There are certain films that seem to unite an entire generation. One of those movies is Matilda, the quirky tale of a girl who develops special powers while trying to navigate a very unconventional childhood. Mara Wilson was the star of that film, and many assumed that she would go on to have a huge Hollywood career.
That didn’t happen, though. In almost all the ways that count, she dropped off the radar and stopped pursuing those traditional Hollywood dreams. Recently, we decided to see what the star was up to and whether her real life has been as magical as Matilda’s. What has this acting icon been up to lately? Keep reading to find out!
Walking away from Hollywood
Let’s start with the big question: why have you not seen Mara Wilson in movies for so long? She made a huge splash in the ‘90s by starring in popular films like Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle On 34th Street, and (of course) Matilda. Eventually, though, she walked away from Hollywood and decided to focus on other things.
There are many reasons for this, including the unpleasant experiences she had getting sexualized as a child star. Mostly, though, it was boredom. On an old blog, she admitted that she didn’t find acting very fun, and when she sees someone reading lines for an audition on the subway, she is profoundly grateful that she’s no longer part of the Hollywood rat race.
What happened to Mara Wilson’s mother?
If you have a very good memory, you might remember that Matilda ended up being dedicated to Mara Wilson’s mother, Suzie. That leads to a pretty natural question: what happened to her mother? Be warned: the answer to that question is a sad one that may forever change how you view your favorite films.
Previously, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She passed away shortly before Matilda came out, though she still got a chance to watch the film thanks to director Danny DeVito (more on this later). While this wasn’t the only reason that Mara Wilson walked away from Hollywood, her mother’s death had a profound effect on her and effectively killed much of the passion that she had for acting.
How much is the Matilda star worth?
Among friends and family, it’s considered impolite to ask how much money someone makes. But when it comes to our favorite celebs, we can’t help but be curious about how much money they have kicking around from various acting roles, sponsorships, and so on. And we were doubly curious about how much Mara Wilson is worth considering that she stepped away from Hollywood before she could become an A-lister star.
While we always take such info with a grain of salt, the Celebrity Net Worth site claims that Mara Wilson has a net worth of $759,000. That’s certainly nothing to sneeze at, but it pales in comparison to what her most famous relative is worth. Who are we talking about? Conservative talk show host Ben Shapiro, a man who just happens to be Wilson’s cousin!
Her heartwarming relationship with Danny DeVito
When you first watch Matilda, it seems like Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito have a very contentious relationship. After all, he plays her bully of a father onscreen…the kind of guy that no kind wants to be screamed at by. In reality, of course, DeVito was just playing a part. He directed this hit film, and he actually developed a close relationship with Wilson.
While filming, Wilson’s mother was in and out of the hospital receiving treatments for her breast cancer. To help keep the child actor’s spirits up, DeVito and his wife Rhea Perlman would invite her to their house or take the kiddo to the movies. On top of that, DeVito made sure that Wilson’s mother got a chance to watch Matilda in the hospital before she died, allowing the woman to see what would be her daughter’s greatest role.
Wilson and DeVito stayed in touch, and they recently reunited on stage for Matilda In Concert. And seeing them together again was a powerful reminder of just how close these two talented actors have remained!
She’s still keeping busy
So, if Mara Wilson isn’t really acting anymore, what has she been up to? Strictly speaking, she still takes roles in smaller productions…for example, in 2020, she starred in the little-seen film Our Popcorn Movie Dystopia – Some More News: The Movie. Mostly, though, she has been doing things outside the Hollywood apparatus altogether.
For example, Wilson is a very prolific writer. And she also serves as a narrator for a growing number of audiobooks. And very recently, she reunited with her onscreen siblings from Mrs. Doubtfire. As it turns out, walking away from Hollywood doesn’t mean walking away from the people you care about!