Where Are They Now? The Matilda Cast Then & Now
The remarkably gifted cast of Matilda, particularly Mara Wilson as the title character and Embeth Davidtz as Miss Honey, plays a significant role in why the 1996 children’s fantasy film remains a beloved classic among fans. Based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel of the same name and directed by Danny DeVito, Matilda tells the story of Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson), a bright girl with telekinetic abilities who faces neglect and mistreatment from her family. When her father finally sends her to Crunchem Hall Elementary School against his will, Matilda, with Miss Honey’s assistance, employs her intellect and powers to confront her family and the cruel principal.
Two decades following its debut, the movie “Matilda” from the ’90s remains a beloved comfort film that is iconic. Based on Roald Dahl’s bestseller, various adaptations of this classic story have emerged over time, such as the Tony Award-winning 2011 Broadway musical “Matilda the Musical,” which was later adapted into the successful Netflix series “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical” in 2022. However, it’s the 1996 film adaptation that is held most dear, and many actors who played characters in the original production have gone on to enjoy even more illustrious acting careers, while others have chosen to live their lives away from the limelight.
Mara Wilson As Matilda Wormwood
Born July 24, 1987
Active Since: 1993-2000, 2012
After Mara Wilson’s memorable performance as Matilda, she accumulated additional acting roles, such as Anabel Greening in “A Simple Wish” and Lily Stone in “Thomas and the Magic Railroad,” which marked her final role as a child actor. Wilson left film acting in 2000 but has made appearances in various projects starting from 2012. These include a guest spot on the TV show “Broad City” as a waitress, several episodes of “BoJack Horseman” as Jill Pill, and a recurring role as Liv Amara/Diane “Di” Amara in “Big Hero 6: The Series.”
| Notable Mara Wilson Movies/TV Shows | Role |
|---|---|
| Mrs. Doubtfire | Natalie Hillard |
| Thomas and the Magic Railroad | Lily Stone |
| A Simple Wish | Anabel Greening |
Character: Mara Wilson portrayed Matilda Wormwood, a bright young girl with a passion for books who employed her psychokinetic abilities to challenge her cruel school headmistress. She is widely recognized as one of the most memorable child characters from the 90s, since Matilda was a popular choice within the family film genre during that era.
Embeth Davidtz As Jennifer Honey
Born August 11, 1965
Active Since: 1989
Embeth Davidtz has enjoyed a prosperous acting career since her time as Matilda, featuring in numerous films such as Bridget Jones’s Diary (as Natasha), The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Annika), and The Amazing Spider-Man series (Mary Parker). She was also seen alongside Liam Neeson in the 2023 action film Retribution, and her most recent role was one of the main characters in the South African production Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, released in 2024.
| Notable Embeth Davidtz Movies/TV Shows | Role |
|---|---|
| Army of Darkness | Sheila |
| Schindler’s List | Helen Hirsch |
| Bicentennial Man | Amanda “Little Miss” Martin, Portia Charney |
Character: Embeth Davidtz portrayed Jennifer Honey, a compassionate and nurturing teacher who fostered Matilda’s growth. In this tale where Matilda bravely confronted her parents and school principal, it was heartening to witness an adult ally in Matilda’s life, recognizing her academic prowess and personal worth.
Pam Ferris As Miss Agatha Trunchbull
Born May 11, 1948
Active Since: 1970
Actor: Pam Ferris’ acting career took off following the 1996 movie, and some of her most significant roles post-“Matilda” include playing the harsh aunt in the “Harry Potter” series, Marge Dursley in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, and Mrs. Faulkner in “Tolkien”. On television, Ferris has acted as Peggy Snow in “Where the Heart Is”, Laura Thyme in “Rosemary and Thyme”, and Sister Evangelina in the BBC series “Call the Midwife”. Her latest movie was the 2019 film “Tolkien”, and she made an appearance in a single episode of “Urban Myths” in 2020.
| Notable Pam Ferris Movies/TV Shows | Role |
|---|---|
| Where the Heart Is | Peggy Snow |
| Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Marge Dursley |
| Call the Midwife | Sister Evangelina |
In the movie “Matilda,” the acclaimed actress Pam Ferris portrayed the tyrannical and terrifying character of Miss Trunchbull. While the film doesn’t mince words in depicting adult characters, it is safe to say that Miss Trunchbull stands out as one of the most fearsome, given her chilling portrayal. To put it simply, she serves as Matilda’s cruel and horrifying headmistress, also being the aunt of Miss Honey.
