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‘Matilda’ star Mara Wilson recalls being ‘sexualized’ as a child
Mara Wilson, known for her roles in films such as Matilda and Miracle on 34th Street, is urging society to reconsider the way child actors are viewed and discussed.
In a recent op-ed for Elle.com, the former child star opened up about the unsettling sexual objectification of young Hollywood performers, a phenomenon she became acquainted with early on.
Now 30, the actress shared her experiences of being featured on foot fetish websites, photoshopped into child pornography, and receiving disturbing messages from adult men before she even left middle school.
She also mentioned her encounters with strange men at premieres and award shows, who would ask her to sign photos they had printed themselves.
Wilson, who first appeared on the big screen in Mrs. Doubtfire at the age of five, detailed how the sexualization she faced evolved into harsh criticism and discussions about her body as she entered her teenage years.
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She said that as a child actor, her body was considered public domain, which led to either being labeled “ugly” or “cute,” making her feel useless or objectified.
The actress’s past experiences of being objectified and receiving inappropriate attention resurfaced when she saw a photo of Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown at a premiere for the show’s second season.
The 13-year-old actress was described as having “grown up in front of our eyes” in a tweet by an adult man, which enraged Wilson.
She argued that a 13-year-old girl is not grown up and that the comment was not newsworthy.
Wilson also criticized the inappropriate commentary on Brown’s appearance, including remarks about her looking “so old” or blaming her parents for her outfit.
The actress pointed out that even if Brown had been dressed in a revealing manner, it wouldn’t matter; the issue lies in making a young girl in the public eye an acceptable target for ridicule or harassment by commenting on her body.
Regarding those who blamed Brown’s parents, Wilson asserted that such comments aim to shift the blame of objectifying a minor away from the commenter.
She emphasized that commenting on a child’s body, positively or negatively, is still inappropriate.
Having mostly retired from acting in 2000, Wilson now focuses primarily on writing.
She also briefly touched upon the sexual misconduct scandal that has shaken Hollywood, highlighting the dehumanization and objectification of actors as the cause of power imbalances that predators thrive on.