Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson was born on July 24th, 1987 and is currently 37 years old. Mara Wilson was born in Burbank, CA, USA. Wilson attended Idyllwild Arts Academy and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Mara Wilson is an American playwright and actress who rose to prominence in Hollywood during the 1990s. After featuring in commercials, she auditioned for
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and landed the role of Natalie Hillard, the main character’s daughter. This role helped launch her into the public eye. She went on to play supporting roles in various films and TV shows throughout 1995, which earned her the ShoWest Award for Young Star of the Year.
Her performance in
Mrs. Doubtfire caught the attention of Danny DeVito, leading her to be cast as the titular character in
Matilda (1996). The film was a major success for Mara, winning her a YoungStar Award and securing three other nominations. A year later, she appeared in
A Simple Wish and took on roles in two more films,
Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000) and
Balloon Farm (1999). However, her passion for acting waned, partly influenced by the loss of her mother to breast cancer in 1996, and Mara took a 12-year hiatus to focus on writing.
Mara's interest in acting began early, inspired by watching her older brother Danny act in commercials. Initially, her parents hesitated to let her pursue acting, but after multiple commercial appearances, she was encouraged to audition for
Mrs. Doubtfire, and the producers were impressed with her performance. However, she found film acting repetitive and creatively stifling due to the need to redo scenes until the director’s vision was satisfied, which contributed to her decision to leave the industry.
After returning, Mara primarily worked in web series, finding a different space for her creativity. However, it was in writing that she found her true calling, publishing
Where Am I Now? in 2016. This memoir is a collection of poignant, humorous, and brutally honest essays that introduce Mara as a talented storyteller. She reflects on her childhood experiences on set, her struggles with anxiety and OCD, her mother's passing, and the complex transition from child stardom to adult life.
Where Am I Now? captures Mara's journey from accidental fame to a quieter, more personal life. She humorously and insightfully addresses the universal challenge of self-acceptance, recounting her unique perspective as the only child on adult film sets, the first girl in a family of boys, a neurotic valley girl in New York, and one of the few child actors to avoid scandal. Her stories range from discovering the complexities of life on the set of
Melrose Place to her self-doubts about Hollywood’s beauty standards.
In 2023, Mara published
Good Girls Don’t, a brief but illuminating book that takes readers through her experiences from childhood to young adulthood. Written in a conversational tone, it feels as though Mara is speaking directly to the reader, making it easy to read in one sitting. This book offers a refreshingly honest look at her life, through the lenses of friendship, family, and fame. Mara reflects on her lifelong struggle with people-pleasing and the desire to be the “good girl” in all situations. The book’s final chapters present hard-won wisdom, with reflections that tie together the threads of her life into a meaningful message about self-acceptance and finding one's true place in the world.
Through her work, Mara Wilson emerges not only as a former child star but as a voice of authenticity and relatability, bravely sharing her journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Whether in her acting or her writing, she continues to connect with audiences through her heartfelt and humorous perspective on life.
Mara Wilson: Awards & Accolades
Wilson's book, Where Am I Now? was nominated for the Goodreads Awards, Best Humor, in 2016.
Related Authors
The most common authors followed by users who also follow Mara Wilson are:
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
- Harlan Coben, author of the Myron Bolitar Series.
- Daniel Silva, author of the Gabriel Allon Series.
- Karin Slaughter, author of the Will Trent Series.
- Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander Series.
Mara Wilson: F.A.Q
When was Mara Wilson Born? How old is Mara Wilson?
Mara Wilson was born on July 24th, 1987. Mara Wilson is currently 37 years old.
Where was Mara Wilson Born?
Mara Wilson was born in Burbank, CA, USA and is American.
What was the first book Mara Wilson wrote?
The first book written by Mara Wilson was Where Am I Now?, published in 2016.
What was the most recent book Mara Wilson wrote?
Her most recently released work was Good Girls Don't on April 18th, 2023.
Will there be any more books by Mara Wilson?
Mara Wilson does not have any upcoming books with a set publication date within the next few months at this time.
How many books has Mara Wilson written?
Mara Wilson has written 2 books. All of her books are Non-Fiction Books.