Hilary Duff says it has been "torturous" to be known as Lizzie McGuire

She told PrideSource: "As torturous as it has been at some points in my life to be Lizzie McGuire, I think that when that show came out, it was such a part of who I was, I didn't feel like I was playing a part.

"The writers all knew me so well and were writing things that were happening in my life and things that I would say, and I was dressing exactly like I wanted. It was so me."

She added: "I don't think during the filming it was torturous. I loved it during the filming. I just didn't know what a success the show was gonna be, and after that - four years, five years after that - and I was still Lizzie McGuire to people and that was super annoying."

However, as time goes on, Hilary - who has a three-year-old son Luca with her soon-to-be ex husband Mike Comrie - admitted she is "grateful for it [the recognition]".

And they may no longer be together but Hilary recently insisted that she and Mike are keen to keep a friendship going for Luca's sake.

She said: "We care very much for each other. We're really good friends. We're always going to be a family. There was no other option... I look back with love ...

"You have to be a big person. We have fun together and hang out all the time."