Matilda Star Mara Wilson Opens Up About Impact Of Childhood Fame

Matilda star Mara Wilson has opened up about the impact of childhood fame. You can watch a clip from the interview here:

The 33-year-old made her acting debut in Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993, before playing the titular character in Matilda the following year.

Speaking on Australian TV show Today Extra via videolink, Wilson said: "It hurt to hear adult critics saying things against me. It felt very unfair and very hard.

"There was really a lot of pressure on me, I felt, from the outside world."

The actor and writer's mum, Suzie, died of breast cancer four months before Matilda was released, and Wilson said her on-screen dad Danny DeVito and his family took her 'under their wing as kind of like a second family'.

DeVito - who also directed the classic - later revealed to her that he had shown Suzie an unfinished cut of the film before she died.

Sony Pictures

Wilson said: "Danny and his wife, Rhea, they would let me come over to their house.

"We would have sleepovers, we went to go see plays, we went to see movies.

"They made sure I was also being treated like a kid. I played with their kids, just like any other kids."

Wilson also reflected on working with the late great Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire.

She said: "I remember him singing show tunes to me and playing games with me. He loved to play all kinds of little jokes.

"He could be very shy one on one, particularly with adults, but with kids, he just came alive because they are the ultimate audience.

"He was just a consummate performer who was so great when he had an audience."

But despite forging some great memories on her road to childhood stardom, Wilson - who took a break from acting after 2000 movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad - said she probably wouldn't allow her children to tread a similar path.

She said: "I don't think I would, just because there are so many different variables that you cannot account for."

If you have any mates who love Matilda and you're sh*t at sorting Christmas presents in good time, then Wilson is now on Cameo - meaning you can pay her to send a personalised message to said mate.

You'll have to like this mate a fair bit though, as the messages are £48.75 a pop.

You can request one here.

Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity, US News

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey