Matilda, the 1996 movie based on the Roald Dahl novel, celebrated its 25th anniversary last Wednesday. Marking the occasion, star Mara Wilson told Entertainment Tonight that neither she, nor cast mates Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Pam Ferris and Embeth Davidtz, had any idea how popular the film would become.
“I think we hoped that it would be a hit and I think that Danny and everybody who wrote on it and worked on it hoped,” said Wilson, now 34. “We knew that there weren’t a lot of movies like this. There weren’t very many movies where intelligence is rewarded and resourcefulness is rewarded. There also weren’t that many movies about little girls and especially not little girls who had inner strength, so I think that we knew that we were doing something kind of special.”
Wilson also said she formed a strong bond with DeVito, saying she “immediately felt a connection with him.” Wilson’s mother, Suzie, was battling breast cancer while the movie was being filmed and died four months before its premiere. The actress revealed how DeVito and Perlman helped her through the challenging time.
“Danny and Rhea would take me to the theater to see a play, or to the movies or to just hang out at their house, things like that that was all usually done when my mother was in the hospital,” she recalled. “It really did keep me distracted and it really did keep me happy.”
Matilda was dedicated to Suzie, which Wilson said meant a lot to her.
“I felt so glad when I saw that in the credits, and I still feel happy when I see that now,” Wilson revealed. “I’m so glad that they did that.”