‘Not many make it out of Hollywood alive or sane’: Mrs. Doubtfire star Mara Wilson offers insider perspective on why child stars ‘go crazy’
By Fay Strang
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Over the years there has been a long list of child stars who have found the transition to adulthood rather trying.
And in light of the public meltdown that Amanda Bynes is going through, former child star Maya Wilson, now 25, has shed some light on why she thinks some young stars lose their way.
Writing for Cracked.com the former actress, who made her film debut at the tender age of six in Mrs. Doubtfire, lists seven of the key reasons ‘not many child stars make it out of Hollywood alive or sane.’
Insider: Mara Wilson, who was a child star, has opened up about why she thinks some young stars 'go crazy
Maya, who also starred in Matilda, begins her article with her first reason - ‘Their parents won’t help them’ – by explaining that it was totally her choice to get into acting and despite her parents trying to discourage her she persisted.
However the former actress, who is now a writer, believes that some children don’t have a choice which leads to them to resent their parents when they grow older.
Big break: Mara starred in Mrs. Doubtfire at the age of six and she reveals she was given gifts from the rest of the cast
Her second point is along the same vein – ‘Their parents can’t help them.’
She cites Miley Cyrus and her father Billy Ray, who back in 2010, publicly admitted he had little control over what his daughter, who found fame on Hannah Montana, did.
The parent issue is a very poignant one currently as Amanda Bynes’s factitious relationship with her hers, with whom she is no longer on speaking terms with, has been played out on Twitter.
Gave it all up: Mara starred in a number of very famous films during her childhood including Matilda
Just this weekend she claimed they had been stealing her money without her knowing and she declared: ‘I would rather them be homeless than live off of my money.’
Macaulay Culkin, who rose to fame in Home Alone before retiring at the age of 14, is also estranged from his father.
Troubled: Amanda appeared in court facing charges of reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and marijuana possession last week
Parents: Two of Mara's points are regarding parents- Amanda is famously not speaking to hers, Rick and Lynn Bynes
Last year his father Kit and stepmother Jeanette Krylowski publicly spoke about their fears for his health after pictures emerged of him looking extremely gaunt and apparently vomiting in the street.
In the article Maya, who quit showbiz to go to university in New York, cites the need for attention as her third point - ‘They Get Used to Love and Attention, and Then Lose It.’
Difficult: As a child Lindsay Lohan had no trouble getting film roles, these days she spends more time in court
Interesting: Lindsay has had a very on/off relationship with her parents Michael and Dina Lohan over the years
Estranged: Macaulay Culkin is also not on speaking terms with his father after his young rise to fame
While she shares that during the first week of filming Mrs. Doubtfire every cast member gave her a gift, she also says her parents did what they could to keep her grounded.
However it’s not that easy for all young stars, she writes: ‘Combine the regular amount of free stuff celebrities get with all the presents people give kids just for being cute, and you've got a recipe for one spoiled-ass child.’
The fourth point on the list is ‘They have been sexually exploited’ and the fifth is ‘They Need to Rebel, But Can't.’
She writes: ‘But when they get older,
they have more freedom.
'They also have money and little to no experience
making decisions for themselves, so their rebellions are going to be on
a much larger scale.
'The whole world will see it.’
She continues with her sixth reason ‘They Don't Know What Else to Do’ and uses Lindsay Lohan, who is of course currently completing an enforced stay in rehab, as an example.
‘If I were to talk to Lindsay Lohan, I'd encourage her to get the hell out of acting and into something soothing. Take up botany or something,’she writes.
Continuing she adds: ‘It's because she's been acting all her life, she has little education, and in her mind, there's nothing else she could do.’
And Maya’s final point is ‘They Can’t Escape It’ as she writes that although she has done what she can to avoid the limelight, she is still sometimes recognised and this is something she says has given her something ‘to not only live up to, but surpass.’
Famous face: Macaulay was recognisable from a very young age due to his part in Home Alone amongst other films
Far cry: Macaulay Culkin's behaviour as an adult has raised concern at times
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I met her when I was younger and she played Matilda, she was a little BRAT - daniisland, Los Angeles, 29/05/2013 22:51 maybe because her mother was dying of cancer at the time..... just a thought
- bruciebaby , manchester UK, 30/5/2013 10:13
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