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Mara Wilson

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Mara Wilson
Born
Mara Elizabeth Wilson
OccupationFilm actress
Years active19932000
AwardsYoungStar Award
1997 Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film for Matilda
Young Artist Award
1998 Best Performance in a Feature Film, Leading Young Actress for A Simple Wish

Mara Elizabeth Wilson (born July 24 1987) is an American actress who is perhaps best known as a child actress for starring in John Hughes's Miracle on 34th Street (1994) as Susan Walker, Danny DeVito's Matilda (1996) as Matilda Wormwood, Michael Ritchie's A Simple Wish (1997) as Anabel Greening, and Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000) as Lily; and for her supporting role in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) alongside Robin Williams, as the role of Natalie "Nattie" Hillard. Although she was mainly a film actress, she has also appeared in television films, guest-starred in television series in the 1990s, and in 2005 has starred in a musical theater production of Cinderella.

Personal life

Wilson was born in Los Angeles, California. She has three older brothers: Danny (b. 1979), John (b. 1980), and Joel (b. 1982); and a younger sister, Anna (b. 1992). When she was nine, while filming Matilda, her mother died from breast cancer.[1]

Wilson attended Idyllwild Arts Academy and graduated in June 2005.[2] Prior to Idyllwild, she attended a public high school for two years. She began attending Tisch School of the Arts at New York University in September 2005, majoring in theater.

Career

Wilson first became interested in acting when she was four, she saw her brother Danny in commercials, and decided to join him. In 1991, they did commercials for Texaco, Marshalls, Bank of America, and Oscar Mayer.

Wilson's film debut was in the 1993 hit Mrs. Doubtfire, followed by the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street. Her portrayal in the films caught the attention of Danny DeVito and led to her being cast as the title character in Matilda, adapted from the popular children's book by author Roald Dahl. Wilson won a Young Artist Award for her role in A Simple Wish in "Best Performance in a Feature Film Leading Young Actress" and a YoungStar Award for Matilda in "Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Comedy Film." Her appearance in Thomas and the Magic Railroad was her last major film role to date.

In 1993, Wilson had a recurring role as Nikkie Petrova on the primetime soap opera Melrose Place. She also played Barbara Barton in the 1994 television film, A Time to Heal; and Willow Johnson in the 1999 television film, Balloon Farm.

Wilson sang "Make 'Em Laugh" at the 67th Academy Awards telecast on March 27 1995, with Tim Curry and Kathy Najimy.[3]

In August 2005, she starred as the lead character in a production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella performed at the Ector Theater in Odessa, Texas.

Filmography

Films

# Title Year Role Notes Gross
1. Mrs. Doubtfire 1993 Natalie "Nattie" Hillard first film role $219,200,000
2. A Time to Heal 1994 Barbara Barton made for television
3. Miracle on 34th Street Susan Walker $17,193,886
4. Matilda 1996 Matilda Wormwood $33,084,249
5. A Simple Wish 1997 Anabel Greening $8,119,205
6. Balloon Farm 1999 Willow Johnson made for television
7. Thomas and the Magic Railroad 2000 Lily, Burnett Stone's granddaughter $15,911,333

Television

Show Year Role Episodes
Melrose Place 1993 Nikki Petrova 5 episodes: Hot and Bothered (season 2 episode 6, 13 October 1993); Flirting with Disaster (season 2 episode 7, 20 October 1993); Married to It (season 2 episode 9, 3 November 1993); Duet for One (season 2 episode 13, 1 December 1993); Under the Mistletoe (season 2 episode 15, 22 December 1993)
Pearl 1996 Samantha Stein 1 episode: The Tutor (season 1 episode 11, December 11 1996)
Batman Beyond 1999 Tamara (voice) 1 episode: Mind Games (season 2 episode 10, December 4 1999)

Stage

Show Year Role
Cinderella 2005 Cinderella

Awards

Won

Nominated

Reference