Danica McKellar became a household name when she starred as Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years from 1988 until 1993. In a new interview, McKellar is opening up about why she fled Hollywood after this iconic television show came to an end.
McKellar’s Break From Hollywood
McKellar, 50, was only 18 years-old when The Wonder Years ended. Despite this, she knew she needed a break from Hollywood.
“When I finished The Wonder Years, I went to UCLA to get a degree in mathematics,” McKellar recalled.
“I stopped acting for four years. I just needed to find out who else I was,” she continued. “For me, the way I could find out was just to do something else and really exercise my brain and let go of all the glamour and superficiality of Hollywood. That was really empowering to me.”
McKellar came back to acting after she finished school. However, after so many years had gone by, McKellar felt like she was playing “catch up” in Hollywood upon her return.
“I was doing all these independent films that weren’t very good,” she confessed. “Then I started getting some traction. I did The West Wing for a season.”
McKellar went on to say that even though she knew that she “had to” take a break from acting during college, “I was still worried about it. What if I can’t go back to acting? What if I don’t pass the math test?”
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McKellar’s Christmas Movies
Thankfully, McKellar was able to overcome this, and she’s still acting to this day. Indeed, McKellar is best known now for her Christmas movies. McKellar has been starring in Christmas movies since 2012, when she played the leading role in Love at the Christmas Table.
Last Fall, McKellar told Fox News that she believes that Christmas movies are so popular because “people need comfort” and a way to “escape from this crazy world.”
“More than an escape, it provides a reminder of what human nature can be,” she explained. “We need that. We need that reminder….we need, yes, the feeling of comfort, but also ideas for how to move forward in a wholesome, earnest kind of way.”
McKellar then gushed over her latest Christmas movie, A Cinderella Christmas Ball. She was particularly excited about this film, as it marked the first time that she was given a writing credit on a movie.
“This is a wonderful experience for me. It’s been amazing, because I got to write the script with someone else, but it’s the first time my name is on the script for one of these movies, and it’s really gratifying,” she said. “Plus, I get to waltz in it! I love ballroom dance, as I think everybody knows who follows me on social media.”
McKellar’s Christian Faith
When she isn’t working on movies, McKellar is focused on her strong Christian faith. She “came into” her faith three years ago, and it has completely changed her life.
McKellar stated that for her, her faith isn’t about religion. Instead, it’s about “having a relationship with God.” For McKellar, this means “letting go and trusting and not thinking that I have to be in charge of everything all the time.”
McKellar has long been known as one of the few stars who actually has a good head on her shoulders. In the end, she clearly made the right choice in taking a break from Hollywood when she needed it.
God bless you, Danica McKellar!
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