Skins built a reputation for its bold approach to storylines centered on teenage sex, mental health struggles, and drug use. In the years since, the series has faced increasing scrutiny for how it handled its young cast, with several actors — including Kaya Scodelario — openly sharing concerns about the lack of proper safeguarding during filming.
She recalled being allowed to film intimate scenes with an actor nearly twice her age, something she now views very differently as an adult.
“I’m treated better on OnlyFans than I was on Skins”, she told Cosmopolitan magazine.
“They want women to be sexual, but only under their control.”
The actress went on to say that many viewers assumed the cast earned a lot more than they actually did while working on the show, even though the reality was far different from what people imagined.
“Of course, £400 a week to a 16-year-old I was like ‘I’m rich’ but when you look back… Our contacts also meant we don’t see any money from any streaming platforms.”
In a previous interview with Metro, Megan shared that her time after leaving Skins brought a tough dose of reality, as she struggled to find steady acting roles despite the show’s popularity.
“The second I started stripping there was a lot of internalised misogyny,” Megan said, speaking about the moment she first entered the industry.
“I thought ‘I can’t tell people this, if anyone in the acting industry finds out I’ll never work again.’ I think a decade ago that would have been true, unfortunately. So I went back to doing regular side jobs for minimum wage.”
“It completely changed my life,” she said, noting how significantly the platform changed her day-to-day life.
Skins, which aired from 2007 to 2013, remains well known for launching the careers of several acclaimed actors, including Dev Patel, Nicholas Hoult, Daniel Kaluuya, and Kaya Scodelario.
