Celebrity
Mara Wilson Net Worth
Mara Wilson has largely stepped back from acting after gaining massive fame as Matilda.
Mara Wilson rose to fame as a precocious child star, charming audiences in films like Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and Matilda in the 1990s.
Since then, Wilson has largely stepped back from acting, save for a few minor roles, focusing on writing and activism instead of the glamour of Hollywood.
Today, many fans still fondly remember Wilson’s childhood performances and wonder what happened to the former child star in the decades since her early fame.
In this article, we analyze Wilson’s current net worth and career path to provide an update on the actress’ life after stardom and explore how she leveraged her early success.
Even all these years later, the actress remains a beloved figure for 90s kids who grew up watching her films.
Mara Wilson’s net worth and career in the entertainment industry
Wilson has a current net worth of $500 thousand. While a comfortable sum, this is relatively modest compared to many child stars and reflects her choice to step back from acting.
As a successful child actress in the 1990s, she likely earned sizable salaries for film roles like Matilda and Miracle on 34th Street. However, her earning potential was reduced without pursuing acting consistently into adulthood.
Still, prudent management of her early earnings has allowed her to live well without relying on active income from entertainment jobs.
Her acting career peaked in the mid-1990s when she starred in movies like Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and her most acclaimed role as the title character in Matilda.
Mara Wilson at the premiere of ‘Knives Out’ (Source: Instagram)
Her precocious talent and charm earned her popularity as well as award recognition. However, as she entered her teen years, Wilson became disillusioned with the repetitive nature of acting and the lack of creative freedom afforded to child actors.
After roles in a few poorly received late 1990s films, she retired from acting altogether. Though she had the opportunity to continue operating, she chose to step back from the glamorous but taxing life of a working actor.
In the decades since, Wilson has focused on writing and activism rather than returning to a mainstream film career. She has occasionally made minor appearances in indie projects or web series cameos.
For instance, she briefly returned to a childhood acting role in a Mrs. Doubtfire-inspired episode of Broad City. So, while Wilson has flirted with performing, she has not pursued it to the extent that would significantly increase her net worth.
Mara Wilson’s initial fame as Matilda
Wilson rose to fame at just 9 years old with her acclaimed lead performance as the title character in the 1996 film Matilda.
Based on the beloved Roald Dahl book, Matilda tells the story of a precocious young girl who develops telekinetic powers that she uses to stand up to abusive adults like her parents and tyrannical school principal, Miss Trunchbull.
With her intelligence, mischievous charm, and sense of justice, Matilda struck a chord with 90s kids, and Wilson was widely praised for capturing those qualities. The role was her breakout, earning her Best Performance awards and introducing her to a global audience.
Mara Wilson as Matilda (Source: Buzzfeed)
Though a relatively small film financially, Matilda became a cult classic, especially on VHS/DVD. And Wilson’s endearing portrayal of the iconic character remains defining for her career and public image.
Matilda served as a springboard for Wilson to achieve child stardom in other significant films. However, she stepped back from acting completely before her teens. Yet even years later, the actress remains strongly linked to her first star-making part.
For the generation who grew up watching Matilda, Mara Wilson IS the face of the bold bookworm. She may have ultimately moved away from Hollywood, but her memorable performance and nostalgia and goodwill towards Wilson’s most famous role persist.
Mara Wilson quit acting for writing
Wilson remains an iconic millennial figure due to her breakout childhood performance as the title character in the beloved 1996 film Matilda. However, she stepped away from acting by age 13, not long after her mother’s untimely death.
Though Matilda was a career-defining role, Wilson found that the repetitive nature of acting lacked creative fulfillment. She had long nurtured a passion for writing stories, even on the Matilda set.
Thus, as she retreated from the fame that began with that film, she shifted her professional aspirations toward writing. Now 35 years old, the former child star has established herself as a writer, penning articles, essays, and memoirs.
She has contributed to major publications like The New York Times, Elle, and Vanity Fair while releasing a 2016 memoir titled Where Am I Now?
So rather than cling to an acting career she fell out of love with after her breakout part, Wilson boldly pivoted to writing – an early passion that she felt better aligned with her talents and interests.
Losing her mother shortly after filming Matilda undoubtedly impacted Wilson’s complex relationship with acting and fame. The grief made her struggle to continue as a working child actor.
And the movie itself held painful memories, with Matilda director Danny DeVito even showing an early cut to Wilson’s dying mother.
With writing resonating strongly for Wilson before this tragedy, dedicating herself to this alternative creative outlet represented a healthy path forward.
Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito have ‘Matilda’ reunion planned
Over 25 years since first teaming up for the beloved film Matilda, Wilson and DeVito intend to reunite shortly for a special concert screening of the 1996 movie.
DeVito, who directed the Dahl adaptation and co-starred as Matilda’s father, revealed plans for him and Wilson to serve as narrators alongside a live orchestra performance of the film score.
Initially, the duo had aimed to stage this Matilda in Concert event in September 2022 with composer David Newman conducting. However, the SAG-AFTRA strike postponed these plans.
Young Mara Wilson with Danny DeVito (Source: NME)
Still, both remain eager to come together once more to celebrate the enduring legacy of Matilda and bring this character to life again through the magic of live music.
Despite candidly discussing the difficulties of being a child star, Wilson still fondly recalls connecting instantly with DeVito when first cast as six-year-old genius Matilda Wormwood.
And over a quarter century later, this once strong rapport persists in their hopes of honoring their classic film. Fans will surely delight in seeing the two reunited on stage, narrating the story defining their careers.