The incredibly talented Matilda cast is a big reason why the 1996 children’s fantasy movie has become an enduring fan favorite. Adapted from the 1988 beloved novel of the same by Roald Dahl and directed by Danny DeVito, Matilda chronicles the life of Matilda Wormwood (Mara Wilson), a brilliant young girl with telekinetic powers who has to endure indifference and mistreatment from her family. When her father reluctantly enrolls her into Crunchem Hall Elementary School, Matilda, with the help of her teacher, Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz), uses her intelligence and powers to stand up to her family and her sadistic principal.

Over two decades after its release, Matilda is an iconic ’90s comfort movie. The classic film has inspired other adaptations of Dahl’s bestseller, including the Tony Award-winning 2011 Broadway show Matilda the Musical, which itself spawned the successful 2022 Netflix screen adaptation, Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical. But the 1996 movie is the most treasured of all the adaptations, and several Matilda cast members have gone on to have even more successful acting careers, while others have decided to live their lives outside the spotlight.

Mara Wilson As Matilda Wormwood

Born July 24, 1987

Active Since: 1993-2000, 2012

Actor: After Mara Wilson played Matilda, the young star added a few more acting credits to her filmography, including Anabel Greening in A Simple Wish, and Lily Stone in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, her final movie as a child actor. Wilson retired from film acting in 2000, but she has been appearing in a few projects since 2012, including the TV show Broad City as a waitress, a few episodes of BoJack Horseman as Jill Pill, and a recurring role as Liv Amara/Diane “Di” Amara in Big Hero 6: The Series.

Character: Mara Wilson played the тιтular protagonist, Matilda Wormwood, an intelligent girl who loves books and uses her telekinetic powers to stand up to her evil headmistress. She is arguably one of the most iconic child characters from the 90s, as Matilda was a staple of the family film genre of that time.

Embeth Davidtz As Jennifer Honey

Born August 11, 1965

Active Since: 1989

Actor: Embeth Davidtz has had a successful career after her Matilda role, as she has appeared in multiple movies, including Bridget Jones’s Diary as Natasha, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo as Annika, and The Amazing Spider-Man movies as Mary Parker. Recently, Davidtz played Heather Turner alongside Liam Neeson in the 2023 action movie Retribution. Her latest role was in 2024, playing one of the main characters in the South African film, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight.

Character: Embeth Davidtz played the kind and gentle teacher, Jennifer Honey, who inspired Matilda. In a story that has Matilda going against both her parents and the principal of her school, it was nice to see an adult in Matilda’s corner, as she sees the potential of Matilda both as a student and as a person.

Pam Ferris As Miss Agatha Trunchbull

Born May 11, 1948

Active Since: 1970

Actor: Pam Ferris’ acting career soared after the 1996 movie, and her most notable post-Matilda film roles include Harry Potter’s mean aunt, Marge Dursley, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Mrs. Faulkner in Tolkien. On the TV side, Ferris has starred in Where the Heart Is as Peggy Snow, Laura Thyme in Rosemary and Thyme, and Sister Evangelina in the BBC period drama Call the Midwife. Her most recent movie was the 2019 film Tolkien, while she appeared in one episode of Urban Myths in 2020.

Character: The formidable, award-winning actress Pam Ferris played Miss Trunchbull in Matilda. The film doesn’t shy away from awful adult depictions, but Miss Trunchbull might truly be one of the worst, as she is absolutely terrifying in Matilda. She is Matilda’s sadistic, nightmarish principal as well as the aunt of Miss Honey.

Danny DeVito As Harry Wormwood

Born November 17, 1944

Active Since: 1969

Actor: Following his role in Matilda, Danny DeVito has had a long and successful career. Most notably, he played George Shapiro in Man on the Moon, Sid Hudgens in L.A. Confidential, Max Medici in Dumbo, Deck Shiflet in The Rainmaker, and Amos Calloway in Big Fish. On TV, DeVito rose to prominence for his role in Taxi and is now primarily known for his long-running role as Frank Reynolds in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He reprised his role as Frank Reynolds in an episode of Abbott Elementary in 2025.

Character: The legendary Danny DeVito, who also directed Matilda, played Harry Wormwood, Matilda’s crooked and unkind father. He mistreats and neglects Matilda, refusing to even enroll her in school. Throughout the film, Harry is investigated by the FBI for illegal dealings, mainly revolving around selling cars. He is the narrator of the film.

Rhea Perlman As Zinnia Wormwood

Born March 31, 1948

Active Since: 1972

Actor: Rhea Perlman is best known for playing waitress Carla Tortelli on the sitcom Cheers, a role which won her four Emmys. The actress has had numerous successful films and TV shows after her role in the 1996 classic movie. Perlman’s post-Matilda film credits include playing the role of Mrs. D in 10 Items or Less, Sally in I’ll See You in My Dreams, Grandma Ruth in Netflix’s 13: The Musical, and more recently as the Spirit of Ruth Handler in the cast of Barbie. Her most recent TV shows include Curses! and an episode of Mid-Century Modern.

Character: In Matilda, Perlman plays Matilda’s mother, Zinnia Wormwood, who finds it hard to relate to her daughter. While she might not be as outright horrific as Harry or Miss Trunchbull, Matilda’s Bingo-obsessed mom is still quite awful, and is often neglectful of her daughter.

