Maitland Ward

Ashley Maitland Welkos, born on 3 February 1977, is widely recognized by her professional name Maitland Ward. She hails from Long Beach, California, and has made a remarkable mark in both mainstream and adult entertainment.

Maitland began her acting career in the early 1990s, debuting as Jessica Forrester on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful from 1994 to 1996. She gained more fame as Rachel McGuire on the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World during its sixth and seventh seasons, which aired from 1998 to 2000. After stepping away from mainstream acting in 2007, Maitland returned to the entertainment scene in 2019, transitioning to adult films.

During her time in mainstream television, Ward also showcased her talent in various roles. She made guest appearances on shows like USA High and the seventh season of Home Improvement. She starred in the 1997 television film Killing Mr. Griffin, alongside notable actors like Jay Thomas and Mario Lopez. After her role in Boy Meets World, she appeared in independent films such as Dish Dogs and the comedy White Chicks released in 2004.

Following her departure from mainstream acting, Maitland delved into cosplay and began attending comic conventions. Her first major cosplay was inspired by the character of Princess Leia, which she showcased at several events. In addition, she has portrayed other beloved characters from pop culture, including Jessica 6 from Logan's Run and Red Sonja.

In 2013, Maitland began to share more personal content on social media platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. This included nude and topless photographs, which garnered significant attention from fans. In 2019, she made headlines for announcing her entry into the adult film industry with a project titled Drive, a decision that was described by the media as a significant career shift. Her announcement was met with support from colleagues, including former co-star Trina McGee.

Maitland signed with adult talent agency Society 15 in May 2019, marking the start of her new career path. She expressed that she was excited about the opportunity to explore this new avenue and promised fans that there would be more interesting projects to come. The release of Drive on 30 September 2019, was met with acclaim, and she quickly became a prominent figure in the adult film industry.

Born and raised in Long Beach, Maitland married real estate agent Terry Baxter on 21 October 2006, after meeting on set. She pursued her education at New York University, where she studied writing and screenwriting.

In September 2022, she released her autobiography titled Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood, detailing her journey through the complex worlds of mainstream and adult entertainment.