One incident in particular was her first kiss at the roller rink.
He tried to stick his tongue down my throat, the 34-year-old actor says.
Once he informed her that was a thing people did, though, Whitman was OK.
I was like, Lets give it another spin, she recalls.
And of course, from that point on, I loved the tongue-down-the-throat-situation.
It wasnt all awkward, though.
Im such araging air sign,Whitman says.
Im such a Gemini.
Its like, I can do anything a little bit.
Take me back to 2002.
How were you feeling about your life then?
Its weird being a child actor.
[But] something happened in high school.
It might have to do with me being forced to be on the cheerleading team.
Id always skated by being nerdy and talking to all the groups.
And then high school happened, and I was really popular.
I was this unwilling prop.
It was a very weird time for me to be pushed and pulled in these strange directions.
Its a tricky time.
And lord, the clothing, am I right?
What was your go-to style?
And it all still fits.
It is so in now.
I wore one yesterday that says Hollywood cowgirl.
OnUp Here,Lindsay deals with musical voices in her head.
Who were the voices in your head at 14?
My voices, my defense mechanisms, were from when I was achildchild actor.
I started when I was 3.
So mine look more like hand-drawn, crayon monster characters like Medusa.
I understand youre here to keep me safe.
[But] I got this one.
My parents are so damn cool.
Theyre chill as hell.
Theyre funny and insane.
So, I never felt criticism from them, literally ever.
Theyre up there but just in the good areas.
Did you ever watchGilmore Girlswhen you were 14 before going on to star withLauren GrahamonParenthood?
I watched it later, thank God.
My friend group was ripping.
I knew Alia from when I was 11 or 12.
We immediately fit together, like two puzzle pieces.
Were so different, but the ways that we meet in the middle are really special.
She was my absolute best friend.
And Im like, Jesus, that is some advanced adulting.
But I did OK!
Youve been vocal aboutliving with endometriosis,and starting to seek out a diagnosis starting around 14.
What was it like dealing with that on top of puberty in general?
I always say it was my shadow.
It was my partner because it affected me so much that I couldnt function on my own.
I couldnt just make a decision without consulting it.
Id have to pass on jobs it was so a part of my life.
The pain was unbearable.
And it was alienating because I didnt know anybody else that had it.
They tried to put [me] on birth control, like, This will stop it.
Which, of course, it didnt.
Then I just spent 15 years of my life being like,What is it?
Finally, I got so sick a few years ago; I ended up in the hospital.
But being acknowledged and having someone tell you what it is I just cried hysterically in the doctors office.
Because it was the first time I didnt leave feeling completely alone and isolated.
Because God knows, theres a lot of us.
What would you tell 14-year-old Mae today?
I took it for granted because I was like,Well, this is just what it is.
You just work this hard.
You just feel this stress.So I feel like whispering in my ear, This is not normal.
you’re able to rest.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
