At a recent panel at the Fanboy Expo in July 2026, actress Mara Wilson, now 38, looked back on the emotional and professional challenges of filming the iconic 1996 children’s classic Matilda. In her remarks, which were first reported by PEOPLE and originally published by Parade, Wilson expressed deep, enduring gratitude to director and co-star Danny DeVito for the profound support he and his then-wife, Rhea Perlman, provided to her family during an incredibly dark period. Wilson was just seven years old when she took on the demanding title role, a massive responsibility that coincided with her mother’s terminal illness.
A Lifeline During a Family Tragedy
During the production of Matilda, which was based on the beloved 1988 novel by Roald Dahl, Wilson’s mother, Suzie Wilson, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent intensive treatment throughout the filming process but tragically passed away in April 1996, a mere three months before the movie’s theatrical release. The immense pressure of carrying a major studio film while coping with her mother’s deteriorating health created an overwhelming environment for the young actress.
Wilson took the opportunity during the Fanboy Expo panel to dispel a long-standing Hollywood rumor. For years, speculation persisted that DeVito and Perlman had legally adopted Wilson following her mother’s hospitalization. “Danny DeVito did not literally adopt me—that’s a myth,” Wilson clarified. “But he did take very good care of my family.” She described DeVito as her “favorite” uncle, emphasizing that his warmth and compassion helped shepherd her family through a devastating reality. “He really helped me and my family when we were going through something terrible,” she explained. “And they were very loving and kind, and I made so many lifelong friends on that.”
The Emotional Toll of Transitioning Back to Reality
This was not the first time Wilson has spoken about the unique bond she shared with DeVito. In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, she recalled that she “immediately felt a connection” with the veteran director upon meeting him, noting that they “just understood each other” from the start. This mutual understanding proved vital as the production drew to a close.
In an earlier 2013 interview with Parade, Wilson admitted that the conclusion of filming brought its own set of anxieties. The structured, supportive environment of the movie set had served as a temporary sanctuary from the grim reality awaiting her at home. “I remember feeling anxious when the movie wrapped, and it was really hard to go back to normal and dealing with my mom’s sickness,” Wilson shared at the time. She credited the cast and crew’s continuous care with easing that transition, stating, “I definitely feel like having that family there, and having people willing to take care of us and help us out, made it easier.”
Deconstructing the Child Star Myth
Wilson’s reflections on Matilda also touch upon the broader, often misunderstood experience of being a child star in Hollywood. Having starred in other major 90s hits such as Mrs. Doubtfire and Miracle on 34th Street, Wilson was one of the most recognizable young faces of her generation. However, the glamorous public perception of child actors rarely aligns with the isolating realities they face behind the scenes.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s podcast Pieces of Britney in 2021—a series exploring the intense media scrutiny and treatment of famous women—Wilson challenged the prevailing stereotype that young actors are “spoiled entitled brats who have everything given to us.” Instead, she offered a more vulnerable perspective: “What we are instead of young entitled brats is we are people pleasers.”
She described the grueling schedules and the profound sense of isolation that followed her mother’s death, revealing that she spent months working in foreign countries virtually on her own. “Right after my mother had died, I was living in other countries basically by myself,” she recalled. “Maybe there was a nanny, but without any family when I was a young child.”
This intense emotional strain and the pressure to perform eventually led Wilson to walk away from traditional Hollywood acting. She embarked on a 12-year hiatus from the industry to focus on her education, writing, and personal well-being. In recent years, Wilson has selectively returned to the creative world, redirecting her talents toward voice acting, podcasts, and audiobooks—mediums that allow her to express her creativity on her own terms, free from the intense physical and public scrutiny of her childhood years.