The Truth About Mara Wilson's Relationship With Danny DeVito

In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mara Wilson recalled how she "immediately felt a connection" with Danny DeVito and that they "just understood each other." Reacting to an interview with her younger self, Wilson remarked that her "Matilda" co-star and director would give her a hug every single day before filming, too. "I really did feel like he was my favorite uncle," she said. 

At one point, DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman (who also starred in the film), took care of Wilson while her mom was at the hospital, per People. As she explained to ET, they often took her to see plays or invited her over to their house to watch movies or just relax, which helped keep the youngster's mind off everything else that was going on in her life. 

During a chat with Parade, Wilson also credited their love and support for helping her come to terms with the extent of her mom's illness. "I remember feeling anxious when the movie wrapped, and it was really hard to go back to normal and dealing with my mom's sickness," she explained. "I definitely feel like having that family there, and having people willing to take care of us and help us out, made it easier."