IT captured the ideal mix of childhood mischief, wicked grown-ups facing justice, and a touch of magic.
When the film version of Roald Dahl’s Matilda was released in 1996, it quickly became a cult favourite – but what have its unforgettable stars been up to since?
The popular movie tells the tale of gifted young girl Matilda, whose slimy parents make her feel like an outsider of the family.
After being sent to a school run by the terrifying headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who hates children, she develops some telekinetic powers and makes a host of pals along the way.
The comedy may have come out over three decades ago, but here’s where the cast are today…
Mara Wilson: Matilda Wormwood
The film’s cast was impressively led by Mara Wilson, who was just seven when filming began in 1995.
Previously, the talented child star had been in Mrs Doubtfire and Miracle on 34th Street.
Following Matilda, Mara took on a couple of other film roles, but, other than a string of cameos and voicework, has virtually retired from acting now.
In 2016, the actress – now 38 – released a Memoir called Where Am I Now? Which delved into her reason for ditching acting in her teens.
She spoke about the pressures of film auditions being a factor, saying: “At thirteen, being pretty mattered more than it ever had.
“Auditions were a lost cause… I knew by then that if I wanted to be in film, I had to be beautiful.”
Another reason for stepping away from fame was being “sexualised” from a young age, claiming she received love letters from 50-year-old men.
She also expressed solidarity with Britney Spears in an essay for the New York Times, and claims to have found her photos on foot fetish websites and images of her were “photoshopped” into child sex abuse images.
In a 2016 interview on Lorraine, Mara told fans: “I never meant to become famous. I grew up in Los Angeles and as a child was acting, it was almost like a hobby.”
Mara, whose mum tragically died a few months before Matilda was released in cinemas, shared how her father suggested Mara focus on her education.
She later went to NYU and “developed a passion for theatre and playwriting” – and now works as a writer and insists it’s something she always wanted to do.
The former actress later revealed why she turned her back on Hollywood, and said: “The rejection hurt because it had been just such a prominent part of my life for so long.
“It had been the thing that defined me.
“Writing I’d always loved. There’s a saying – ‘If you can live without it, you should’. And I found that I could.”
Jacqueline Steiger: Amanda Thripp
One of the most iconic scenes from the film is when the cruel Miss Trunchball swings schoolgirl Amanda Thripp round by her blonde pigtails – before Matilda uses her telekinesis powers to guide her to safety.
Well, now former child star Jacqueline Steiger, who played Amanda, is 39 and also appears to have left acting behind.
Following Matilda, she appeared in Dennis The Menace Strikes Again! and Beautiful, as well as the TV shows Dharma & Greg and Judging Amy.
However, apart from two short films and a web series, Jacqueline has quit acting to pursue other interests.
She graduated with a degree in linguistics and anthropology in 2010 and completed a TEFL – Teaching English As A Foreign Language – course five years later.
Jacqueline now works in instructional design after taking a course two years ago and runs her own business, along with selling Cameo personalised videos for fans for over £30.
Jimmy Karz: Bruce Bogtrotter
Another legendary moment from the film was when schoolboy Bruce Bogtrotter is forced to devour an entire large chocolate cake in front of the school by Miss Trunchbull.
Now, actor Jimmy Karz is 41, and looks worlds apart from his chubby, chocolate-smeared character – with many fans hailing him as a “hunk.”
Like his co-stars, Jimmy has left the acting world behind – following roles in The Wedding Singer and drama ER – and chose to focus on his education.
In 2017 he graduated as a doctor at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
He said that he was drawn to osteopathic medicine as it focuses on “helping the whole patient”.
He doesn’t seem to regret changing his career path, and said in 2012: “Film acting is not very fun.
“Doing the same thing over and over again until, in the director’s eyes, you ‘get it right’ does not allow for very much creative freedom.”
Talking about Matilda and acting in an interview with medical publication The Do, he said: “That scene took about three weeks to film… I had to be on set all day, and I had to wear the same outfit every day. The chocolate was already encrusted on this shirt I was wearing.
“For continuity’s sake, every day I had to have the chocolate painted on my face the way it was painted on the day before.
