Hilary Duff has her mother, Susan Colleen Duff‘s back any time, any day!
The Disney alum got candid about her mother’s support throughout every stage of her life, offering a contrasting perspective from her “Agent Cody Banks” co-star, Frankie Muniz, who described her as “super intense.”
Hilary Duff’s admiration for her mother, Susan Colleen Duff, comes amid her ongoing estranged relationship with her sister, Haylie Duff. The duo has not been seen publicly together since 2019.
Hilary Duff Praised Her Mother For Supporting Her Dreams
The actress clarified that despite claims that her mother may be overbearing from her estranged husband, her mother never pushed her into acting or singing. In her interview with “Mythical Kitchen” on March 13 2026, Hilary stated:
“My mom knew that my sister [Haylie Duff] and I loved performing. I understand giving what your children are interested in, energy. Back when I was doing it, no one was acting where I came from, so everyone thought it was like, ‘She has a stage mom.'”
She praised her mother for being in her corner all the time, through the good and the bad times. While she admitted that several mistakes were made, she noted that it is hard to be like a family up against the machine.
Hilary’s mom earned the “super intense” tag from her former boyfriend, Muniz, who previously recalled an encounter backstage with Hilary and her mother, who was there and overseeing the entire process. While Muniz stated that his mother was calm and collected, Hilary’s mother was the exact opposite.
Frankie Muniz Shared His Experience With The Actress’ Mother
Hilary and the actor were an item as teenagers and had reportedly remained estranged since they parted ways in 2003 after filming “Agent Cody Banks.” US Magazine reported that Muniz confirmed on a podcast last year that he had not shared a conversation with his former partner in over two decades.
He shared that Hilary was one of his first friends after he moved to Los Angeles as a child actor, and he recalled having a strange conversation with Susan when he starred as a guest actor on an episode of the Disney series “Lizzie McGuire” in 2002.
During their conversation, Muniz informed Susan that he would be starring in “Agent Cody Banks,” playing a role similar to a junior James Bond. Susan had reportedly asked him if he had a say on who would play his love interest in the production, and he was expecting “Smallville” Kristin Kreuk.
The next day, Muniz shared that he learned Duff had landed the role the next day, and he was very shocked to the point that he ran out of things to say.
The Journey Of Susan Colleen Duff Through The Limelight
Susan is not a strange name in Hollywood talent halls because the industry watched her raise her two daughters and gradually introduce them to fame. Todays Magazine described her journey as a blend of determination, creativity, sacrifice, and relentless commitment to her daughter’s dreams.
She has since evolved from more than just a supportive mother into a respected talent agent, film producer, and strategist who made decisions that shaped the careers of her two beloved children in pop culture.
Susan is distantly related to some prominent historical figures, like Jane Seymour and George Washington, through her father’s ancestry. The actress’s mother was married twice, first to Patrick Curry from 1972 to 1975, then to Robert Erhard Duff in 1984.
Hilary Duff Brokedown Estrangement From Her Sister In New Song
The 38-year-old and her sister have shared a strained relationship for years, and the distance has impacted her life in a negative way. She chose to talk about it in her song “We Don’t Talk.” As shared by The Blast, she spoke on a podcast on March 9, addressing growth in her life, her return to music, and her experiences as a child star.
She admitted that she and her sister do not speak, and she has discovered over the years that her experiences are not isolated. In the track, Hilary revealed that people often asked her how Haylie was faring, and she often had no response other than to end up saying they do not talk.
She added on the track that she would do anything to bring them back to how close they used to be, even if it means selling off all her wealth and splitting it in half. Hilary and Haylie rose to fame together, appearing on separate TV shows around the same time and becoming household names.
In 2015, the sisters were excited about their relationship getting better as they became parents and even raised their children together. “It’s pretty awesome. It was something that we’ve wanted since we were little — to one day have kids together — so we’re pretty pumped,” Haylie had told PEOPLE at the time.
Hilary Cited Authenticity As The Inspiration Behind Her New Album
In February, The Blast shared that her desire to come forward about her personal struggles in her family stemmed from a desire to be authentic. The Disney alum explained that the importance of her family as those who affect her the most, and taking up space naturally made it necessary for her to speak the truth.
Hilary added that coming from the same family does not mean there would always be unity, as one can only control one’s side of the story. She described her relationship with her parents as very complicated, and even among her folks, things were not all rosy.
Aside from her family drama, Hilary also had to deal with her involvement in Ashley Tisdale’s “toxic mom group” article in The Cut, where she narrated her experiences in a mom group that practically made life unbearable for her. At the time, Hilary, Meghan Trainor, and other women were close friends with Ashley, causing all attention to be drawn to them.
Hilary Duff definitely knows her mother better than anyone else!