Roald Dahl's Matilda has become a permanent fixture in childhood stories, however, the titular child genius may be younger than she seems. Matilda, originally written by Roald Dahl, tells the story of a young girl who doesn't quite fit in with her lazy, crude parents, not just because she is bookish but also because of her telekinetic powers. The story emphasizes the importance of knowledge and being kind to others.
Though "Matilda" first appeared as a book in 1988, it has expanded since into a Broadway musical, and two Matilda movies in 1996 and 2022. The character Matilda has become a staple in popular culture and an icon for bookish children. Plus, the villainous Miss Trunchbull has also made her mark as a memorable childhood villain. Although Matilda possesses incredible powers and intelligence in her story, the protagonist is much younger than she seems.
Matilda Is 6 Years Old In The 1996 Movie
In the 1996 film Matilda, Matilda Wormwood is only six and a half years old. This means that when she attends school and meets her beloved teacher Miss Honey, she is in the first grade. Unlike her classmates, Matilda can read at a high level and complete multiplication problems that would be appropriate for middle schoolers. However, when Matilda's Miss Honey tries to get Matilda itted into a more advanced class, Miss Trunchbull and the Wormwoods refuse. Despite this, Matilda continues to show promise in her classes and remains kind and courteous to her classmates even if her actions come with consequences.
Although Matilda has shocking wisdom and emotional strength, she is incredibly young and only just starting school. In contrast, Matilda's actor Mara Wilson was eight years old when she played the protagonist, making her two years older than her character. Furthermore, in the latest adaptation, Matilda the Musical, Matilda actor Alisha Weir was actually 12 or 13 years old. Therefore, both films depicted Matilda to be much older than she actually is written to be.
Matilda Is Younger In The Original Book
While Matilda's film age seems surprisingly young, the character is even younger in Roald Dahl's book. In the 1988 novel, Matilda is five years old and entering kindergarten. Despite this, she still presents outstanding academic abilities and emotional intelligence that a regular five year rarely displays. This fact is likely used to show just how extraordinary Matilda is and may inspire even the youngest children to be caring, smart people. It is unclear why the 1996 movie aged Matilda up, but it is possible the creators wanted the character to seem more realistic.
Of the many amazing feats that Matilda completes in her story, one of the biggest is her age. Despite being small in stature and young in age, the titular character sures expectations and exudes kindness that can inspire even grown adults. For this reason, Matilda is an unforgettable and lovable childhood movie.
