Michelle Trachtenberg Faced Bullying During Childhood, According to Mara Wilson
Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, who passed away on February 26 at the age of 39, endured significant bullying during her middle school years.
Mara Wilson, the original “Matilda” star, recently shared details about Trachtenberg’s experiences in an essay published by Vulture. The two actresses attended the same middle school in Los Angeles.
A Cry for Help
Trachtenberg confided in Wilson one day, asking if the other students were mean.
Through tears, Trachtenberg shared the hurtful names she was called, including “Harriet the Slut,” “Harriet the B—-,” and other offensive terms, adding that the abuse was constant.
At the time, Trachtenberg gained recognition for her role in the 1996 film “Harriet the Spy,” while Wilson starred in “Matilda,” released the same year. Both were child stars.
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Wilson wrote in her essay that she had never seen Trachtenberg cry before, only ever seeing her as composed and confident. She recognized that the bullying stemmed from others being mean to Trachtenberg first, and then labeling her behavior in response as “mean”.
Wilson’s Defense of Trachtenberg
Wilson recounted that other students would repeat rumors that Trachtenberg was “mean” and “full of herself,” prompting Wilson to defend her, stating repeatedly, “She’s not. She’s really nice!”
From Wilson’s perspective, Trachtenberg was a pleasure to be around.
Wilson described Trachtenberg as remarkably intelligent, yet without being condescending or trying to impress with big words. She was smart, composed, and didn’t need to show off.
Wilson also recalled instances of people speaking negatively about Trachtenberg, even during her college years. One acquaintance told Wilson that Trachtenberg “just has to be a b—h in real life.”
Trachtenberg’s Own Account of Bullying
Trachtenberg spoke openly about the bullying she experienced during childhood.
Around Valentine’s Day 2020, Trachtenberg shared a throwback photo, recalling that she never received a Valentine’s card because it was assumed that because she’d been acting since age 3, she didn’t need attention.
She shared details of the severity of the bullying, including being thrown down stairs and slammed into lockers, and emphasized the importance of supporting children and teens facing similar situations.
- The actress wanted others to know “You are something.”
The news of Trachtenberg’s death was first confirmed by The Post last month.
Sources reported that the “Gossip Girl” alumna had undergone a liver transplant within the past year, potentially leading to organ rejection.
While sources indicated that the death was due to natural causes, the official cause of death was listed as undetermined following an objection to an autopsy by her family.
Following her death, former co-stars, including Sarah Michelle Gellar and Kenan Thompson, offered tributes.