Mara Wilson says she's finally embraced her 'Matilda' legacy 30 years on

Mara Wilson says she has finally come to embrace the legacy of Matilda, admitting that while fame felt overwhelming as a child, she now considers it an honour to be associated with the beloved family classic three decades after its release.

Speaking exclusively to People ahead of the film's 30th anniversary, Wilson reflected on how her relationship with the iconic character has changed over the years. She admitted that, as a child, it often felt as though Matilda was "an older sister" whose shadow she lived in. "People loved Matilda, they didn't necessarily love Mara," she said.

Now 39, Wilson says she has made peace with being forever linked to the role. Drawing comparisons to Carrie Fisher's relationship with Princess Leia, she explained that the character has become a part of her identity. "I consider it really an honour," she said, adding that the values Matilda represented have stayed with her throughout her life.

Wilson also praised director Danny DeVito's adaptation of Roald Dahl's novel, saying she has come to appreciate the film's enduring impact after meeting fans around the world. She recalled learning during a visit to Colombia that generations of children had grown up watching Matilda, with many telling her the film had defined their childhoods.

Although Wilson has largely stepped away from on-screen acting, she continues to work as a writer, voice actor and audiobook narrator. She recently narrated Katherine Applegate's Wombat Waiting and said she enjoys the creative freedom voice work offers, adding that she has little interest in changing herself to fit Hollywood's expectations.