Entertainment Weekly reports that Alison Sweeney got her start in a Christmas commercial for Kodak when she was just a child and went on to grow up in front of the camera (via Fox News). Her acting career quickly began to branch out and in 1985 she appeared in a somber episode of the hit series "Webster," where her young character was the victim of abuse.
"I remember my mother having to explain it to me and how serious the subject was," Sweeney said. "It was the first time a sitcom had ever addressed the real social issue of child abuse. My character was being molested by her teacher and Webster realizes that something's not right and goes to tell his mom and dad. They brought in a counselor to talk to my character and help her understand that it isn't her fault and that she didn't do anything wrong. It was really powerful," she added.
That same year, she was also cast on an episode of "St. Elsewhere" during a Christmas episode, which featured her as a child at the hospital when a man dressed as Santa Claus comes in. "I remember my mother telling me that it's not really Santa Claus, that Santa Claus lets other people dress up as him to prepare for Christmas. I mean, she had a whole story mapped out for me," Sweeney recalled.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
