There are certain films that seem to unite an entire generation. One of those movies is Matilda, the quirky tale of a girl who develops special powers while trying to navigate a very unconventional childhood. Mara Wilson was the star of that film, and many assumed that she would go on to have a huge Hollywood career.
That didn’t happen, though. In almost all the ways that count, she dropped off the radar and stopped pursuing those traditional Hollywood dreams. Recently, we decided to see what the star was up to and whether her real life has been as magical as Matilda’s. What has this acting icon been up to lately? Keep reading to find out!
Walking away from Hollywood
Let’s start with the big question: why have you not seen Mara Wilson in movies for so long? She made a huge splash in the ‘90s by starring in popular films like Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle On 34th Street, and (of course) Matilda. Eventually, though, she walked away from Hollywood and decided to focus on other things.
There are many reasons for this, including the unpleasant experiences she had getting sexualized as a child star. Mostly, though, it was boredom. On an old blog, she admitted that she didn’t find acting very fun, and when she sees someone reading lines for an audition on the subway, she is profoundly grateful that she’s no longer part of the Hollywood rat race.