'Matilda' actress Mara Wilson recalls worst moments of being sexualised as child star
'Matilda' star Mara Wilson has recently expressed how she "felt ashamed to be sexualised" as a child actress.
Do you think it's fair that celebrities are sexualised by the public?
Mara Wilson, the 33-year-old star of 'Matilda', was only 10 when she starred in the popular movie and was thrust into the spotlight.
Mara opened up and shared how when she went through her teenage years, there were those that sexualised her image and she "hated it".
She compared her journey to the likes of Drew Barrymore and Britney Spears, who also started their careers at a young age.
She said she felt that she became a victim of the "narrative" that "famous kids deserve" the abuse and scrutiny that is forced on them from an early age. Mara added that despite being young and choosing to star in family films, she was still asked inappropriate questions in interviews.
I mostly acted in family movies — the remake of Miracle on 34th Street, Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire. I never appeared in anything more revealing than a knee-length sundress. This was all intentional: My parents thought I would be safer that way. But it didn't work.
Mara had it so bad that she used to have adults sending her messages which were degrading.
It was cute when 10-year-olds sent me letters saying they were in love with me. It was not when 50-year-old men did. Before I even turned 12, there were images of me on foot fetish websites and photoshopped into child pornography. Every time, I felt ashamed.
While things appear to have changed over the years for young stars, it was still a difficult time for Mara.
Hollywood has resolved to tackle harassment in the industry, but I was never sexually harassed on a film set. My sexual harassment always came at the hands of the media and the public."
The 'Matilda' star continued:
Many moments of Ms. Spears's life were familiar to me. We both had dolls made of us, had close friends and boyfriends sharing our secrets and had grown men commenting on our bodies. But my life was easier not only because I was never tabloid-level famous, but because unlike Ms. Spears, I always had my family's support. I knew that I had money put away for me, and it was mine. If I needed to escape the public eye, I vanished — safe at home or school." The Narrative isn't a story someone else is writing anymore. I can write it myself.
Mara has decided to own her story, where it is going, and how it'll be received.
Well done to her standing up for her rights and what she believes in.
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