Mara Wilson: From Child Star to Writer and Mental Health Advocate

For millions who grew up watching her, Mara Wilson is frozen in time — a bright-eyed child star. But the real story involved anxiety, OCD, and a decision to step away from Hollywood, and today she writes and speaks openly about mental health.

Born: July 24, 1987 · Notable films: Mrs. Doubtfire, Matilda, Miracle on 34th Street · Current residence: New York City · Occupation: Writer, actress, audiobook narrator

Six key facts, one pattern: Wilson’s life divides neatly into a childhood in front of the camera and an adult life behind the keyboard.

What is Mara Wilson’s illness?

Mara Wilson’s mental health journey

• Diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder at age 12, as she has publicly discussed (The Independent)
• Also experiences depression and panic attacks (Child Mind Institute)
• Has said therapy and medication help her manage these conditions (Australian Insight)

OCD and anxiety in childhood

• Her mother’s cancer diagnosis added major stress during her early years (Make It OK)
• Wilson has described panic attacks beginning shortly after filming Matilda (The Independent)

The implication: Wilson’s struggles didn’t appear out of nowhere; they were present during her most famous years, reframing how we see those on-screen performances.

What does Mara Wilson do today?

Writing and publishing

• Published memoir Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame in 2016 (International OCD Foundation)
• Writes essays for online publications and performs spoken word (Evening Standard)
• Maintains a blog titled “Mara Wilson Writes Stuff”

Voice acting and narration

• Works as an audiobook narrator (Happiful)
• Lent her voice to Project UROK, a mental-health video project (International OCD Foundation)

Public speaking and advocacy

• Served as an ambassador for Okay to Say, a Texas-based mental-health charity (The Independent)
• Keynote speaker at the 26th Annual OCD Conference in 2019 (International OCD Foundation)
• Participated in OCD Awareness Week programming (International OCD Foundation)

What this means: Wilson’s post-acting life is not a retreat but a deliberate pivot toward storytelling on her own terms.

Did Danny DeVito take care of Mara Wilson?

Danny DeVito’s mentorship

• DeVito directed Matilda and was a supportive figure on set (The Cinemaholic)
• Wilson has described him as a mentor who helped her navigate child stardom

Ongoing friendship

• They have remained in contact over the years (The List)
• Exact frequency of contact today is not publicly known

Working relationship on set

• DeVito cast her in Matilda after she impressed him in Mrs. Doubtfire
• Wilson has called him “one of the kindest people” she has worked with

The trade-off: While DeVito clearly provided emotional support, the details of their ongoing relationship remain private — a reasonable boundary for both.

Did Mara Wilson like Robin Williams?

Robin Williams’ kindness on set

• Wilson has repeatedly described Williams as kind and caring during the filming of Mrs. Doubtfire (Evening Standard)
• She recalls him making everyone laugh on set and treating her with genuine warmth

Mara’s memories of Williams

• She wrote a tribute essay after his death, calling him a “beautiful soul”
• She has said he was not just funny but deeply caring

The last phone call connection

• According to various reports, Robin Williams called Mara Wilson before his death, though whether it was directly or through an assistant remains unclear (Happiful)
• Wilson has not publicly confirmed the call’s specifics

“He was so kind to me. He made me feel like I was the only person in the room.”

— Mara Wilson, in interviews (Evening Standard)

Why this matters: The Robin Williams connection humanizes a Hollywood giant and shows how a brief on-set bond can leave a lasting impact.

When did Mara Wilson quit acting?

Transition from child star

• Her last acting role was in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000) (IMDb)
• She stopped auditioning and accepting roles around age 14

Reasons for leaving acting

• Cited anxiety and a lack of passion for the profession (The Cinemaholic)
• Her mother’s death in 2000 also contributed to her withdrawal from Hollywood (Make It OK)

Life after Hollywood

• Attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts (2005–2009)
• Focused on writing, eventually publishing her memoir (International OCD Foundation)

The catch: Quitting acting wasn’t a failure; it was a survival strategy that opened the door to a more authentic career.

Timeline: Mara Wilson’s life in moments

• 1987 – Mara Elizabeth Wilson born in Burbank, California (Wikipedia)
• 1993 – Stars as Natalie in Mrs. Doubtfire (IMDb)
• 1994 – Co-stars in Miracle on 34th Street (IMDb)
• 1996 – Leads in Matilda (released June 1996) (IMDb)
• 2000 – Last acting role in Thomas and the Magic Railroad; quits acting soon after (IMDb)
• 2005 – Attends New York University (Tisch School of the Arts) (The Cinemaholic)
• 2016 – Publishes memoir Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame (International OCD Foundation)
• 2020s – Active as writer, narrator, and public speaker (Happiful)

Clarity report: What we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Mara Wilson was born July 24, 1987 (Wikipedia)
• She starred in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda (IMDb)
• She stopped acting as a teenager (The Cinemaholic)
• She has spoken about anxiety, OCD, and depression (Child Mind Institute)

What’s unclear

• Exact date she decided to quit acting (The Cinemaholic)
• Current net worth (not publicly disclosed)
• Frequency of contact with Danny DeVito today
• Exact amount she earned from Matilda (reports vary)
• Current residence (publicly stated as New York City, but exact location not confirmed)

Quotes from Mara Wilson

“I was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder when I was twelve, and for a long time I thought it was something I had to hide.”

— Mara Wilson, in a 2018 interview with The Independent

“Danny DeVito is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. He really looked out for me on set.”

— Mara Wilson, in a public conversation (The List article)

Summary: Mara Wilson’s path from child stardom to writing and advocacy is a case study in resilience. For fans revisiting her work today, the books and essays offer a richer, more honest portrait than any film ever could. For those in similar mental-health struggles, her willingness to speak openly is a rare gift — one that turns a former child star into a genuine role model for a new generation. The choice for readers is clear: accept the Hallmark version of a happy child star, or listen to the real Mara Wilson.

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