Mara Wilson Biography

Name:Mara Elizabeth Wilson

Date of Birth:July 24, 1987 
Place of Birth:Los Angeles
                     California

Job Titles:Actor


When she was five years old, Mara Wilson saw her brother Danny acting in a feature film and decided she wanted to do that as well. Danny has since tired of acting, but Mara Wilson became one of the hottest kid actors of the 1990s thanks to her performance as the heavy-tongued, "Stuart Little"-loving youngest tot of Robin Williams and Sally Field in "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993). Wilson, who hails from Los Angeles, acted in a number of TV commercials (including Oscar Mayer, Texaco and Pound Puppies) before earning her first "break" playing the daughter of Russian immigrants for whom Matt (Doug Savant) must care on several episodes of "Melrose Place" (Fox, 1993). Mara Wilson filmed a TV-movie, "A Time to Heal" (NBC, 1994), in which she was the daughter of a woman who has a stroke trying to give birth to her second child which aired after the release of "Mrs. Doubtfire", Wilson's third project.Mara Wilson performance as the daughter of divorcing parents earned her much praise and attention. Wilson's lisping delivery might, on the surface, appear too cute, but combined with eyes which speak 1,000 emotions starting with pathos, the combination works. Wilson went on to star in John Hughes' 1994 remake of "Miracle on 34th Street", assuming the Natalie Wood role of a skeptical, even cynical, child who comes to believe in Santa Claus. It was almost two years before she was seen again in features, this time in the title role of "Matilda" (1996), a girl with telekinetic powers based on a Roald Dahl children's book. After a four year absence, she returned to the big screen playing Peter Fonda's pre-teen granddaughter in "Thomas and the Magic Railroad" (2000).

Milestones

1991 Began career at age four; has made numerous 
TV commercials

1993 Had recurring role on "Melrose Place"

1993 Made feature film debut in "Mrs. Doubtfire"

1994 Co-starred in TV-movie, "A Time to Heal"

1994 Starred in remake of "Miracle on 34th Street"

1995 Sang "Make 'Em Laugh" on Academy Awards telecast

1996 Starred in "Matilda"

2000 Had leading role in "Thomas and the Magic Railroad"