The 1996 film adaptation of Matilda, based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 book and directed by Danny DeVito, quickly became a beloved classic for those who grew up in the 90s.
The story centers on Matilda Wormwood, an exceptionally intelligent girl with telekinetic abilities, who is misunderstood by her family. When her parents send her to Crunchem Hall Elementary School, she finds an ally in her teacher, Miss Honey, and faces off against the fearsome principal, Ms. Trunchbull.
Decades after its release, the film continues to enchant audiences young and old, with new generations discovering the charm of its characters and story.
The cast included notable names like Mara Wilson as Matilda, and Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman as her parents. Pam Ferris also made a memorable appearance as Ms. Trunchbull. However, Jacqueline Steiger, who played Amanda Thripp, managed to capture attention with her short yet impactful role as the girl who gets tossed by her pigtails.
Steiger was ten years old when Matilda premiered. She continued to act for the next two decades, appearing in films like Dennis the Menace Strikes Again and An American Rhapsody, as well as commercials and TV roles.
Eventually, Steiger transitioned to working behind the scenes, becoming a production coordinator, writer, and web actor. Despite her roots in acting, she has since pursued a new career path.
Today, Steiger owns Magic Hour Content, an educational design company that creates curriculum and video content for nonprofits and small creative businesses. She frequently updates her social media, especially Instagram, with insights into her life and travels.
Interestingly, Steiger is not the only former Matilda star to switch careers. Jimmy Karz, who played Bruce Bogtrotter, transitioned from acting to medicine. In 2017, he graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine as a doctor.
Karz explained to The Do, as reported by The New Zealand Herald, about his shift from acting to a medical career: “After undergrad, I worked as a production associate for MTV News for nearly two years. I realized I wanted to do more service-oriented work. I was really into community gardening at the time, and I began volunteering to teach people from low-income communities how to grow their own food.”