By the time she was 10, Christina Kirkman was a household name for her role on “All That.” Unlike many child actors, she wasn’t the broken product of relentless auditions and toxic hustle—instead she was simply a kid who loved to entertain. Kirkman describes those chaotic days on set as surreal yet joyful, involving chance encounters with heroes like Amanda Bynes and Britney Spears.

Of course, she couldn’t escape that all-too-common reality of young fame: once the cameras stopped rolling, she felt the crushing weight of isolation, confusion, expectation and the struggle to return to a ‘normal’ life.

After years of navigating the unpredictable entertainment industry, Kirkman found herself drawn to content creation—a space she once dismissed. What started as playful videos featuring her beloved dog Winston quickly grew into a full-fledged career. Now, she’s taking a leap into the podcasting world with “Life’s a Joke,” a platform where she embraces the complexities of life through raw conversations and, naturally, her signature humor.

In this interview, Kirkman opens up about embracing vulnerability, rediscovering her creative spark and learning to laugh through it all.

PLAYBOY: You started on “All That” at just 10 years old. What was it like to be a child on TV?

KIRKMAN: The older I get, the more I try to think about things. If I really try to remember how I felt at that time, like, okay, I was an only child. I wasn’t a traditional actor going on tons of auditions. I was just the kid who entertained my family. That was my thing. So being in these wacky situations where I’m just being goofy and weird? Totally normal for me. That was my whole personality. And I think because I wasn’t a child actor on the grind, with the endless auditions, rejection, self-tapes and all that, there weren’t these insane stakes. It wasn’t like, “Oh my god, I booked this and it’s a whole life-changing moment.” It was just like, “Oh cool, I get to go play.”

And then when you’re a kid, everything is just so weird and chaotic already. So even though it was this huge TV production with a million cameras and lights, I was just like, “Okay, this is what I do now.” The kids on the show were super welcoming, and that really helped. They treated me like I belonged, so it felt like I was just hanging out with my friends. Sure, at first it was terrifying, “I’m on a set and everyone’s watching me.” But eventually, it was like, “Whatever, it’s just another day.”

Of course, there were those wild moments that made me realize, okay, this is kinda crazy. Like when I met Amanda Bynes, I was losing my mind. Or working with Britney Spears. One of the most insane moments was at the Kids’ Choice Awards when Chris Rock asked me for an autograph for his daughter? Niece? Himself? I was like, “Is this a prank? Chris Rock wants my autograph?” That was definitely a peak. Then there were those moments leaving set, going to lunch, and there’d be a sea of kids screaming and asking for autographs. I’m like, “This is so bizarre.” But then I’d get my little $20 a week (everything else went into savings), hit up Paul Frank or Sanrio for some Hello Kitty stuff, and I was thriving. That was my whole world.

PLAYBOY: What did you learn after the show and then coming back into your regular life?

KIRKMAN: Going through that as a kid was pretty brutal. Speaking as a former child actor, let me tell you—you NEED guardians who are going to keep you grounded. No one tells you that when you’re little. I didn’t have siblings, so I was always a bit of a lone wolf. Even now, I’m super comfortable being alone. But back then? I had nobody who could relate to what I’d just gone through. Like, my parents tried, but I’d be all, “You don’t get it, Mom.” 

It was so isolating. I remember thinking, “Nobody understands me, nobody knows what I’m feeling.” And there wasn’t social media like there is now. It was just me, alone with my thoughts. And let me tell you, those thoughts weren’t always great. I hated it. I resented everything for a long time. People who bullied me suddenly wanted to be friends. People who ignored me before now wanted to be close. It was strange.

But looking back, I’m kind of glad I went through it. It forced me to figure out how to be okay with myself. Like, truly okay. It taught me not to let other people’s opinions dictate what I love or pursue. And I’m grateful for that. I realized that I love creating. I love entertaining. But I had to fall in and out of love with it to get there. It’s been a weird journey.

PLAYBOY: What has the transition to content creation been like for you?

KIRKMAN: Switching from traditional acting to content creation? Never thought I’d do it. Seriously, I was like, “I would never do content creation.” But when I stepped back and asked myself, “What do I actually love about this industry?” It definitely wasn’t the rejection or the soul-sucking auditions. It wasn’t dealing with shitty people. It was just the fact that I love entertaining.

And I think the pandemic made people realize how powerful entertainment is. People like to treat it like it’s some added luxury that we don’t need, but when shit hit the fan, what did we all turn to? TikTok. Netflix. YouTube. Entertainment became a lifeline. And I was like, “Oh, okay, so people actually need this. Maybe I’m not just goofing around for no reason.”

