Danica McKellar, renowned for her role as Winnie Cooper in "The Wonder Years," has shed light on her decision to step away from acting and pursue a career in mathematics.
In an interview with ET, McKellar's youngest son, Draco, posed a question about her memories from the time she starred in "The Wonder Years." Reflecting on those years, McKellar emphasized the challenges of balancing acting and academics, recalling the constant back-and-forth between the set and the school trailer.
When Draco inquired about her shift from acting to mathematics, McKellar explained that attending UCLA brought her face-to-face with the persistent recognition of her "Winnie" character. Feeling the need to establish her identity beyond Winnie Cooper, she turned to mathematics as a challenge she excelled at, finding fulfillment in a realm where her value wasn't tied to her appearance or television fame.
Expressing her unconditional support for her son's aspirations, McKellar assured Draco that, despite the difficulties in the acting profession, she would back him up in any path he chose, offering guidance and acting classes if he leaned towards a career in the performing arts.
Profile
Danica McKellar is an American actress, mathematician, and author who rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Born on January 3, 1975, in La Jolla, California, Danica started her acting career at a young age and is perhaps best known for her role as Winnie Cooper on the popular TV series "The Wonder Years," which aired from 1988 to 1993.
After "The Wonder Years," McKellar continued to make appearances in various television shows and films. However, she took a somewhat unconventional path by pursuing higher education and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). Her passion for mathematics led her to co-author a groundbreaking paper titled "Percolation and Gibbs States Multiplicity for Ferromagnetic Ashkin-Teller Models on Z^2," which was published in the Journal of Statistical Physics.
Danica McKellar has become an advocate for mathematics education, particularly for young girls. She has written several books that aim to make math more accessible and enjoyable for children. Some of her notable works include "Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail," "Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who's Boss," and "Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape."
