Mara Wilson Says She Was Sexualized As A Child Star & The Difficulty Of Living In ‘Matilda’s Shadow

For me, that was not necessarily true.

I always felt safe on film sets.

I had people sending me inappropriate letters and posting things about me online, she adds.

Mara Wilson (L) and Wilson as Matilda in 1996Amy Sussman / Getty Images / TriStar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

I made the mistake of Googling myself when I was 12 and saw things that I couldnt unsee.

Wilson continued, People dont realize how much constantly talking to the press as a child weighs on you.

Wilson also talked about living in the shadow ofMatilda, the film based onRoald Dahls childrens book.

I think they were expecting me to be Matilda, and shes wonderful, but shes not real.

Shes brilliant in every single way.

Shes smart, and kind and powerful.

I was never going to live up to that.

Because I directly tied that to the demise of my career.