Mara Elizabeth Wilson (born July 24, 1987) is an American writer and former child actress. She is known for playing Natalie Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street (1994), Matilda Wormwood in Matilda (1996) and Lily Stone in Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000). Since retiring from film acting, Wilson has focused on writing.
Wilson was born in Burbank, California, on July 24, 1987 to Mike Wilson, a television broadcast engineer, and the late Suzie Shapiro Wilson, a homemaker. Wilson's mother was Jewish, and her father is of part Irish descent. She was raised Jewish and became an atheist when she was 15. She has three older brothers named Danny, Jon, and Joel, and a younger sister named Anna. Political commentator Ben Shapiro is her cousin on her mother's side. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 10, 1995, and died on April 26, 1996, after the filming of Matilda. The movie was released after her death and was dedicated to Suzie's memory. After her mother died, Wilson lost some of her passion for acting.