did the shows that I was on from like 13 to 21, and by 15, I was already embarrassed. My friends at 15 weren’t like watching the show. They’re not like, ‘Oh, cool, you’re on this Nickelodeon show.’ It was embarrassing. I imagine there’s a very different experience to be had with acting if you’re proud of your roles and if you feel fulfilled by them.
Jennette McCurdy starred on all six seasons of iCarly from 2007 to 2012, with her Sam Puckett becoming a fan-favorite in the process. After the show ended, McCurdy went on to star in the spinoff Sam & Cat. The series paired her with Ariana Grande, who reprised her role as Cat Valentine from fellow Nickelodeon show Victorious. The show, however, only aired one season and ended on a controversial note with rumors alleging McCurdy was having problems with Nickelodeon and Grande.
Although she’s no longer acting, Jennette McCurdy is still looking to make waves in the entertainment world. She also revealed on the podcast that she’s looking to write and direct projects and enjoys that creative process.
Child stardom can be difficult to handle, as many would agree that it certainly comes with its share of drawbacks. Unfortunately, it sounds like Jennette McCurdy experienced more of the negative side effects of it. While it’s disappointing that she won’t be returning for the iCarly revival, it is, at the very least, good to hear that McCurdy has found a new passion and has found some form of comfort.
Paramount+’s iCarly reboot doesn’t currently have a release date but, ahead of its eventual premiere, you can stream the original series on Netflix now.
