Mara Wilson on the Downside of Having Starred in ‘Matilda’
Mara Wilson was one of the most visible child stars of the ’90s, acting in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and A Simple Wish. Her biggest role, however, was in Danny DeVito’s adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic Matilda. Wilson’s star turn as Matilda Wormwood won her critical praise. Unfortunately, it also ensured that for the rest of her life people would think she was just like that character.
In an interview with The A.V. Club, Wilson talked about the downside of being in Matilda. “People imagined that I was her. We had things in common, but I was never a prodigy. I was never a child genius. … A lot of it is shutting me down. Basically, what people are saying is, ‘You’re a little girl to me forever.’”
Still, Wilson is not totally down on having played the part, adding, “I think that I’ve come to peace with it, though, because I just have to be grateful for it. It is annoying when people call me Matilda instead of my name when they actually know my name, because you know, we are two different people. But what can you do?”
Maybe the worst part of having been a child star is the icebreaker it creates for sketchy dudes. Wilson shared, “I do have guys every now and then who say, ‘You were my childhood crush, can we date?’ And I’m like, ‘There’s something kind of creepy about that. Do you hear yourself?’”
Overall, Wilson seems like she’s in a great place. She avoided the scandals and tragedies that befall so many child stars, attended NYU, and is now an author. If you want to read more on her life, her book, Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood And Accidental Fame, is now out in stores.
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