Trending
'Matilda' star reveals immense kindness Danny de Vito and Rhea Perlman showed her when her mom passed
She didn't find out about the secret act of kindness until later on.
Gianella Argao
07.27.22

Anyone from the ’90s has most likely watched the novel-based movie “Matilda.” Who would ever fail to recognize Matilda, the gifted girl who suffered from her own family’s cruelty and neglect?

After constantly being left alone, Matilda in Roald Dahl’s 1988 tale learns that she possesses the magical ability of telekinesis.

Telekinesis is the ability to move objects without touching them.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mara Wilson (@marawilson)

The little girl utilized her magical abilities to protect her school from an evil schoolmaster as well as to play a practical joke on her family.

Everybody admired the resilience that Matilda’s narrative instilled in its audience. It aids in finding the courage required to take command of one’s life and in realizing just how big of a difference one can make, regardless of one’s age, status, and personal problems.

She was, and still is, an icon.

The majority of people would agree that Mara Wilson, the actress who played Matilda in the 1996 film, personifies all of Matilda’s admirable qualities.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mara Wilson (@marawilson)

Everyone was unaware that Mara’s personal life was not as ideal as it appeared to be. While Mara was filming the renowned movie, she was actually going through the worst fight of her life.

Mara was going through bad times while filming.

Reading has always been a pastime that Mara has cherished and appreciated as a child. Even before the part was offered, Mara’s adored mother would read her the novel, Matilda.

Youtube - Entertainment Tonight
Source:
Youtube - Entertainment Tonight

Mara was inspired to assume the role of Matilda by her mother’s words of support. Matilda was a tremendously powerful character, exactly like Mara.

On the set of the movie, she found a family.

Mara had no clue how significant Rhea Perlman and director Danny DeVito would become in her life when they gave her the role of Matilda. They were Mara’s co-stars and director, but they were also anchors that held her steady as she faced the most difficult days of her life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mara Wilson (@marawilson)

Suzie, Mara’s loving mother, received a breast cancer diagnosis on the tragic March 10, 1995, when Matilda was being filmed. Occasionally, Danny and Rhea would voluntarily offer to care for Mara if her parents had to go to the hospital.

They became her support system.

Suzie’s illness worsened despite their best efforts to save her, and on April 26, 1996, just before Matilda was released, she passed away. Mara and the rest of her family were inconsolable.

Words could not express how they felt. Losing a mother is the worst thing that can happen to a child.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mara Wilson (@marawilson)

Mara was utterly devastated.

Mara revealed one act of compassion Danny showed Suzie for which she is most grateful and will always be grateful in a memoir she wrote entitled “Where Am I Now?” which is dedicated to her supportive mother.

Mara believed that Suzie died without witnessing her performance in her finest achievement since she knew her mom died before the movie Matilda was out.

It tugs her heart every time.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mara Wilson (@marawilson)

Knowing that her mother, who persuaded her to accept the part and who adored the Matilda storyline so much, was unable to see the finished product broke her.

Years after the passing of Mara’s loving mother, Danny revealed a beautiful secret. The renowned filmmaker said that Danny had actually visited Suzie in the hospital with the nearly finished Matilda film and allowed Suzie to watch it.

She was able to see it after all.

She gave Suzie the chance to be a proud mother as she admired her daughter’s excellent performance. Knowing that her mother didn’t miss the movie gave Mara an unexplainable peace of mind.

Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman demonstrated how much of kind, considerate, and sensitive people they are in contrast to the characters they played in Matilda.

It’s true that neither a small nor a large act of kindness is necessary to ease someone’s pain—any act of kindness done from the heart is always more than enough.

Mara Wilson is now more interested in writing than in filming movies. The brilliant Matilda actress operates her own website called “Mara Wilson Writes Stuff,” and in September 2016 she published her book, “Where Am I Now?”

See the video below to learn more about Mara’s story.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Article Sources:
To learn more read our Editorial Standards.
Advertisement