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‘Matilda’ first hit theaters in July 1996
NEED TO KNOW
- On July 12, 2026, Mara Wilson attended a panel at the Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, Tenn.
- During the event, the 38-year-old actress opened up about how her Matilda costar Danny DeVito supported her and her family during a difficult time in their lives
- Wilson shared that the film remains special because of the friendships, care and memories she gained from the experience
Matilda actress Mara Wilson is looking back on the challenges that came with carrying such a major role at a young age, while also remembering the people who supported her and her family behind the scenes.
The 38-year-old actress reflected on one of the most meaningful chapters of her acting career during a panel at the Fanboy Expo Knoxville, sharing memories from her time working on the beloved 1996 film, specifically alongside Danny DeVito, whom Wilson described as a major source of kindness and support during a difficult period in her life.
“I call him my favorite uncle,” she said of DeVito at the July 12 event in Tennessee.
“Matilda means the most to me because I had a lot to do. It was a big responsibility. I was the title character,” she added. “It was difficult at times, I was also going through a hard time, but as I told you, Danny DeVito did not literally adopt me — that’s a myth — but he did take very good care of my family.”
Released in July 1996, Matilda was based on Roald Dahl’s popular children’s book and followed a gifted young girl who finds confidence and strength despite the difficult circumstances around her.
Wilson played Matilda Wormwood, the bright and determined title character, while DeVito portrayed her father, Harry Wormwood, and also directed the film.
Behind the scenes, however, Wilson was facing a deeply personal challenge. Her mother, Suzie Wilson, was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer during production, creating an emotional backdrop to an already demanding experience for the young actress. Suzie died in April 1996, just three months before the film was released, and DeVito ultimately dedicated the movie to her memory.
Through it all, DeVito and his wife and costar, Rhea Perlman, stepped in as sources of support for the Wilson family.
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Reflecting on the people who made the experience special, Mara emphasized that the memories she carries from Matilda are not only about the challenges but also about the friendships and kindness that surrounded her.
“[DeVito] really helped me and my family when we were going through something terrible. And they were very loving and kind, and I made so many lifelong friends on that,” she told the panel. “And yes, there were hard days, but there were also days where it felt like summer camp, and I am still friends with the people that I worked on it today.”
Mara, who was just 7 at the time of filming, noted that she was “lucky” to have worked with “a lot of really great people in Hollywood.”
“We filmed during the summer, so I had a birthday on the set, and they gave me a cake in the shape of Matilda’s red hair ribbon, and I had a really wonderful time working on it.”
While Mara took a step back from the spotlight after her days as a child star, she returned in 2012, focusing more on voiceover roles, web series and podcasts rather than front-of-camera work.
Read the original article on People