Danny DeVito As Harry Wormwood
Born November 17, 1944
Active Since: 1969
Speaker: After playing a memorable part in the film Matilda, Danny DeVito has enjoyed a flourishing career spanning decades. Some of his most notable roles include George Shapiro in Man on the Moon, Sid Hudgens in L.A. Confidential, Max Medici in Dumbo, Deck Shiflet in The Rainmaker, and Amos Calloway in Big Fish. On television, DeVito gained fame for his role in Taxi and is now widely recognized for his ongoing portrayal of Frank Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. In 2025, he reprised his role as Frank Reynolds in an episode of Abbott Elementary.
| Notable Danny DeVito Movies/TV Shows | Role |
|---|---|
| Batman Returns | Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin |
| Taxi | Louie De Palma |
| It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Frank Reynolds |
In a different take: The well-known Danny DeVito, who was also the director of Matilda, portrayed the character of Harry Wormwood. Harry was Matilda’s cruel and unjust father, treating her poorly and even refusing to enroll her in school. He is the one who narrates the film, and during its course, it’s revealed that he is under investigation by the FBI for shady business dealings, primarily involving the sale of cars.
Rhea Perlman As Zinnia Wormwood
Born March 31, 1948
Active Since: 1972
Known Primarily For: Rhea Perlman is mainly recognized for her portrayal of waitress Carla Tortelli on the sitcom “Cheers,” a role that earned her four Emmys. Post-“Cheers,” this talented actress has continued to shine in various successful films and TV shows, including notable roles after her appearance in the 1996 film “Matilda.” Some of Perlman’s post-“Matilda” film appearances include Mrs. D in “10 Items or Less,” Sally in “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” Grandma Ruth in Netflix’s “13: The Musical,” and more recently, the Spirit of Ruth Handler in the cast of “Barbie.” Her recent TV projects encompass “Curses!” and an episode of “Mid-Century Modern.
| Notable Rhea Perlman Movies/TV Shows | Role |
|---|---|
| Cheers | Carla Tortelli |
| Taxi | Zena |
| Barbie | Ruth Handler |
In the story ‘Matilda’, Perlman portrays Matilda’s mother, Zinnia Wormwood, who struggles to connect with her child. Although she may not be as overtly cruel as Harry or Miss Trunchbull, Matilda’s mother, who is obsessed with Bingo, can still be quite harsh and frequently neglectful towards her daughter.
Matilda Support Cast & Characters
Matilda Has An Incredible Supporting Cast
Paul Reubens, known for his character Pee-wee Herman, made a special appearance in the movie ‘Matilda’ as an FBI agent undercover, probing Matilda’s father’s illicit activities. Following ‘Matilda’, he featured in various films such as Professor Spatz in ‘Buddy’, The Spleen in ‘Mystery Men’, and reprised his role of Pee-wee Herman in the 2016 film ‘Pee-wee’s Big Holiday’. He also had brief appearances on TV shows like Andrew J. Lansing III in ‘Murphy Brown’, Troy Stevens in ‘You Don’t Know Jack’, and Mr. Vargas in ‘The Blacklist’. Unfortunately, Paul Reubens passed away on July 30, 2023.>
Tracey Walter, previously an FBI Agent Bill, has had a rich acting career post-Matilda: The veteran actor, who boasts over 170 films and TV appearances under his belt, continued to act after Matilda. He was seen in the critically acclaimed Erin Brockovich as Charles Embry, Professor Wood in How High, and Father Ricky/ Lil J in the 2016 movie Middle Man. This versatile actor also worked on several television shows, with notable roles being Peter Spielman/Angel in Nash Bridges, Sheriff Walter Chechekivitch in Reno 911, and Bum in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. His latest film was Wakefield in 2016.
Brian Levinson is primarily recognized for his role as the cruel older brother, Michael Wormwood, in Matilda. Following Matilda, Levinson had a brief stint in acting. His final acting credit was on Seinfeld as Andy. Before Matilda, Levinson played Young Joey in Baby Face Nelson, Michael in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Brent in Father and Scout, Jimmy Dean in Shoot First: A Cop’s Vengeance, and Brian in Predator 2. Since then, Levinson has chosen to step away from acting.
