But there was something Mara didn’t know for many years.
She had believed that her mother died without ever seeing the movie.
Then she learned that Danny DeVito had done something incredibly thoughtful.
Before Matilda was finished and released in theaters, DeVito took an unfinished cut of the movie to the hospital and showed it to Suzie.
Her daughter was on the screen.
And Suzie loved it.
For Mara, discovering this years later meant that her mother had actually gotten to see the movie before she died — something she had once believed wasn’t possible.
Suzie died shortly after filming wrapped and before Matilda reached theaters. The film was later dedicated to her memory.
Today, Matilda remains one of those movies that has stayed in the hearts of generations of viewers. Many people who watched it in the 1990s still remember the characters, the humor, and the magical story.
But knowing what happened behind the scenes gives the movie an even more emotional meaning.
Danny DeVito may have played one of the most unpleasant fathers in the movie, but away from the camera, he was helping a young girl through one of the most painful experiences of her childhood.
It wasn’t something done for publicity.
It wasn’t part of the movie’s promotion.
It was simply a kind gesture for a family going through an unimaginable time.
And Mara didn’t know about it for years.
Sometimes the stories behind our favorite movies are the ones that stay with us the longest.
A movie can entertain us for two hours, but a small act of kindness can remain in someone’s heart for a lifetime. ❤️
Did you grow up watching Matilda?
What movie from your childhood still brings back memories today?