Frankie Muniz on Fame, Reinvention and the 'Malcolm in the Middle' Reboot

Transcript

00:00Frankie Muniz has one of the most famous faces of our ages. We all feel like we know him so well

00:06after having him in our living rooms for so many years as the brainy, wisecracking Malcolm in the

00:12middle. He was one of the most famous child stars of his generation. But what is intriguing to me,

00:18and it's the reason why I put him on the cover of Us Weekly this week, is that Frankie managed to

00:22navigate his stardom so well and come out of his Hollywood experience as such a well-rounded,

00:28accomplished, happy man, whereas so many of his contemporaries did not. So what did Frankie do

00:34differently? What can we learn from his experience? Our news director, Andrea Simpson, sat down with

00:40Frankie for three in-depth interviews as he prepared to star in the reboot of Malcolm in the Middle and

00:45to understand this intriguing man. Frankie says that behind the glitz and glamour of red carpets and

00:51Hollywood parties, he felt the weight of his early fame. I felt like I had lived 80 years already,

00:57he reflects, highlighting the relentless pace of his childhood. Part of Frankie's secret to

01:02happiness seems to be that he was brave enough at the pinnacle of his success to step away from

01:07acting. Burnout from years of grueling work led him to trade scripts for speed, pursuing a career as

01:13a professional race car driver. Stepping back made me appreciate everything more, he admits,

01:19finding freedom in a new passion. Now, as he approaches 40, Frankie is more than just a former

01:24child star. He's a devoted husband to Paige Price and a father to Little Malz. The up-and-coming

01:30reboot has reignited his acting aspirations and he's ready to embrace that part of himself again.

01:36I hope people want to see me as an actor, he says, reflecting on his journey. From navigating the

01:42chaotic world of child stardom to finding balance in life, Frankie Muniz has not only survived the pitfalls

01:49of fame but thrived, ready to return to the role that made him a star while cherishing the life he has

01:55built away from the camera. Read the full interview and learn about Frankie's Hollywood experience

02:00in the latest issue of Us Weekly on Stands Now.