The movie adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda first hit movie screens 28 years ago.
Starring Mara Wilson as the child prodigy, Matilda followed the story of a young girl being mistreated in her home, but using her secret powers to inflict justice and mischief to those who wronged her. The film was a box office smash, and has since gained a cult-like following as people look back fondly on an iconic film that formed their childhood.
But what many fans may not know was that there were a lot of different secrets to the show’s production, and some near-misses that left bosses worried if the film would even be released. In the lead-up to the film’s debut, tragedy would strike the cast and leave everyone reeling.
READ MORE: Matilda child star unrecognisable in video messages to fans – but cats keep interrupting
READ MORE: Join the Daily Star Soaps WhatsApp for all the latest spoilers and exclusives
So, as the world marks the anniversary of Matilda’s release, Daily Star looks at some of the most surprising secret’s of the film.
Tragic death
(Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Lead actress Mara Wilson was aged just nine years old when she landed the role of Matilda Wormwood, thanks to actor and director Danny DeVito. However, while her career was taking off, she was about to be hit by personal tragedy from mum Suzie.
Suzie had been diagnosed with breast cancer just as filming for Matilda had begun, and tragically passed away months before the film was released in theatres. Looking back on the time, Mara admitted that she had no idea of her mum’s diagnosis and thanked Danny for helping her through.
“The DeVitos were definitely very helpful, everyone there, our studio teacher Richard [Wicklund]; everyone on set gathered around me and took care of me,” she explained. “There is no question that I would have gotten through that year and the next year of publicity and everything without Matilda.”
Near-amputation
(Image: TriStar Pictures)
Love-to-hate baddie Miss Trunchbull was played Pam Ferris, who became a household name after the film was first released. However, she explained that in one scene, she almost walked away without a finger.
In one iconic moment, despicable Trunchbull throws Amanda Thripp over a fence by her braids – the braids were in fact fake and held wires that would see her fly across the school playground. “The wires came from her body casing through her plaits and into my hands, and I said, ‘How am I going to hold this?'” she recalled in an interview with RadioTimes.
“So they put a loop in the wire and said, ‘Put that over your little finger and swing her around,’ which I did, and of course the centrifugal force got stronger and stronger and I had to let go eventually, and it nearly took the top of my finger off,” Ferris added. “I had to have about seven or eight stitches.”
Magic connections
(Image: BWP Media)
While Matilda is all about discovering powers and harnessing them, one actress also has another connection to a completely different magical story. Pam Ferris, who played Miss Trunchbull, also took on the role of Aunt Marge in the Harry Potter films.
Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Marge – whose full name was Marjorie Dursley – was a snobby character who, much like her Matilda character, did not like children. But as the films progressed, Pam was able to have more fun with the character for the short stint she was in.
In one hilarious scene from the third instalment, The Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry uses his wizardry to cast an accidental spell on his aunt. Using the Inflating Charm on Marge, she is seen to widen like hot air balloon float away, leaving viewers in stitches.
For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up for one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
