Child star Mara Wilson, 37, left Hollywood after ‘Matilda’ as she was ‘not cute anymore’

Mara Wilson first captured the world’s heart in the early 1990s as a child actor, enchanting audiences with her performances in cherished family films like Miracle on 34th Street and Mrs. Doubtfire. However, as she celebrated her 37th birthday on July 24, she reflected on how her early success led to a fading presence in Hollywood as she matured and lost the “cute” charm that had made her a star. In her own words, Wilson remarked, “If you’re not cute anymore, if you’re not beautiful, then you are worthless. Hollywood was burned out on me.” At just five years old, she won over millions as Robin Williams’ youngest daughter in Mrs. Doubtfire. Prior to this role, the California native had already made a name for herself in commercials, with a promising future ahead. Despite her rising fame, Wilson’s parents kept her grounded. “Even though they were proud of me, my parents would still ground me,” she recalled. “My mother always reminded me, ‘You’re just a kid,’ whenever I would get too confident and say something like, ‘I’m the greatest!’” 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.” Despite her struggles in Hollywood, Wilson found a new direction as a writer. In 2016, she published her first book, Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame, chronicling her journey from childhood stardom to a life of content but happy obscurity. In it, she discusses everything from learning about sex on the set of Melrose Place to realizing she was no longer “cute” enough for Hollywood. She also authored another memoir, Good Girls Don’t, in which she explores the pressures of living up to expectations as a young performer. “Being cute made me miserable,” Wilson noted in her Guardian column. “I always expected to give up acting, not the other way around.” What are your thoughts on Mara Wilson’s story? Share this with others, and let us know what you think!