Mara Wilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mara Wilson
Wilson in 2024
Born	Mara Elizabeth Wilson (1987-07-24) July 24, 1987 (age 38) Burbank, California, U.S.
Education	New York University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress, writer
Years active	1993–2000, 2012–present
Relatives	Ben Shapiro (cousin)

Mara Elizabeth Wilson (born July 24, 1987) is an American actress and writer. She became famous as a child for her roles in popular movies. She played Natalie Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street (1994), and the main character in Matilda (1996).

After her role in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000), Mara took a 12-year break from acting. During this time, she focused on her writing. She returned to acting in 2012 and has since appeared in many web series.

Early life and education

Mara Elizabeth Wilson was born on July 24, 1987, in Burbank, California. She was the fourth child of Suzie Wilson, a school volunteer, and Mike Wilson, a broadcast engineer for the TV station KTLA.

When Mara was eight years old, her mother sadly passed away in 1996. The movie Matilda was dedicated to her mother's memory. Mara later said that this experience made it harder for her to enjoy acting.

As a teenager, Mara was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She went to John Burroughs High School and later the Idyllwild Arts Academy. After graduating in 2005, she moved to New York City. She studied at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and graduated in 2009.

Career

Wilson in 2017

Acting as a child

Mara became interested in acting when she was five years old after seeing her older brother in TV commercials. Her parents were hesitant at first, but they let her try. After appearing in some commercials, she auditioned for the movie Mrs. Doubtfire and got the part of Natalie Hillard. The next year, she starred in the remake of Miracle on 34th Street.

Her work in these films got the attention of actor and director Danny DeVito. He cast her as the main character, Matilda Wormwood, in the 1996 movie Matilda. For this role, she won a YoungStar Award.

In 1997, Mara starred in the movie A Simple Wish with Martin Short. She also auditioned for other big movies like the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap, but the role went to Lindsay Lohan because Mara was considered too young.

Her last major film as a child was Thomas and the Magic Railroad in 2000. After this movie, she decided to retire from film acting.

A new path as a writer

Mara took a long break from movies because she said film acting wasn't very fun. She felt she didn't have much creative freedom. During her break, she focused on her education and began to write.

In 2013, her play Sheeple was part of the New York International Fringe Festival. She also started a blog called "Mara Wilson Writes Stuff."

In 2016, she published a book called Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame. In the book, she writes about her experiences as a child star.

Return to acting

In 2012, Mara returned to acting, but she chose different kinds of projects. She appeared in web series, including shows on the Channel Awesome website. She even played a grown-up version of Matilda in a comedy review of the movie.

She has also done voice acting. She had a recurring role on the popular podcast Welcome to Night Vale as "The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home." She also voiced characters in the animated shows BoJack Horseman and Big Hero 6: The Series.

In 2021, she talked about her childhood in the documentary Showbiz Kids.

Personal life

Mara has three older brothers and one younger sister. She is the cousin of political commentator Ben Shapiro. They do not have contact with each other because they have very different political views.

Mara has been open about her experiences with mental health. She has talked about having anxiety, depression, and OCD to help others who might be going through similar things. She has worked with a group called Project UROK, which helps teenagers with mental illness.

She also supports people with health conditions like endometriosis and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, both of which she has.

In a 2021 article for The New York Times, Mara wrote about the pressures faced by young stars like Britney Spears. She remembered being called a "spoiled brat" by a reporter when she was 13 because she wanted her birthday off instead of doing interviews.

Filmography

Film

Television

Web series

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Mara Wilson para niños