Mara Wilson

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Mara Elizabeth Wilson (born July 24, 1987) is an American actress. As a child, she played Natalie Hillard in the film Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and went on to play Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street (1994), the title character in Matilda (1996), and Annabel Greening in A Simple Wish (1997). Following her role as Lily in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000), Wilson took a 12-year hiatus from acting to focus on writing. She returned to acting in 2012 and has predominantly worked in web series.

Early life

Mara Elizabeth Wilson was born in Burbank, California, on July 24, 1987,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the oldest daughter of Burbank PTA school volunteer Suzie (Template:Née) and KTLA broadcast engineer Mike Wilson.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Her mother was Jewish, while her father is a Catholic of Irish descent.<ref name="Klion"/><ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref><ref>Template:YouTube</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Wilson's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 10, 1995,<ref name="people-cancer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and died on April 26, 1996 when Wilson was 8 years old. The film Matilda was dedicated to her memory.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wilson later recalled that this affected her interest in acting.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At age 12, Wilson was diagnosed with obsessive–compulsive disorder.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She has also been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.<ref>Template:Cite interview</ref> She attended John Burroughs High School and then transferred to Idyllwild Arts Academy. After graduation in 2005, Wilson relocated to New York City to continue her studies at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 2009.<ref>Ghert-Zand, Renee (April 18, 2012). "Mara Wilson Hated Being a Movie Star". The Forward.</ref> Wilson appeared in her own one-woman show called Weren't You That Girl? while in college.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Career

File:Mara Wilson (37671460704).jpg

Wilson in 2017

When Wilson was five, she became interested in acting after watching her older brother Danny appear in television commercials. Wilson's parents were initially opposed, but after appearing in several commercials for businesses, Wilson was invited to audition for the 1993 comedy film Mrs. Doubtfire. Producers cast Wilson in the role of Natalie Hillard. The following year, Wilson appeared in a remake of Miracle on 34th Street.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Wilson sang "Make 'Em Laugh" at the 67th Academy Awards broadcast on March 27, 1995, with Tim Curry and Kathy Najimy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1995, Wilson won the ShoWest Award for Young Star of the Year.

Wilson's film work caught the attention of Danny DeVito, and she was cast as the protagonist Matilda Wormwood in the 1996 film Matilda. She was nine years old at the time. Wilson was nominated for three awards for her performance, winning the YoungStar Award for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film.

In 1997, Wilson starred in A Simple Wish alongside Martin Short.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Although she was nominated for three awards again, the film mostly received negative reviews by critics.Template:Citation needed