Kiami Davael initially made her acting debut as Matilda’s cherished friend Lavender, a role she played in the movie. Following her performance in Matilda, Davael has graced various film and television productions with her presence. Some of her most memorable roles include Shawniqua in Bruno, Simone Bien Aime in The Pretender, Anna in Moesha, Christina in The Steve Harvey Show, and Tiffany on the television show Grown Ups.
Davael has primarily concentrated on her singing career, but recently returned to acting with a role in the 2023 thriller The Forfeiture Clause as Celestine Light/Seitanella Macabre. In 2024, she can be seen as Paisley Campbell in the movie Wealthy and Wise. Her latest project, Free, is currently being finalized during post-production.
Jacqueline Steiger, famously known for her portrayal of Amanda Thripp in Matilda, has since appeared in various films, TV shows, and even lent her voice to animated projects. After playing Amanda, she took on roles such as Margaret in Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!, Ruby in Beautiful, and Betty in An American Rhapsody. In television, she was recognized for her performances as Tiffany in Dharma and Greg, Suzy Williams in Judging Amy, and Leila in Force Push. Additionally, she provided the voice of Microwave in the 2014 short film Kitchen Appliances, marking one of her last acting credits.
Jimmy Karz portrayed Bruce Borgtrotter, the boy notoriously made to eat a massive cake by Miss Trunchbull, in the film ‘Matilda’. Following this role, he appeared as the Studliest Kid at Bat Mitzvah in ‘The Wedding Singer’, and played Alfred Clark on the TV series ‘ER’. In addition, Karz was part of a documentary with his ‘Matilda’ co-stars titled ‘Afternoon Tea and A Matilda Reunion’. Notably, Jimmy Karz has since left acting and is now practicing medicine. (Source: The New Zealand Herald)
Kira Spencer Hesser portrayed the valiant character of Hortensia, who cautioned Matilda against Miss Trunchbull in the story. Following her role in Matilda, Spencer has enjoyed a flourishing career as an actor, author, and producer. She’s featured in various films, such as Olivia in Ever, Officer Anne Lewis in Our RoboCop Remake, and Lady Capulet in The Try Guys Present Romeo and Juliet: Choose Your Shakespeare (2023). Her most recent appearances were in 2024, where she starred in several episodes of Sunny and made an appearance in one episode of The Really Loud House. She currently has numerous upcoming projects.
Before portraying Mrs. Phelps in Matilda, Ron Howard’s mother, Jean Speegle Howard, had already established herself as a successful actress. Following the release of Matilda in 1996, she continued to act, appearing in films such as Bokky’s grandmother and Olivia in Traveler and The Night Caller respectively. On television, her notable roles included Mrs. Morton in Fired Up, the real Natalie French in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Melanie Hannon in Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction. Her final on-screen performance was in The Hiding Place, which was released in 2000. Jean Speegle Howard passed away on September 2, 2000.
Marion Dugan is recognized for portraying Cookie, the character who made the renowned 18-inch chocolate cake in Matilda. Prior to this role, she acted as Mrs. Trodgen in Get a Life, Lila Pierce in Quantum Leap, and Robin’s Neighbor in The Cable Guy. After her stint in Matilda, Dugan was seen on the TV series Shasta McNasty as Contestant #1, marking her final screen appearance. Marion Dugan passed away on March 31, 2015.
As a passionate film enthusiast, I’d like to highlight that Jon Lovitz, famously known for his time on Saturday Night Live, made a brief appearance in the movie classic, Matilda, donning the role of The Million Dollar Sticky TV host. Before this 1996 film, Lovitz was already a household name. He then moved on to a variety of projects, such as playing Richard Clark in High School High, Uncle Harry in Lost & Found, and Squats Fitness Janitor in the comedy Grown Ups 2. His small-screen career is equally impressive, with roles in Hot in Cleveland, Two and a Half Men, and The Goldbergs. Occasionally, he still graces our screens, with a 2024 episode of SpongeBob SquarePants being his latest credit.
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2025-04-20 17:23