90s child star greets fans in rare public appearance, decades after quitting Hollywood

After starring in a string of major 90s hits, Mara Wilson basically quit Hollywood overnight – but she’s just resurfaced.

As a child, this actress was one of the most sought after stars in the world, with top roles pouring in.

This former actress, now 37, recently thrilled fans in a rare public appearance – decades after leaving Hollywood stardom behind, reports The Sun.

The former child star in question is Mara Wilson, who played the titular role of Matilda in the 1996 film.

Now all grown up and a writer, the actress thrilled fans when she appeared at the Comic Con in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Sharing a picture of herself signing autographs, Mara wrote: “First day of Comic Con! So many adorable little girls dressed as Matilda, so many kind Scots, and not nearly enough Tunnock’s caramel wafers. Come on out tomorrow, Aberdeen!”

Wilson popped up in Scotland at Comic Con. Picture: Instagram

She got her big break in the titular role in Matilda.

Becoming a child star

When it comes to being a child star of the 90s, Mara was at the top of her game.

She got her first big break starring alongside the late Robin Williams in Mrs Doubtfire in 1993.

After this, Mara also had a big role in the popular Christmas movie, Miracle On 34th Street, which was released the following year.

Wilson appeared in hit Christmas movie Miracle on 34th Street.

Matilda fame

But it was when she landed the leading role of Matilda, Mara really hit the big time.

The movie – based on the novel by Roald Dahl – is one of the most nostalgic films of the 90s for many people of a certain generation.

It told the story of Matilda Wormwood, a little girl underappreciated by her cruel parents and tortured by evil headmistress Miss Trunchbull.

Using her psychic powers she gets her own back on them in many ways and is eventually adopted by caring teacher Miss Honey.

Wilson starred alongside Robin Williams in Mrs Doubtfire.

Quitting Hollywood

But despite the huge success of the movie, Mara turned her back on acting.

Instead she works as a writer these days and insists it’s something she always wanted to do.

Mara previously said: “Writing was always my secret desire. It was always something that in the back of my head I wanted to do.

“I wrote a lot of stories on the sets of movies. On Matilda, I wrote several.”

She has written for titles including Elle, The New York Times and Vanity Fair and released her memoir – Where Am I Now? – in 2016.

Mara – who was just nine-years-old when Matilda was released – is said to have officially quit acting in 2000.

The former actress later revealed why she turned her back on Hollywood, and said: “The rejection hurt because it had been just such a prominent part of my life for so long.

“It had been the thing that defined me.

“Writing I’d always loved. There’s a saying – ‘If you can live without it, you should’. And I found that I could.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as 90s child star greets fans in rare public appearance, decades after quitting Hollywood