Child star Mara Wilson, 37, left Hollywood after ‘Matilda’ as she was ‘not cute anymore’
Following Mrs. Doubtfire, Wilson secured the iconic role of Susan Walker in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street, a character originally portrayed by Natalie Wood in 1947. In an essay for The Guardian, she reminisced about her audition, saying, “I read my lines for the production team and told them I didn’t believe in Santa Claus, but I did believe in the tooth fairy—and had named mine after Sally Field,” a nod to her co-star from Mrs. Doubtfire.
In 1996, she took on another memorable role as the enchanting girl in Matilda, starring alongside Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman. Tragically, that same year, her mother, Suzie, passed away from breast cancer, a loss that profoundly affected the young actress. “I wasn’t sure who I was anymore,” Wilson said.
“I was two different people before and after her death. She was this constant presence in my life, and losing her was overwhelming. I just wanted to be a normal kid, especially after she was gone.”
Despite her burgeoning fame, Wilson felt deeply unhappy during this period, exhausted by the pressures of stardom. Her last significant film role came in 2000 with Thomas and the Magic Railroad at the age of 11. Even then, she felt detached from the industry, admitting, “I reacted viscerally to the writing. I was only 11, but I thought, ‘Ugh, I hate this.’”
Wilson’s exit from Hollywood wasn’t entirely voluntary. As she entered puberty, the opportunities dwindled, with casting directors no longer perceiving her as the “cute” child star she had been. Reflecting on her teenage years, she described herself as “just another weird, nerdy, loud girl with bad hair and teeth, whose bra strap was always showing.”
By 13, Wilson realized that people no longer referred to her as cute, “Not in a flattering way, at least.” The transition from child star to adolescent, combined with the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, took a toll on her self-esteem. “I had this Hollywood notion that if you’re not attractive or cute, you’re worthless. I linked that to my career’s downfall. Even though I was burned out on acting, rejection still hurt.”
