Mara Wilson might be the only former child star to grow up, turn her back on Hollywood, and spend her time writing beautiful observations about the world.
Because she graciously reverted to a certain level of anonymity, you might not know who Mara Wilson is. She played Matilda in the movie Matilda and the younger daughter in Mrs Doubtfire.
She played Robin Williams‘ daughter in a movie, but as she recalls, she felt at times like he played her father in real life.
So, having worked with Robin when she was just a child, news of his death by suicide is heartbreaking for her in a more intimate way than most. She knew him, she played sock puppets with him on set, and she saw his legendary kindness up close.
Because she writes beautiful things for a living now and because he meant so very much to her, Mara Wilson wrote a beautiful thing about her friend Robin Williams.
She says on her blog, Mara Wilson Writes Stuff:
“Robin Williams, as I knew him, was warm, gentle, expressive, nurturing, and brilliant. While it can be hard for me to remember filming Doubtfire, I’ve been flooded with memories in the past few days. It’s humbling to know I am one of the few people who was there for these moments, that he’s no longer around to share them.”
Those memories include how he used to keep her and the other kids entertained between takes by impersonating a walrus with chopsticks, putting sock puppet plays on, and paying them the fragile, gentle attention of a man who felt more comfortable talking to children than to adults (a bit like Mrs Doubtfire).
That fragility wasn’t something Mara saw herself until she met Robin again as an adult:
Robin was so on so much of the time that I was surprised to hear my mother describe him as “shy.” “When he talks to you,” she told her friends, “he’ll be looking down at his shoes the whole time.” I figured he must have been different with grown-ups. I wouldn’t see that side of him myself until a few years later, when I was invited to be part of a table read of What Dreams May Come. He came alive in the reading, and had us all laughing at lunch, but my strongest impression came when we saw each other for the first time that day. Robin crossed to me from across the room, got down to my level, and whispered “Hi, how are you?” He asked how my family was doing, how school was, never raising his voice and only sometimes making eye contact. He seemed so vulnerable. “So this is what Mom meant,” I thought. It was as if I was seeing him for the first time. He was a person now.
The next time Mara saw Robin, he was filming on location at New York University, where she was studying. He was walking back to his trailer and she yelled his name. He turned and saw a girl in a black hoodie waving at him with the familiarity of someone who knew him, stopped, and realised who it was. They chatted about university and life.
Top Comments
Robin Williams didn't remind me of my dad. He was someone I used to wish was my dad.
My dad also suffers from depression and did when we were growing up. I know that's not his fault. But the way it manifested was as a distant, rude and grumpy man who took no interest in our lives and showed no affection, just disapproval when we weren't doing what he wanted. As a child and teenager, Robin seemed the opposite to me. The funny and kind, interested and affectionate father I had always hoped for. That's why to me, it felt so personal and why I'm so sad at his passing.
If you haven't had a chance yet, you should also read this tribute: http://www.vulture.com/2014...
A loving tear jerker, beautifully put.
Oh that made me cry. Thank you for sharing.
Yep, me too. Beautiful.
Oh my goodness what a stunning, devastating piece of writing. Thanks for sharing.