Mara Wilson got her start in Hollywood early. Her first film appearance was in the 1993 film, “Mrs. Doubtfire.” She went on to star in many more famous titles like “Matilda” and “A Simple Wish.”
Now, Wilson is in her mid-30s and has grown into a beautiful young woman. She has recently shared her thoughts on why she stepped back from acting and shared her sexuality with the world.
Wilson found fame at only nine when she starred in “Matilda.” While it was an exciting time professionally, Wilson faced turmoil at home as her mother was dying of breast cancer. Wilson never thought her mother would die and admits that as she’s aged, her mother has become more mythical in her mind.
The former actress described that her life had two parts: who she was before she became famous, her mother passed away, and who she was after. Her mother’s death left her “completely lost, completely unmoored.”
Wilson, who learned of her mother’s illness in 1995, recalled feeling good about being able to focus on her role in “Matilda” rather than having to face everything that was going on at home.
Danny DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman, tried to ensure that Wilson had the best experience possible on set and even offered to take her home with them when her parents had to go to the hospital for her mom.
Wilson’s mother passed away in April 1996, just a few months before “Matilda” premiered worldwide. However, before she passed away, she saw a rough cut of the movie as DeVito took her a copy to watch in the hospital.
The former actress only learned of this later in life and said it meant a lot to her. Along with this incredible gift, Suzie was honored in the film’s credits. Talking about the tribute to her mother in her movie, Wilson admitted:
“I felt so glad when I saw that in the credits, and I still feel happy when I see that now. I’m so glad they did that.”
Although she went through a tragic time while filming “Matilda,” Wilson has fond memories of being on the set and recalled a familial atmosphere between her and her costars. In fact, Wilson was anxious when filming wrapped, and she had to return to her everyday life.
Wilson confessed that she wished she had stopped acting after “Matilda” because she felt that was her peak. However, she did not because she thought that working was the only constant in her life after her mother passed away.
The former actress says she was so depressed and anxious after her mother passed away that she doesn’t even have clear memories of the film premiering, only vague memories of the event.
What Was Wilson’s Life Like As A Kid?
Wilson has revealed that she does not believe one can be a child actor without it having some lasting damage. However, for the most part, Wilson felt protected on the sets and said her mother was the driving force in that protection while she was alive.
Wilson’s mother ensured she always spoke up for her daughter if they ever felt uncomfortable with something. Wilson’s mother and father thought she would be safe if she worked on children’s movies.
However, Wilson admits that the world still sexualized her. She even had adult men trying to contact her. Talking about being harassed online and in person, Wilson shared:
“I made the mistake of Googling myself when I was 12 and saw things that I couldn’t unsee.”
Her photo had been used on inappropriate websites, where her head had been superimposed onto other women’s bodies. Wilson also recalled the toll talking to the press as a child had taken on her.
Wilson remembers being asked which actor she was most attracted to and if she knew what French kissing was. She also felt pressured to be who her fans expected her to be and not who she indeed was in public.
She also felt she had disappointed her fans because she wasn’t as intelligent, pretty, or friendly as they had expected her to be. She thought she could never live up to her character in “Matilda.”
Wilson also felt that people misconceive child stars as brats, but she clarified that she was not a brat. All her life in Hollywood, she did as she was told and when she was told to avoid upsetting anyone.
She also recalled being humiliated on the “Thomas and the Magic Railroad” set when the director pulled her aside to talk to her about her changing body. She was going through puberty in front of an entire set of people.
Wilson felt she had done something wrong and said her preteen worst nightmare of having people talk behind her back had been realized when others had agreed she should wear binding bras.
How Does The Actress Look Now & What She Said About Her Personal Life?
Wilson has shared a new photo of herself on Instagram at age 35. She was attending ComicCon and encouraged her fans to come and greet her. Fans thought she looked “incredible” in the photo.
She slept through her classes, was afraid to make mistakes and let her classmates see her as an actor. Instead, she turned her attention to writing. She wrote dialogues and began doing performance pieces and became a one-woman show.
In 2016, Wilson shared that she had been upset by her fans’ reactions to her coming out as bisexual. She recalled being upset that an impulsive decision of hers had ended up trending on Facebook.
Now, she feels good about her life because she is more in control than ever when she was a child actor. She can now make up and tell stories how she wants to in her voice.