Matilda - WittyFeed
14 Facts You Should Know About The Popular Children's Movie 'Matilda' Celebrities Who hasn't watched Matilda? I have to admit that I did not see it when I was still young, but I had the chance to finally watch it on television. Even though it has been 20 years since it was released, Matilda is still popular among many people. This is not only because of the adorable Matilda played by Mara Wilson but also because of the memorable scenes throughout the film. But did you know just how much the film paid respect to Roald Dahl? Find out more about Matilda below!
1. Mara Wilson's mother passed away when the film was still being finished.
While the team was still filming, Mara Wilson's beloved mother was told that she had developed breast cancer. Sadly, it was detected too late, and she died before the movie was completed. This is why Mara Wilson
dedicated the brilliant film to her wonderful mom.
2. Mara Wilson lost interest in acting after her mother's death.
It's true. If you take a quick look at what she has done in the years after Matilda, you will notice that she hasn't participated in that many series or films. This is how significant her mother was to her, and her death affected her motivation in acting.
3. Pam Ferris also acted like a bad woman off-screen.
If you are wondering why Pam Ferris would be as scary as her character named Agatha Trunchbull outside of filming, this was because she wanted the children to be truly scared of her character.
4. Likewise, Pam Ferris was also that horrible Aunt Marge in Harry Potter.
Specifically, Pam Ferris was the aunt in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, who got inflated temporarily. Imagine Agatha Trunchbull being inflated way up into the sky!
5. "Dahls Dickens" is actually a nod to two famous artists.
Remember when Matilda told Miss Honey that she was fascinated by Charles Dickens, only to say "Dahls Dickens" instead? That was actually intentional. It was told by Matilda to pay respect to Roald Dahl, who wrote Fantastic Mr. Fox and The BFG, among others.
6. The FBI Agent in Matilda also plays as Pee-wee Herman.
Sure Paul Reubens did not have a relatively big role in Matilda, but that was okay since he is more known by the public as Pee-wee Herman, a fictional character that has his own film series and two television shows.
7. That creepy chalk scene took a lot of effort to make!
Today it would have been incredibly easy to do that haunting "ghost of Magnus" scene. But back then, they had to attach the chalk to a magnet while someone wrote the letters in backward behind the board.
8. Danny DeVito had multiple roles in Matilda.
The great actor played Mr. Wormwood, but he was also the narrator and the director of Matilda. He is truly a talented man in the field of acting.
9. The Lissy doll is actually named after the wife of Roald Dahl.
Roald Dahl's wife's name is Felicity "Liccy" d'Abreu Crosland. So the doll was named Lissy to give a nod once again to the author and his wife.
10. The parents of Matilda were actually a real couple.
Matilda's parents were annoying, but they were that way itself. Thanks to the acting skills of Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito, who are married in real life.
11. Mariska Hargitay was supposed to be in Matilda.
If you are an avid watcher of Law & Order: SVU, you'll know that Mariska Hargitay is a fine actress. Sadly, she rejected the offer to be Miss Honey in the film.
12. The Wormwood family name came from a poisonous plant.
The Wormwood plant is so deadly that it can result in humans having kidney failure, aside from convulsions.
13. Matilda was almost played by Keaton and Kylie Tyndall.
They were cast as Matilda, but they had an awful case of the flu. That is why the team had to look suddenly for a
new person to fill in the role.
14. The Magnus painting in the house of Trunchbull shows Roald Dahl.
Roald Dahl wrote Matilda, and it was only right that an actual portrait of him would be used in the movie. So did you enjoy learning more about one of your all-time favorite films during your childhood? Share this with your family and friends!
1. Mara Wilson's mother passed away when the film was still being finished.
While the team was still filming, Mara Wilson's beloved mother was told that she had developed breast cancer. Sadly, it was detected too late, and she died before the movie was completed. This is why Mara Wilson
dedicated the brilliant film to her wonderful mom.
2. Mara Wilson lost interest in acting after her mother's death.
It's true. If you take a quick look at what she has done in the years after Matilda, you will notice that she hasn't participated in that many series or films. This is how significant her mother was to her, and her death affected her motivation in acting.
3. Pam Ferris also acted like a bad woman off-screen.
If you are wondering why Pam Ferris would be as scary as her character named Agatha Trunchbull outside of filming, this was because she wanted the children to be truly scared of her character.
4. Likewise, Pam Ferris was also that horrible Aunt Marge in Harry Potter.
Specifically, Pam Ferris was the aunt in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, who got inflated temporarily. Imagine Agatha Trunchbull being inflated way up into the sky!
5. "Dahls Dickens" is actually a nod to two famous artists.
Remember when Matilda told Miss Honey that she was fascinated by Charles Dickens, only to say "Dahls Dickens" instead? That was actually intentional. It was told by Matilda to pay respect to Roald Dahl, who wrote Fantastic Mr. Fox and The BFG, among others.
6. The FBI Agent in Matilda also plays as Pee-wee Herman.
Sure Paul Reubens did not have a relatively big role in Matilda, but that was okay since he is more known by the public as Pee-wee Herman, a fictional character that has his own film series and two television shows.
7. That creepy chalk scene took a lot of effort to make!
Today it would have been incredibly easy to do that haunting "ghost of Magnus" scene. But back then, they had to attach the chalk to a magnet while someone wrote the letters in backward behind the board.
8. Danny DeVito had multiple roles in Matilda.
The great actor played Mr. Wormwood, but he was also the narrator and the director of Matilda. He is truly a talented man in the field of acting.
9. The Lissy doll is actually named after the wife of Roald Dahl.
Roald Dahl's wife's name is Felicity "Liccy" d'Abreu Crosland. So the doll was named Lissy to give a nod once again to the author and his wife.
10. The parents of Matilda were actually a real couple.
Matilda's parents were annoying, but they were that way itself. Thanks to the acting skills of Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito, who are married in real life.
11. Mariska Hargitay was supposed to be in Matilda.
If you are an avid watcher of Law & Order: SVU, you'll know that Mariska Hargitay is a fine actress. Sadly, she rejected the offer to be Miss Honey in the film.
12. The Wormwood family name came from a poisonous plant.
The Wormwood plant is so deadly that it can result in humans having kidney failure, aside from convulsions.
13. Matilda was almost played by Keaton and Kylie Tyndall.
They were cast as Matilda, but they had an awful case of the flu. That is why the team had to look suddenly for a
new person to fill in the role.
14. The Magnus painting in the house of Trunchbull shows Roald Dahl.
Roald Dahl wrote Matilda, and it was only right that an actual portrait of him would be used in the movie. So did you enjoy learning more about one of your all-time favorite films during your childhood? Share this with your family and friends!
