The Waltons star Mary McDonough has revealed she was called "fat" as a child star.
The 55-year-old actress played Erin in the family drama which aired from 1971 until 1981.
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Mary appeared on Loose Women today with Michael Learned, 78, who played her on-screen mother in the famous show.
While starring as the second-eldest daughter in the family drama brought her international fame, Mary admitted it was hard growing up in the spotlight, especially when it came to body image.
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She told today's panellists Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan, Janet Street-Porter and Stacey Solomon, she said: "When it came to the body image stuff, Erin was supposed to be the 'pretty one' so there was a lot of pressure for me to look a certain way and weigh a certain amount."
Janet interjected and said: "But you were so skinny" and Mary added: "That's not what they told me!"
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Janet continued: "Did they say you were fat?"
"Yeah, I created a body image issue for myself, a lot of radical diets and starving and trying to fit in and be perfect until I grew up and realised there is no perfection in that way," Mary added.
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When asked why people still remember The Waltons so fondly, Mary said people crave community.
She said: "I think it's something that has been missing in the world, especially lately, people are missing a sense of community and a sense of family.
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"They miss a sense of extended family coming together to support each other and I think the show reminds people that they want to go back to that.
"Everybody can relate to that because they either had that family or wanted that family."
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While Michael and Mary admitted shows like The Waltons won't appear on the small screen again, there is onecurrent series that stands out to them.
Mary said: "There is one that just started called This Is Us and it's beautiful show, it reminds me of The Waltons and I want to call and say: 'Can I be on it?'
"But I think reality programming and voting people off islands and back stabbing is what people want to watch or so they say!"
Michael and Mary will also attend the Bernie Nolan Breast Cancer ball this weekend.
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