Christy Carlson Romano has shed new light on her tenure filming the Disney Channel series Even Stevens, revealing that her on-set relationship with co-star Shia LaBeouf was often strained. Speaking on Tuesday’s episode of the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, hosted by Amanda Hirsch, the actress described the pair as being “like oil and water” despite their young ages of 14 and 12 at the time.
Romano attributed the incompatibility to their contrasting backgrounds and parenting styles. She characterized her own upbringing as rigorous and disciplined, drawing parallels to her character Ren Stevens. “I was being raised and brought up to be this type A… you know your lines, you hit your marks, you don’t mess up,” Romano explained. She noted that as a New York child aspiring to pre-college Juilliard training, her regimen was intensive and structured.
In contrast, Romano described LaBeouf’s childhood as chaotic and grounded in the “vagrant fun” of Venice Beach. She referenced his father’s history as a recovering addict and the abusive environment LaBeouf endured, comparing the actor’s youth to the lifestyle depicted in the 1995 Larry Clark film Kids.
Despite the friction, Romano acknowledged LaBeouf’s professional drive, noting that he secured a manager at age eight. “He had a dream and made it happen for himself,” she said, offering praise for the Transformers and Holes star’s early determination.
The revelation adds context to previous social media exchanges between the two. Earlier this year, Romano posted and subsequently deleted a message on X stating, “Shia doesn’t deserve to be on the Rushmore. I’ll be writing a Substack on this so you can understand why.” The comment was a response to Raven-Symoné, who included LaBeouf in her list of Disney stars for a fictional Mount Rushmore.
On Tuesday, Romano also shared a behind-the-scenes photograph on Instagram featuring herself, LaBeouf, and his father on the Even Stevens set. “Shia and I spent 3 years of our lives right next to each other in adjoining trailers, both of us enduring painful childhoods,” she wrote. “If only we could have been there for each other, but we were each going through our own battles and could barely take care of ourselves.”
Romano confirmed that she plans to explore these experiences in greater detail in her upcoming memoir, Once Upon a Trainwreck: The Fall and Rise of a Child Star, which is scheduled for release on October 6.
Even Stevens aired from 2000 to 2003, centering on the opposing personalities of siblings Ren and Louis Stevens.
Wait, Shia had a manager at eight? That’s intense even for child stars. Didn’t know that part of his backstory.
The contrast between their backgrounds really explains the friction. Trauma responses aren’t always visible, but they definitely affect a set dynamic.