Matilda Support Cast & Characters

Matilda Has An Incredible Supporting Cast

Paul Reubens as FBI Agent Bob: Famous for portraying Pee-wee Herman, Paul Reubens has a cameo in Matilda as an undercover FBI agent investigating Matilda’s father’s illegal business. After starring in Matilda, Reubens has appeared in a few other movies. He played Professor Spatz in Buddy, The Spleen in Mystery Men, and he reprised his role of Pee-wee Herman in the 2016 movie Pee-wee’s Big Holiday. Herman also had several minor roles in TV shows, including Andrew J. Lansing III in Murphy Brown, Troy Stevens in You Don’t Know Jack, and Mr. Vargas in The Blacklist. Reubens pᴀssed away on July 30, 2023.

Tracey Walter as FBI Agent Bill: The retired actor, who has appeared in over 170 films and TV shows, went on to have multiple acting roles after Matilda. He was in the award-winning Erin Brockovich as Charles Embry, Professor Wood in How High, and Father Ricky/ Lil J in the 2016 movie Middle Man. The award-winning actor went on to work on several TV shows, and the most notable include Peter Spielman/Angel in Nash Bridges, Sheriff Walter Chechekivitch in Reno 911, and Bum in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. His last film was Wakefield in 2016.

Brian Levinson as Michael Wormwood: Brian Levinson is best known for playing Matilda’s mean older brother, Michael Wormwood. After Matilda, Levinson had a short career in acting. After Matilda, the actor’s last acting credit was on Seinfeld as Andy. Prior to Matilda, Levinson played Young Joey in Baby Face Nelson, Michael in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Brent in Father and Scout, Jimmy Dean in Shoot First: A Cop’s Vengeance, and Brian in Predator 2. Levinson has since retired from acting.

Kiami Davael as Lavender: Kiami Davael’s role as Matilda’s lovable best friend, Lavender, was her onscreen debut. Since Matilda, Davael has appeared in multiple movie and TV projects. Most notably, she played the roles of Shawniqua in Bruno, Simone Bien Aime in The Pretender, Anna in Moesha, Christina in The Steve Harvey Show, and Tiffany in the television show Grown Ups. Davael has been focused on her singing career, but appeared in the 2023 thriller The Forfeiture Clause as Celestine Light/Seitanella Macabre and the 2024 movie Wealthy and Wise as Paisley Campbell. Her latest project, Free, is currently in post-production.

Jacqueline Steiger as Amanda Thripp: Jacqueline Steiger played the role of the adorable pigtailed girl, Amanda Thripp, who was thrown over the fence by Miss Trunchbull. Following her role in Matilda, Steiger has starred in movies and TV shows and has also been a voice actor. She played Margaret in Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!, Ruby in Beautiful, and Betty in An American Rhapsody. Her most notable TV show roles include playing Tiffany in Dharma and Greg, Suzy Williams in Judging Amy, and Leila in Force Push. She also voiced Microwave in the 2014 short film Kitchen Appliances, which was her last acting credit.

Jimmy Karz as Bruce Borgtrotter: Miss Trunchbull’s bullying was not just limited to Amanda and Matilda but extended to the whole school. Jimmy Karz took on the role of Bruce Borgtrotter, the boy Miss Trunchbull famously forced to eat an 18-inch chocolate cake. Matilda was Karz’s first film, after which he starred in The Wedding Singer as the Studliest Kid at Bat Mitzvah, and played a role in the TV show ER as Alfred Clark. Karz was also in a documentary with his Matilda co-stars, Afternoon Tea and A Matilda Reunion. Jimmy Karz has quit acting and is now a doctor (via The New Zealand Herald).

Kira Spencer Hesser as Hortensia: Kira Spencer Hesser played the role of Hortensia, the brave girl who warned Matilda about the villainous Miss Trunchbull. After Matilda, Spencer has had a successful career as an actor, writer, and producer. She’s appeared in several movies, including Ever as Olivia, Officer Anne Lewis in Our RoboCop Remake, and Lady Capulet in the 2023 movie The Try Guys Present Romeo and Juliet: Choose Your Shakespeare. Her latest roles were in 2024, where she played in several episodes of Sunny and appeared in one episode of The Really Loud House. She has multiple upcoming projects.

Jean Speegle Howard as Mrs Phelps: Even before taking on the role of Mrs. Phelps, the librarian in Matilda, Ron Howard’s mother, Jean Speegle Howard, was a successful actress. After the 1996 movie, Howard continued to act, playing film roles as Bokky’s grandmother in Traveler and Olivia in The Night Caller. Her most notable TV show appearances include roles as Mrs. Morton in Fired Up, the real Natalie French in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Melanie Hannon in Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction. Her last on-screen appearance was in the 2000 movie The Hiding Place. Jean Speegle Howard died on September 2, 2000.

Marion Dugan as Cookie: Marion Dugan played the role of Cookie, the woman who baked the famous 18-inch chocolate cake in Matilda. Before Matilda, Dugan played Mrs. Trodgen in Get a Life, Lila Pierce in Quantum Leap, and Robin’s Neighbor in The Cable Guy. Following her brief role in Matilda, Dugan appeared in the TV show Shasta McNasty as Contestant #1, her last appearance onscreen. Marion Dugan died on March 31, 2015.

Jon Lovitz as Mickey: Jon Lovitz, a Saturday Night Live alum, briefly appeared in Matilda as the host of the TV show The Million Dollar Sticky. Lovitz, who was already well-established before starring in the 1996 film, went on to work on many projects. He played Richard Clark in High School High, Uncle Harry in Lost & Found, and Squats Fitness Janitor in the comedy Grown Ups 2. He’s also added some notable roles in TV to his name, such as H๏τ in Cleveland, Two and a Half Men, and The Goldbergs. He still appears in roles every once in a while, with an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants in 2024 being his most recent credit.