Take a look at Maitland Ward’s journey from ‘Boy Meets World’ to her career today.
Maitland Ward, born February 3, 1977, is an American actress, model, and adult film performer from Long Beach, California. Born Ashley Maitland Welkos, she began her acting career as a teenager, landing a recurring role as Jessica Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful from 1994 to 1996.
She later rose to wider fame playing Rachel McGuire on Boy Meets World, joining the cast in 1998 and remaining a series regular until the show ended in 2000. During her mainstream acting career, she also appeared in projects like the TV film Killing Mr. Griffin, had guest roles on shows including Home Improvement and USA High, and appeared in films such as White Chicks.
After stepping away from mainstream acting in the late 2000s, Maitland eventually made a major career shift. She entered the adult film industry in 2019 and has since built a successful second career, earning multiple industry awards and gaining a new audience. In 2022, she also released a memoir, Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood, reflecting on her transition and experiences in the entertainment industry.
In her personal life, Maitland married real estate agent Terry Baxter in 2006. The couple spent time living in New York City, where she studied writing and screenwriting at New York University, before returning to California.
See more photos of Maitland in the gallery below!
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Maitland Ward in a tight red dress at San Diego Comic Con
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Maitland Ward, born on February 3, 1977, is an American actress, model and porn star from Long beach, California. Her birth name is Ashley Maitland Welkos. She made her acting debut at age 16 when she landed a reoccurring role on the hit soap opera Bold and the Beautiful in 1994. She remained on the show until 1996. Maitland is best known for her role as Rachel McGuire on the hit American sitcom, ‘Boy Meets’, which she joined in 1998 at the beginning of the show’s sixth season. Maitland was a series regular until the series ended in 2000. Maitland has guest starred on shows including, ‘USA High’, ‘Rules of Engagement’ and ABC’s ‘Home Improvement’. She also starred alongside Mario Lopez in the 1997 television film ‘Killing Mr. Griffin’. Maitland has also appeared in the independent film ‘Dish Dog’s, and the 2004 comedy ‘White Chicks’. Maitland married John Terry Baxter, a Beverly Hills real estate agent, on October 21, 2006. Maitland studied writing and screenwriting at New York University after she moved to the east coast with her husband. The couple eventually moved back to California after two years in the Big Apple.
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Maitland Ward Promoting Her Memoir
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Maitland Ward released her book, Rated X, on Sept. 6, 2022. Here she attended the book signing at Barnes & Noble in California while rocking a dark cocktail dress and heels.
October 13, 2022, 6:05PM 3 of 6
Maitland Ward at the 9th annual Thirst Gala in Los Angeles
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Maitland Ward on the red carpet at the 9th Annual Thirst Gala in Los Angeles, CA on April 21, 2018. She wore a plunging deep blue mini dress with silver embellished sleeves. The actress carried a black bag and stepped out in open-toe stilettos.
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Maitland Ward out and about in Los Angeles
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Maitland Ward was all smiles while out and about in Los Angeles on June 12, 2015. She stunned in a long sleeve black shirt and yellow and black tye dye pants.
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Maitland Ward at the 2014 Hollywood Film Awards
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Maitland Ward arrived to the 2014 Hollywood Film Awards in style. She wore a silver strapless gown to the event, which took place at the Palladium in Los Angeles, CA. Maitland’s dress featured silver feathers and beads.
October 3, 2019, 12:18PM
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Maitland Ward at the Adolfo Sanchez fashion show in New York
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Maitland Ward at the Adolfo Sanchez fashion show in New York on October 20, 2014. The actress showed off her fit physique in a black sheer gown. Panels of white and black patches covered her breasts and unmentionables.
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