Mara Wilson

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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>Template:Cite 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 on July 24, 1987 in Burbank, California,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the fourth child of Burbank PTA school volunteer Suzie (Template:Née) and KTLA broadcast engineer Mike Wilson.<ref>Template:Cite 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">Template:Cite web</ref>

Wilson's mother, Susie Shapiro Wilson, was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 10, 1995,<ref name="people-cancer">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and died on April 26, 1996, when Wilson was 8 years old. The film Matilda was dedicated to her memory. Wilson credits Danny Devito for being very caring and comforting during this time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wilson later recalled that this affected her interest in acting.<ref>Template:Cite 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 name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

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">Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2" />

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 after the death of Robin Williams, she shared her memories of working with him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, she moved to Substack with a blog called "Shan't We Call the Vicar."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In April 2013, she attended and shared her impressions of the Broadway production of Matilda the Musical.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In May 2013, Wilson wrote an article for Cracked.com, offering her opinion of the delinquency of some former child stars.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Her play Sheeple was produced in 2013 for the New York International Fringe Festival.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2025, Wilson won a collective Audie Award for her contributions to Chuck Tingle's Bury Your Gays.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Charity work

In 2015, Wilson collaborated with Project UROK, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to aid teens with mental illness.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wilson is a supporter of those with endometriosis, as she struggles with the condition herself. In 2025, she attended the Blossom Ball, a benefit night for endometriosis awareness and research.<ref name="Blossom Ball">Template:Cite web</ref> Wilson is also an ambassador and advocate for the L.A. Dysautonomia Network, a Pasadena-based nonprofit, as Wilson suffers from a type of dysautonomia called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.<ref name="LA Downtown News">Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Wilson has three older brothers and a younger sister.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She is a cousin of political commentator and media host Ben Shapiro,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> whom she has disavowed due to his conservative views and her left-wing beliefs;<ref name="Klion">Template:Cite web</ref> the two have no contact with each other.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wilson was raised Jewish.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She became an atheist at the age of 15.<ref>Template:Cite 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" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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>Template:Cite 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's.<ref name=nytimes2021-02-23/><ref>Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Wilson suffers from endometriosis<ref name="Blossom Ball"/> and a type of dysautonomia called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).<ref name="LA Downtown News"/>

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 <ref>Template:Cite 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) Episode: "Mind Games"<ref name="btva">Template:Cite 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 Episode: "A Simple Wish"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Nostalgia Chick Episodes: "Matilda",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Nostalgic Foods of Yore",<ref>Template:Cite 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 Episode: "Bad Dates"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2013 Welcome to Night Vale Faceless Old Woman (voice) 10 episodes
2014 Keith and The Girl Herself Episode: "2002: Boobs"<ref>Template:Cite 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 Episode: "016 — Covert Conception (w/ Mara Wilson)"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2015 Keith and The Girl Episode: "2147: Gang Dick"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gilmore Guys Episode 4.21
That's the Show with Danny Episode: "117: The One with Mara Wilson"<ref>Template:Cite 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 Mouth Time LIVE! With Mara Wilson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2019 Passenger List Template:N/A Writer of "Cyberspace" (episode 5)
2020 Helluva Boss Mrs. Mayberry (voice) Episode: "Murder Family"<ref>Template:Cite 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

Year Title Role Notes
2025 Finder's Keepers by Sarah Adler Narrator
2025 The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday by Kelsey B. Toney Narrator
2025 Fairy Godmother: An Enchanters Tale by Jen Calonita Narrator
2025 Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle
2025 Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein Narrator
2024–2025 VAM PD Jane Main cast, 6 episodes
2024 Blessed Water by Margot Douaihy<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Narrator
2024 Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle Narrator
2024 Diary of a Dying Girl by Mallory Smith Narrator
2024 Bright and Tender Dark by Joanna Pearson Narrator
2024 Keep This Off the Record by Arden Joy Narrator
2024 Bad Best Friend by Rachel Vail Narrator
2024 The Z Word by Lindsay King-Miller Narrator
2024 Nora Ephron at the Movies by Ilana Kaplan Narrator
2024 Through the Midnight Door by Katrina Monroe Narrator
2024 When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman Narrator
2023 Unleashed Holiday by Victoria Schade Narrator
2023 Do Not Open by Kiersten Modglin Narrator
2023 Alison Bechdel's Dykes To Watch Out For Heloise Audible Original based on the weekly comic strip by Alison Bechdel
2023 Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Narrator
2023 For Never & Always by Helena Greer Narrator
2022 They Drown Our Daughters by Katrina Monroe Narrator
2016 Where Am I Now? by Mara Wilson Narrator
2020 The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home by Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor Narrator

Stage roles

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

Bibliography

Awards and nominations

Year Organization Award Work NotesResult
1995 ShoWest Awards Young Star of the Year Template:N/A Template:Won<ref>Template:Cite 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

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film

Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Mara_Wilson&oldid=406359"