Dylan Sprouse spent much of his childhood doing something millions of kids could only dream about.He acted on television, became one of Disney Channel’s most recognizable young stars, and worked alongside his twin brother, Cole Sprouse, on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The series helped turn both brothers into major names for a generation of Disney viewers.But looking back at those years as an adult, Dylan has a much more complicated way of describing the experience.The 34-year-old actor recently reflected on what it actually meant to work professionally at such a young age. Despite the fame and opportunities that came with it, Sprouse didn’t shy away from using a particularly striking phrase.He called it “child labor.”Credit: DisneyAnd according to Sprouse, some of the effects of spending his childhood working in television didn’t simply disappear once he grew up.Dylan Sprouse Looks Back at His Years as a Child StarSprouse discussed his early career during an appearance on the “Wildmen” podcast, where the conversation turned toward what life is actually like for children working in the entertainment industry.Sprouse acknowledged that acting on television obviously wasn’t comparable to some of the dangerous jobs children performed throughout history. Still, he argued that the basic reality remained the same: children were working.“Some kids used to work in coal mines and guard the mine cart door when they were 15, we just sang and danced. It’s still child labor,” Sprouse said.It’s a strong description, especially considering how glamorous Disney Channel stardom could appear from the outside.For viewers, Sprouse was one-half of a comedy duo starring in one of Disney Channel’s biggest shows. Behind the scenes, however, Sprouse remembers television as a job with a schedule and responsibilities much like any other profession.He compared working on a television production to having a traditional office job.“You go in, you clock in, you clock out, you have a cubicle, you work,” Sprouse explained, noting that while a television stage is obviously a very different environment, the hours and basic work structure can feel similar.The biggest difference, of course, was his age.The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Made the Sprouse Brothers Disney StarsBy the time Dylan and Cole arrived on Disney Channel, they already had years of experience in Hollywood.The twins had previously shared roles in projects including Big Daddy (1999) and “Grace Under Fire” before eventually landing their Disney Channel opportunity.Then came The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.Dylan played Zack Martin while Cole played Cody Martin, twin brothers living inside the fictional Tipton Hotel. The brothers remained fixtures on Disney Channel for years, becoming two of the network’s most recognizable stars.From a viewer’s perspective, that meant comedy, elaborate situations, and the kind of larger-than-life childhood that Disney sitcoms regularly portrayed.For Dylan, however, it was still work.And his latest comments show how differently someone can view that experience years later.Credit: Disney ChannelSprouse Says His Self-Esteem Became Connected to ActingPerhaps the most revealing part of Sprouse’s comments wasn’t his use of the phrase “child labor.”Instead, it was what he said happened when the work stopped.Sprouse explained that finishing a television production could leave him experiencing a “void.” His self-esteem became closely connected to whether he was working and spending time on a set.That’s a much different picture from the one audiences saw on television.When acting becomes a major part of someone’s identity during childhood, stepping away from that environment can create an unusual transition. Sprouse essentially grew up with work, professional expectations, and entertainment intertwined with everyday life.Now, years removed from his Disney Channel days, he acknowledged that he’s still working through some of the “mental hurdles” associated with that period.Sprouse isn’t saying that every part of his childhood career was terrible. His comments instead reveal a more complicated relationship with an experience that brought him tremendous opportunities while also requiring him to navigate pressures most children never encounter.Another Former Child Star Could RelateSprouse wasn’t alone in expressing those feelings.The podcast conversation also included Mark Indelicato, who entered Hollywood at a young age and became known for his role on “Ugly Betty” when he was 12.Before Indelicato joined the discussion, Sprouse said he wanted to hear how the fellow former child actor had dealt with growing up inside the entertainment industry.Sprouse again returned to the same description.“Essentially, we’re beating around the bush, but it’s child labor,” he said.Indelicato agreed with much of what Sprouse described, particularly the idea of connecting self-esteem to professional success.He explained that former child actors have an experience most other people simply can’t fully understand. That shared background can make relationships with other people who grew up in Hollywood particularly valuable.“We have to keep each other close,” Indelicato said, describing the importance of having people around who understand those experiences.For Sprouse, one of those people was with him from the very beginning.Having Cole Sprouse Beside Him Made a DifferenceUnlike many young performers navigating Hollywood on their own, Dylan had his twin brother working beside him.Sprouse said he considers himself fortunate that Cole went through the experience with him. The two could understand the unusual highs and lows of being professional actors while they were still children because they were living through them together.That relationship appears to remain meaningful when Dylan looks back on that period today.He also expressed gratitude for being able to connect with other former child stars, including Indelicato, who understand the challenges that can continue into adulthood.Both Sprouse brothers ultimately continued acting after their Disney Channel years.Cole later became one of the stars of Riverdale, while Dylan has also remained involved in entertainment.Interestingly, Dylan’s own experience hasn’t convinced him that children should necessarily stay away from acting altogether.Credit: Disney ChannelSprouse Wouldn’t Stop His Own Children From ActingSprouse and his wife, model Barbara Palvin, are expecting their first child.Despite everything he has said about growing up as a working actor, Sprouse has previously explained that he wouldn’t automatically prevent his own children from entering the entertainment industry.That adds another layer to his recent comments.Sprouse doesn’t appear to be rejecting his entire career or arguing that child acting should disappear. Instead, he’s speaking candidly about the reality that sits behind an industry often presented as fun, glamorous, and exciting.For a child actor, making a hit television series still means showing up to work.There are schedules. There are expectations. There are hours spent on set. And when a person’s career begins before they’ve even reached adulthood, the emotional relationship with that work can become complicated.More than a decade after his Disney Channel run ended, Sprouse is still examining exactly what that experience meant.Millions of viewers may remember Zack Martin running around the Tipton Hotel and getting into trouble with his brother.Dylan Sprouse remembers something else happening at the same time.He was going to work.The post ‘The Suite Life of Zack & Cody’ Star Slams Disney Years, Admits Long-Term Damage appeared first on Inside the Magic.