Child star Mara Wilson: From Hollywood fame to mental health advocate

Mara Wilson gained recognition as a child star after her role in the film "Matilda." Privately, the actress struggled with illness and the death of her mother. She also took a break from show business for a while. What is she up to today?

Show business is full of stars who started their media careers as children. Unfortunately, this world is not always pleasant. Mara Wilson, best known for her roles in "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Miracle on 34th Street," experienced this firsthand a few years ago.

The actress gained the most popularity after her role in the film "Matilda," which premiered in 1996. Mara Wilson was only 9 years old at the time. The young star played the titular character. During the filming, her mother lost her battle with cancer.

The dark side of fame and the brutality of the show business world affected Wilson despite her young age. However, the actress doesn't categorise everyone the same way. Although she admitted that she mainly worked with directors who knew how to handle children on set, she also faced inappropriate comments from journalists and fans.

I had people sending me inappropriate letters and posting things about me online. I made the mistake of Googling myself when I was 12 and saw things that I couldn’t unsee. People don’t realise how much constantly talking to the press as a child weighs on you – she revealed in the HBO documentary "Showbiz Kids."

The actress did not hide that show business also took a toll on her during adolescence when she auditioned for roles in several major productions. Unfortunately, she was unsuccessful. At that time, Mara Wilson felt her popularity had plummeted dramatically. This ultimately led to her decision to end her career. Years later, the star was grateful for such a turn of events, as it protected her from many dangers from being part of the media world.

Recently, Mara Wilson has been mainly involved in writing, which she dreamed of as a child. However, she hasn’t completely given up acting. She still appears sporadically in various productions, which she shares on social media. Not long ago, an audio series about vampires featuring her premiered. This was also noted on her Instagram profile.

The actress is also involved in supporting children and teenagers with psychological problems, something she herself experienced. Mara Wilson fought deep depression for years, and at just 12 years old, she was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Today, she speaks openly about her problems.

Do you remember Mara Wilson from her role as Matilda? See how she looks today.