In 1997, Wilson went to a table reading for What Dreams May Come starring Robin Williams, but she did not get the part.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A year later, she auditioned for the 1998 remake of Disney's The Parent Trap, but the role was given to Lindsay Lohan after Wilson was deemed too young.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1999, she portrayed Willow Johnson in the film for The Wonderful World of Disney titled Balloon Farm.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2000, Wilson appeared in the fantasy film Thomas and the Magic Railroad, her last film to date. The film was panned by critics and performed poorly at the box office. Wilson retired from film work shortly afterwards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She received a script for the 2001 film Donnie Darko but declined to audition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Wilson's theater credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream and Cinderella. She starred in her own live shows Weren't You That Girl? and What Are You Afraid Of?<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2012, Wilson appeared briefly in one episode of the web series Missed Connection in the role of Bitty, and made special appearances on internet review shows for That Guy with the Glasses, including a comedic turn playing an adult Matilda during a review of Matilda by The Nostalgia Chick, Lindsay Ellis. That year, Wilson explained why she quit film acting: "Film acting is not very fun. Doing the same thing over and over again until, in the director's eyes, you 'get it right', does not allow for very much creative freedom. The best times I had on film sets were the times the director let me express myself, but those were rare."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2012, she started publishing online writing at a blog called "Mara Wilson Writes Stuff", where in 2014 she shared memories of working with Robin Williams after his death.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2018, she moved to Substack with a blog called "Shan't We Call the Vicar."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In April 2013, she attended and shared her impressions of the Broadway production of Matilda the Musical.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In May 2013, Wilson wrote an article for Cracked.com, offering her opinion of the delinquency of some former child stars.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As of 2013, Wilson worked for Publicolor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Her play Sheeple was produced in 2013 for the New York International Fringe Festival.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In an interview that December, Wilson stated that her film acting days are over,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and that she is instead focusing on writing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wilson’s book Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame was published on September 13, 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Wilson had a recurring role on the podcast Welcome to Night Vale as "The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home", as well as her own storytelling show called What Are You Afraid Of?.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2016, Wilson made a brief return to television in a Mrs. Doubtfire-inspired episode of Broad City, in which she played a waitress where the comical Heimlich scene from the film was re-enacted.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That same year, Wilson voiced Jill Pill, a writer/director anthropomorphic spider, in season 3 of BoJack Horseman.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wilson voiced Liv Amara and her clone, Diane Amara, in Big Hero 6: The Series.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In a 2017 NPR interview, The Simpsons voice actress Nancy Cartwright stated that a young Wilson was the inspiration for a character's voice on the episode "Bart Sells His Soul".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2020 she discussed her childhood acting experiences in the HBO documentary Showbiz Kids.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

In May 2024, she reunited with Mrs. Doubtfire cast members Lisa Jakub and Matthew Lawrence for a joint podcast appearance.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> They had also reunited in 2018 together with Pierce Brosnan on the Today Show to mark the film's 25th anniversary.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Charity work

In 2015, Wilson collaborated with Project UROK, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to aid teens with mental illness.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Wilson has three older brothers and a younger sister.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She is a cousin of political commentator and media host Ben Shapiro,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> whom she has disavowed due to his conservative views and her left-wing beliefs;<ref name="Klion">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the two have no contact with each other.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wilson was raised Jewish.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She became an atheist at the age of 15.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In a 2020 interview, Wilson described herself as an agnostic.<ref name="Klion"/> In 2023, she participated in an online discussion with Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg for the 92nd Street Y.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

In 2014, she was working for Publicolor, a New York City-based nonprofit organization involved in repainting public schools.<ref name=":1" />

In 2015, Wilson appeared in a video by the mental health charity Project UROK in which she discussed the mental illnesses she has experienced, including anxiety, depression, and obsessive–compulsive disorder.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wilson discussed her history of mental illness on Paul Gilmartin's podcast The Mental Illness Happy Hour.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Wilson first came out as bisexual in June 2016, in the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wilson referred to herself as bisexual and queer during an interview with Medium in September 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In a 2017 op-ed in Elle magazine, she defended the then-13-year-old actress Millie Bobby Brown after commentators sexualized Brown's public image.<ref name="Elle2017-11-14" /><ref name="teenvogue2017-11-16" /> In a 2021 op-ed in The New York Times, Wilson commented on the documentary Framing Britney Spears and the parallels between her own life as a child star and Britney Spears'.<ref name=nytimes2021-02-23/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wilson recalled an incident in which she was asked to comment on the burgeoning sexuality of an 18-year-old Spears when she herself was barely 13, and expressed relief at largely escaping oversexualization of her public image compared to Spears. Wilson described her disappointment when a reporter called her a "spoiled brat" after she stated that she wanted the day off on her 13th birthday instead of granting interviews.<ref name=nytimes2021-02-23/>