For me, comedy has always been my survival tool. When life sucks, I’m like, “How can I laugh about this?” Sometimes it’s dark, sometimes it’s awkward, but comedy has gotten me through every rough patch. It’s like a little emotional band-aid. And now I get to share that through my content. I just shot my first podcast episode, and I was like, “This is why I do this.” Comedy can disarm people. It can make uncomfortable conversations easier. It’s powerful.

PLAYBOY: Are there certain comics or shows that mean a lot to you from that time?

KIRKMAN: Absolutely. I grew up with a super goofy dad who’s all slapstick comedy and a mom who’s more sarcastic and dark-humored. I got the perfect blend of both. Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Adam Sandler—all that traditional, ridiculous comedy had me in a chokehold.

But when I’m really in a funk? It’s all about adult animation. “South Park,” “Family Guy,” “Rick and Morty.” And honestly, “SpongeBob” is still my all-time favorite show. My senior thesis in college was turning “SpongeBob” episodes into an Adult Swim show. Like, I ripped lines out of context, and it became the filthiest thing you’ve ever read. I was like, “This is brilliant.” And it totally makes sense now why my parents loved watching it with me. They were in on jokes I had no idea about.

So yeah, when life gets shitty, I turn to cartoons. It’s comforting, nostalgic and still absolutely hilarious. No shame in that. 

PLAYBOY: Let’s go back to the process of becoming a content creator. We want to hear more about how it happened.

KIRKMAN: I had a really black-and-white idea of how I wanted my life to go. I was obsessed with not being put in a box, but in doing that, I ended up putting myself in one. I was determined to become an actor through one specific route, shutting off any other possibilities of entering traditional Hollywood.

For a while, I thought, “I could try content creation,” but I rejected it. I didn’t resonate with the space for a lot of reasons. There was probably some jealousy and resentment because creators had control over their careers. They could write their own jokes, say what they wanted, and just be free. Meanwhile, I was constantly facing rejection. I’d hear, “You’re pinned,” or “You’re top two,” or “You’re on the producers’ desk, don’t book that flight.” Then COVID hit. The industry shut down, and even the little momentum I had was gone.

But then we got Winston, my dog. I never intended to make social media accounts for him, but I started posting him on my socials, and people loved it. Soon, brands wanted to pay me for content. It clicked. I thought, “This is great. I can write, do comedy, and even voiceover work, which I love.” Growing up, I was obsessed with video games and animation, so creating Winston’s character and voicing him felt natural. It was my loophole—a way to make money while still feeling like an actor.

Eventually, as the money started coming in, I had this weird anxiety. I was doing well financially, but I thought, “This is a dog. This isn’t sustainable.” As much as I wanted Winston to live to be 300 years old, I knew I needed to build something for myself. A friend told me, “People love Winston, but you’re technically Winston.” That’s when I committed fully to my own socials, and it took off.

PLAYBOY: You have a new podcast coming out. Where did the idea come from, and what is it about?

KIRKMAN: Getting this podcast off the ground was a journey, mostly because of my own anxiety. Starting anything new is scary. With social media, I eventually found a rhythm, but podcasting was unpredictable. At first, I had a different podcast idea that people loved, but something didn’t feel right. After a lot of reflection (and some joint-smoking sessions), I realized I was just scared.

A big part of the fear was vulnerability. The internet sees me as this confident, comedic, doesn’t-give-a-fuck person, but I’m not one-dimensional. There are so many sides to me that are hard to show on social media. This podcast felt like an opportunity to share the good, the bad, and the ugly. I also realized I use comedy as a coping mechanism, a temporary fix. I’ll make a joke, laugh it off, and move on — but the emotions always catch up. The podcast will hold me accountable and encourage me to face things instead of masking them.

We landed on the name “Life’s a Joke,” which has a lot of personal meaning. It was my dad’s business name growing up and I even have it tattooed on my funny bone. The phrase captures my comedic style—self-deprecating, but reflective. Life will laugh at you sometimes, so why not try to laugh first? The podcast is unpredictable, just like life. Some episodes are funny, some are sad, some are raw, and some are just… nothing. That’s the point.

PLAYBOY: You may be surprised how people who enjoy your comedy will also be touched by your more vulnerable content.

KIRKMAN: I hope so. It’s scary, but I feel a sense of responsibility. Social media doesn’t always allow for full authenticity. Sure, I’m transparent, but there’s only so much you can share within its structure. The podcast will give me space to be more open, and I’m ready for it.

Want more from Christina Kirkman? Tune into her new podcast, “Life’s a Joke,” available now on all podcast platforms.