Mara Wilson, renowned for her role as Matilda, has unveiled the darker side of Hollywood's treatment of child actors.
Despite captivating audiences in the '90s with her performances, Wilson discloses the hidden horrors child stars faced behind the scenes.
Having started her career at the tender age of 6 in 'Dad Forever' and achieving fame with her iconic portrayal of Matilda, Wilson, now 35, sheds light on her experiences as a Hollywood child actress in her book 'Good Girls Don't.'
In a candid interview with The Guardian, Wilson discusses the toll of achieving fame at a young age, stating, "I don't think you can be a child star without some kind of lasting damage."
Wilson recounts instances where she witnessed "suspicious things" but felt compelled to turn a blind eye to stay within the industry. She contrasts the perception of spoiled children with child actors, emphasizing that the latter often support their families and follow instructions diligently.
Despite working with directors experienced in handling child actors, Wilson faced situations where adults made inappropriate jokes or comments, leading to a sense of being s----lized. At the age of 12, she made the mistake of Googling herself and encountered disturbing content, highlighting the impact of constant media scrutiny during her childhood.
Wilson reveals encounters with journalists who posed inappropriate questions about topics like French kissing and actors she found attractive when she was just 9 years old. The actress received inappropriate letters and faced online harassment.
As she entered adolescence, Wilson struggled to secure roles in Hollywood, with directors and producers claiming she had lost the charm she possessed as a child. Undeterred, she transitioned into a writing career, addressing her experiences as a child artist in the '90s in essays such as 'Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame' (2016).
Her writings touch on topics like learning about s-x on the set of 'Melrose Place' and being told in her teenage years that she was no longer deemed "cute" for Hollywood, leading to setbacks in her acting career.