In 2016, Wilson resided in the Queens borough of New York City. She later moved back to California.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993	Mrs. Doubtfire	Natalie "Nattie" Hillard	First film role
1994	A Time to Heal	Barbara Barton	Television film
	Miracle on 34th Street	Susan Walker
1996	Matilda	Matilda Wormwood	Lead role
1997	A Simple Wish	Anabel Greening
1999	Balloon Farm	Willow Johnson	Television film
2000	Thomas and the Magic Railroad	Lily Stone
2015	Billie Bob Joe	Herself	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2021	Pre-Emptive Defence	Sara	Short film<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993	Bob	Amelia	Episode: "Have Yourself a Married Little Christmas"
	Melrose Place	Nicole "Nikki" Petrova	Recurring, 5 episodes
1996	Pearl	Samantha Stein	Episode: "The Tutor"
1999	Batman Beyond	Tamara Caulder (voice)	citation	CitationClass=web }} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
2016	Broad City	Waitress	Episode: "Burning Bridges"
	BoJack Horseman	Jill Pill (voice)	4 episodes
2018–19	Big Hero 6: The Series	Liv Amara, Diane "Di" Amara (voice)	Recurring role<ref name="btva" />

Web

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2012	Nostalgia Critic	Herself	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Nostalgia Chick		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> also writer
	Demo Reel	Donnie DuPre's wife (voice)	Episode: "Lost in Translation (Bromance Version)"
	Shut Up and Talk	Herself	Episode: "Guest: Mara Wilson"
	Missed Connection	Bitty	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2013	Welcome to Night Vale	Faceless Old Woman (voice)	10 episodes
2014	Keith and The Girl	Herself	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Nostalgia Chick		Episode: "Nostalgic Foods of Yore"
	Amy Poehler's Smart Girls		Episode: "The In Too Steep Tea Party"
	Maven of the Eventide		Pumpktoberfest Vlogs, Episodes 5 & 12
	I Don't Even Own a Television		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2015	Keith and The Girl		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Gilmore Guys		Episode 4.21
	That's the Show with Danny		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2015, 2017	I Don't Even Own a Television		Episodes: "026: Treacherous Love (w/ Mara Wilson)",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "081: I'm With the Band (w/ Mara Wilson)"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2016	Mouth Time with Reductress	Ruth Hrorgen	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2019	Passenger List	Template:N/A	Writer of "Cyberspace" (episode 5)
2020	Helluva Boss	Mrs. Mayberry (voice)	Episode: "Murder Family"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	Our Popcorn Movie Dystopia - Some More News: The Movie	Matilda Cody	Web film<ref>Template:CitationTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
	The George Lucas Talk Show	Herself	May the AR Be LI$$ You Arli$$ marathon fundraiser; The George Lucas Holiday Special
2021	You Are Good		Episode: "Hocus Pocus with Mara Wilson"
2022	Ollie & Scoops	Claudia Grimson, Creepy Girl (voice)	2 episodes

Audio drama

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2023	Alison Bechdel's Dykes To Watch Out For	Heloise	Audible Original based on the weekly comic strip by Alison Bechdel
2024–25	VAM PD	Jane	Main cast, 6 episodes

Stage roles

• A Midsummer Night's Dream (2004)
• Cinderella (2005)
• Weren't You That Girl? (2009)
• What Are You Afraid Of? (2014)

Bibliography

• Sheeple (play, 2013)
• Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame (2016)
• Good Girls Don't (2023) <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Awards and nominations

Year	Organization	Award	Work	NotesResult
1995	ShoWest Awards	Young Star of the Year	Template:N/A	Template:Won<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1996	YoungStar Awards	Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film	Matilda	Template:Won
	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film — Leading Young Actress		Template:Nominated
	Saturn Awards	Best Performance by a Younger Actor		Template:Nom
1997	YoungStar Awards	Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film	A Simple Wish	Template:Nom
	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film — Leading Young Actress		Template:Won
	Saturn Awards	Best Performance by a Younger Actor		Template:Nom
2000	YoungStar Awards	Best Young Actress in a Comedy Film	Thomas and the Magic Railroad	Template:Nom
	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a Feature Film — Leading Young Actress		Template:Nom

External links

• Template:Substack pub
• Mara Wilson Writes Stuff (archived blog)
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