“I despised the smell of chocolate for a few weeks after that. I realised then that acting is not easy. There’s a lot of skill and professionalism involved.”
Embeth Davidtz: Miss Honey
She warmed hearts as the sweet teacher who eventually adopted Matilda and gave her a life of love.
Miss Honey, was played by actress Embeth Davidtz, who has gone on to star in hit TV series Citizen Baines, Mad Men and Californication, as well as playing Peter Parker’s mother in The Amazing Spider-Man reboots.
The now-60-year-old, who was born in South Africa, has been married to entertainment attorney Jason Sloan for over 20 years and has two children in their 20s.
The star had a secret battle with breast cancer in 2013, and had a mastectomy.
However, her struggle became known three years later when she starred in the TV series Ray Donovan and chose to display her reconstructed breast instead of a prosthetic.
She said the decision was made to help others who had gone through breast cancer “feel beautiful”.
Kiami Davael: Lavender
Fans of the hit movie will remember Lavender, who was Matilda’s best friend who hid a newt in Miss Trunchbull’s glass of water.
Actress Kiami Davael, now 39, briefly had stints in the TV shows Conan The Adventurer, Moesha, The House and Grown Ups, after Matilda.
However, she took a 12-year break from acting college, graduating with a psychology degree from the University of Kentucky in 2008.
She’s still pals with Matilda star Mara, and now writes and sings.
Brian Levinson: Michael Wormwood
Even with Matilda’s remarkable intelligence and magical abilities, Michael remained the favoured child of the dreadful Wormwood parents.
Actor Brian Levinson stepped away from acting soon after the film’s release, following one last appearance in the US series Seinfeld.
He went on to spend nearly nine years in the US Marines before transitioning into a career as an IT specialist and systems analyst.
Now 43, he is married with two children and runs a PR and marketing firm focused on the nightclub industry.
Harry Wormwood: Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito not only starred in the movie as Matilda’s dodgy used-car salesman father Mr Wormwood – but he also directed the film too.
In the film, he even acted opposite his real-life wife Rhea Perlman as his on-screen partner Mrs Wormwood.
Prior to Matilda, Danny had done a number of roles, including a stripper in Friends, Buddy in Deck The Halls and Herb Powell in The Simpsons.
One of his standout roles has been as conniving creep Frank Reynolds in It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, which he’s appeared in since 2006.
However, while the 81-year-old’s roles are often comedic, his personal life is no laughing matter.
Danny and his Rhea split up twice, most recently in 2017 after 35 years together.
Their separation was allegedly linked to him cheating on her multiple times with extras on set – claims the actor has regularly denied.
Zinnia Wormwood: Rhea Perlman
Rhea, 78, has also enjoyed a successful on-screen career, like her ex-partner Danny.
She starred in The Mindy Project for three years, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Goldbergs and the new Barbie movie alongside Margot Robbie.
Rhea has won four of 10 Emmy Award nominations and has been shortlisted for seven Golden Globes.
Away from the cameras, she has three children with Danny and while the pair have separated, they have no intention to divorce.
She told People magazine in 2022, they are “closer friends” than they were for their last two years as a couple and admitted “it probably worked out for the best”.
She added: “Sometimes I wish we were still together because those were the glory days, but these are other kinds of glory days.”
Pam Farris: Miss Trunchbull
When it comes to childhood villains, Miss Trunchbull and her “chokey” punishment room has got to be one of the most terrifying.
Actress Pam Farris played another film baddie in Harry Potter, starring as the mean Aunt Marge in Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, where she was inflated by magic.
The 77-year-old has also starred as Sister Evangelina on BBC‘s Call the Midwife, and been in Rosemary & Thyme, and Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit.
One of her famous roles was as Ma Larkin in Darling Buds Of May – but after filming ended, she revealed a rift emerged between her and one of her co-stars.
In 2008, she claimed Catherine Zeta-Jones had fallen out with her after she was forced to miss one of the A-lister’s film premieres.
“I think it was Zorro – but my car got stuck in terrible traffic,” Pam told the MailOnline.
“It was a royal première and you’re not allowed to be late, so I had to miss it. I’ve effectively been sending apology messages for nearly 15 years.”
