Shailene Woodley Reveals the Three 'Rules' Her Parents Had for Her When She Began Acting at Age 5

Mar. 15, 2025

Shailene Woodley in Los Angeles on June 9, 2024.Photo:Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via GettyShailene Woodley’s parents had her back when she started acting as a young child — but she had a few guidelines she had to follow.TheThree Womenactress appears on the September 2024 cover of Virgin Atlantic’sVeramagazine, where she discussed her screen career and how her psychologist parents supported her from the time she began acting, at age 5.“My parents had three rules when I was starting out,” said Woodley, 32. “In order to be an actor, I had to stay the person they knew I was, do well in school and have fun.““I love that they included having fun because I am a fun machine,” she added of mom Lori Woodley and dad Lonnie Woodley. “I’m really good at playing.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Shailene Woodley onThe Secret Life of the American Teenagerin 2010.Randy Holmes/Disney General Entertainment Content via GettyTheDivergentactress heeded her parents' school rule, but fast-tracked it in a way that made sense for her career goals.“I got the equivalent of my GED when I was 15 so that I could work legally as an adult during my junior year of high school,” she toldVera.But since Woodley “loved school so much and took pride in being an overachiever,” she didn’t distance herself too far from the formativeparts of high school.“I ended up staying to get a real diploma and go to prom,” she said.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Shailene Woodley in Los Angeles on June 6, 2024.Corine Solberg/GettyWoodley previously opened up about her unique upbringing, revealing in a September 2016 issue of NET-A-PORTER.com‘s digital magazineThe EDITthat her parents would sometimes force her and her younger brother Tanner to “hug it out” on their front lawn after having an argument.It was even harder when theBig Little Liesactress was teased at school.“It would hurt my feelings, and my parents weren’t on my side. They would be like, ‘I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way, but what do you think that person was feeling?’ Oh, I hated it,” she said at the time.But years later, as an adult, Woodley said she understandswhat her parents were doing.“It’s enabled me to recognize that no one’s evil,” she admitted. “They’re probably hurting and can’t express themselves, get no love at home, so it’s repeated. It gave me a broader outlook: just put yourself in another person’s shoes.”

Shailene Woodley in Los Angeles on June 9, 2024.Photo:Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty

Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty

Shailene Woodley’s parents had her back when she started acting as a young child — but she had a few guidelines she had to follow.TheThree Womenactress appears on the September 2024 cover of Virgin Atlantic’sVeramagazine, where she discussed her screen career and how her psychologist parents supported her from the time she began acting, at age 5.“My parents had three rules when I was starting out,” said Woodley, 32. “In order to be an actor, I had to stay the person they knew I was, do well in school and have fun.““I love that they included having fun because I am a fun machine,” she added of mom Lori Woodley and dad Lonnie Woodley. “I’m really good at playing.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Shailene Woodley onThe Secret Life of the American Teenagerin 2010.Randy Holmes/Disney General Entertainment Content via GettyTheDivergentactress heeded her parents' school rule, but fast-tracked it in a way that made sense for her career goals.“I got the equivalent of my GED when I was 15 so that I could work legally as an adult during my junior year of high school,” she toldVera.But since Woodley “loved school so much and took pride in being an overachiever,” she didn’t distance herself too far from the formativeparts of high school.“I ended up staying to get a real diploma and go to prom,” she said.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Shailene Woodley in Los Angeles on June 6, 2024.Corine Solberg/GettyWoodley previously opened up about her unique upbringing, revealing in a September 2016 issue of NET-A-PORTER.com‘s digital magazineThe EDITthat her parents would sometimes force her and her younger brother Tanner to “hug it out” on their front lawn after having an argument.It was even harder when theBig Little Liesactress was teased at school.“It would hurt my feelings, and my parents weren’t on my side. They would be like, ‘I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way, but what do you think that person was feeling?’ Oh, I hated it,” she said at the time.But years later, as an adult, Woodley said she understandswhat her parents were doing.“It’s enabled me to recognize that no one’s evil,” she admitted. “They’re probably hurting and can’t express themselves, get no love at home, so it’s repeated. It gave me a broader outlook: just put yourself in another person’s shoes.”

Shailene Woodley’s parents had her back when she started acting as a young child — but she had a few guidelines she had to follow.

TheThree Womenactress appears on the September 2024 cover of Virgin Atlantic’sVeramagazine, where she discussed her screen career and how her psychologist parents supported her from the time she began acting, at age 5.

“My parents had three rules when I was starting out,” said Woodley, 32. “In order to be an actor, I had to stay the person they knew I was, do well in school and have fun.”

“I love that they included having fun because I am a fun machine,” she added of mom Lori Woodley and dad Lonnie Woodley. “I’m really good at playing.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Shailene Woodley onThe Secret Life of the American Teenagerin 2010.Randy Holmes/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Randy Holmes/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

TheDivergentactress heeded her parents' school rule, but fast-tracked it in a way that made sense for her career goals.

“I got the equivalent of my GED when I was 15 so that I could work legally as an adult during my junior year of high school,” she toldVera.

But since Woodley “loved school so much and took pride in being an overachiever,” she didn’t distance herself too far from the formativeparts of high school.

“I ended up staying to get a real diploma and go to prom,” she said.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Shailene Woodley in Los Angeles on June 6, 2024.Corine Solberg/Getty

Corine Solberg/Getty

Woodley previously opened up about her unique upbringing, revealing in a September 2016 issue of NET-A-PORTER.com‘s digital magazineThe EDITthat her parents would sometimes force her and her younger brother Tanner to “hug it out” on their front lawn after having an argument.

It was even harder when theBig Little Liesactress was teased at school.

“It would hurt my feelings, and my parents weren’t on my side. They would be like, ‘I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way, but what do you think that person was feeling?’ Oh, I hated it,” she said at the time.

But years later, as an adult, Woodley said she understandswhat her parents were doing.

“It’s enabled me to recognize that no one’s evil,” she admitted. “They’re probably hurting and can’t express themselves, get no love at home, so it’s repeated. It gave me a broader outlook: just put yourself in another person’s shoes.”

source: people.com