Mara Elizabeth Wilson was born on a Friday, specifically July 24th, 1987, in Los Angeles, California. As the oldest daughter of Michael and Suzie Wilson, she had three elder brothers - Danny, born in 1979, Jon, born in 1981, and Joel, born in 1983 - and a younger sister Anna, born in 1993. Mara's early life was marked by a strong desire to follow in the footsteps of her eldest brother Danny, who began acting in television commercials when she was just 5 years old. Despite her parents' initial reluctance, Mara's persistence eventually paid off, and she was allowed to give acting a try.
She began her acting career by appearing in numerous commercials, including those for Texaco and the Bank of America. Mara's big break came when she landed a role in the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire, starring Robin Williams and Sally Field. Her performance as the divorced parents' daughter showcased her talent and maturity, and her acting career took off. The following year, Mara appeared in A Time to Heal, playing a young girl whose mother had suffered a major stroke.
However, it was her role as the little girl who learned the magic of Santa Claus in the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street that truly cemented her status as a rising star. Mara's non-belief in Santa Claus actually worked in her favor, allowing her to bring a unique perspective to the character. At the age of nine, Mara was cast in the lead role in the film adaptation of Roald Dahl's book Matilda. Unfortunately, during filming, Mara lost her beloved mother to breast cancer, but she bravely pushed ahead with the film, earning the admiration of her adult co-stars.
Over the next three years, Mara starred in three films, including Thomas and the Magic Railroad in 2000. Although the film did not perform well in the American box office, it was a success in the UK. This marked the end of Mara's film career, as she wanted to focus on her education and enjoy her teenage years. In June 2005, Mara graduated from the Idyllwild School of Music & Arts and went on to attend New York University.
In a 2012 blog post, Mara revealed that she had no desire to return to acting in films. Today, Mara is a stage actress, a voice actress, a writer, and a playwright. She currently resides in New York City, living a quiet life in the "Big Apple".
