Mara Wilson rose to international prominence as a child performer, securing her first professional film role in the 1993 comedy Mrs. Doubtfire at age five. Over the next decade, she anchored major studio productions including Miracle on 34th Street and the title character in Matilda before navigating a deliberate transition into writing, voice acting, and digital media production.
Early Career and Film Success
Born in 1987 in Burbank, California, Wilson began her career after observing her brother Danny in television commercials. Following her debut in Mrs. Doubtfire, she starred in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street. Her performance as the telekinetic protagonist in the 1996 film Matilda earned her the YoungStar Award for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film. By the late 1990s, she appeared in A Simple Wish and the 1999 production Balloon Farm. Her final feature film appearance during this era was the 2000 fantasy film Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
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Following a twelve-year hiatus from film acting, Wilson focused on creative writing and stage performance. She graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 2009. Her theatrical credits include the one-woman show Weren't You That Girl? and her production What Are You Afraid Of?. She has authored multiple works, including the 2016 memoir Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame, and has maintained various blogs, including Mara Wilson Writes Stuff and Shan't We Call the Vicar.
Voice Acting and Advocacy
Wilson transitioned into voice acting, contributing to projects such as the podcast Welcome to Night Vale, the animated series BoJack Horseman, and Big Hero 6: The Series. In 2025, she shared an Audie Award for her contributions to Chuck Tingle's Bury Your Gays. Beyond her professional output, Wilson engages in nonprofit advocacy. She has worked with Project UROK to support teens with mental illness, serves as an ambassador for the L. A. Dysautonomia Network, and participates in awareness initiatives for endometriosis.
Fast facts
- Born: 1987, Burbank, California
- Notable Film: Matilda (1996)
- Education: New York University Tisch School of the Arts
- Memoir: Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame
- Religion: Atheism
- Employment: Publicolor (2014)
- Podcast Credit: Welcome to Night Vale
Questions readers ask
Why did Mara Wilson retire from film acting?
She stated that film acting offered little creative freedom, as the repetitive nature of production and the director's specific requirements limited personal expression.
What is her current focus?
Wilson is primarily a writer, voice actor, and advocate for mental health and chronic illness organizations.
Achievements
- Began acting at age five
- Starred in 'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993)
- Title role in 'Matilda' (1996)
- Acclaimed adult author and essayist
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