Mara Wilson: Matilda star ‘never made enough money to qualify for SAG-AFTRA health care’

Matilda star Mara Wilson has revealed that she never made enough money during the streaming era to qualify for Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA) healthcare. time in more than six decades.

On Twitter after it was announced Thursday that the union — which represents about 160,000 actors and entertainers — would join the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on the picket line, the actress wrote: “I didn’t act much as an adult, but I WAS a recurring character on one of the most critically acclaimed animated shows of all time, as well as playing a real-life Disney villain.

“But thanks to streaming, I never earned enough to qualify for SAG-AFTRA care.”

Wilson, 35, rose to fame in 1993 at the age of six after playing Natalie ‘Nattie’ Hillard in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire had scored on her first film audition, having appeared in only a few TV commercials.

Time for a change: Bojack Horseman star Mara Wilson has revealed she never made enough money to qualify for SAG-AFTRA health care

To keep it real: The Matilda actress shared the surprising fact after the Hollywood actors' union went on strike with screenwriters for the first time in more than six decades

To keep it real: The Matilda actress shared the surprising fact after the Hollywood actors’ union went on strike with screenwriters for the first time in more than six decades

The following year, she played Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street and played the lead role of Matilda Wormwood in the 1996 film Matilda – cementing her place as one of the most recognizable child stars of the 90s.

However, as an adult, the former Hollywood darling took a big step back from working in front of the camera, instead lending her vocal talents to animated shows.

In the tweet, the star referenced her roles in Netflix’s Black Comedy, BoJack Horseman, and Disney’s Big Hero 6 TV series, respectively.

SAG-AFTRA has often been criticized for their “unfair” requirements that actors must meet in order to qualify for health insurance.

The organization currently states that you must “earn $26,470 in your basic income period to receive Earned Eligibility for Active Plan health coverage.”

Rising stars have often complained about the income barrier, while even established Hollywood stars have spoken out about not receiving enough help later in their careers.

In March, Charmed star Shannen Doherty, 51, accused SAG-AFTRA of canceling her union health insurance amid her battle with stage four metastatic breast cancer.

While Sharon Stone revealed in 2021 that her insurance was canceled due to an unpaid $13 bill.

Elsewhere, SAG-AFTRA’s membership rules have long come under fire from emerging actors, due to its strict eligibility rules.

Strict rules: SAG-AFTRA has often been criticized for their 'unfair' requirements for actors to qualify for health insurance

Strict rules: SAG-AFTRA has often been criticized for their ‘unfair’ requirements for actors to qualify for health insurance

Famous Face: Wilson played the lead role of Matilda Wormwood in the 1996 movie Matilda – cementing her place as one of the most recognizable child stars of the 90s

Famous Face: Wilson played the lead role of Matilda Wormwood in the 1996 movie Matilda – cementing her place as one of the most recognizable child stars of the 90s

In the tweet, Wilson referenced her roles in Netflix black comedy, BoJack Horseman (pictured) and Disney's Big Hero 6 TV series

In the tweet, Wilson referenced her roles in Netflix black comedy, BoJack Horseman (pictured) and Disney’s Big Hero 6 TV series

The most common way to become a member is to get hired on a unionized project, however often in Hollywood it takes years – or even decades – for a major breakthrough on a unionized project.

Until then, they are forced to either join a sister union or create their own independent projects to qualify for SAGIndie.

The union’s rules are under scrutiny after it was announced Thursday morning that union leadership had officially voted for a work stoppage after their demands for higher wages and protection against artificial intelligence were not met.

SAG-AFTRA demanded higher wages to counter inflation and guarantees for their future livelihoods.

In addition to salaries when they’re actively working, actors earn payments called “residuals” every time a movie or show they starred in airs on network or cable — which is especially helpful when performers are in between projects.

Actress Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA, announced on Thursday that the union would strike

Actress Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA, announced on Thursday that the union would strike

But streamers like Netflix and Disney+ don’t publish ratings for their shows and offer the same flat rate for everything on their platforms, regardless of its popularity.

Muddling the waters further is the matter of AI. The union was looking for “a breakthrough AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses.”

Actors fear that their digital images could be used without their permission or appropriate compensation.

Announcing the strike Thursday afternoon, actress Fran Drescher, who is president of SAG-AFTRA, said: “We demand respect! You cannot exist without us!

“What happens to us matters,” the Nanny star added. “What happens to us happens in all fields of work.

United Front: SAG-AFTRA has joined the ongoing WGA strike that has been going on since May

United Front: SAG-AFTRA has joined the ongoing WGA strike that has been going on since May

“If employers prioritize Wall Street and greed and they forget about the essential contributors that keep the machine running, we have a problem.

“The mold is done, we demand respect,” she said.

Almost immediately afterward, screenwriters outside Netflix’s Hollywood offices began chanting, “Pay Your Actors!”

At the same time, the Oppenheimer cast left the British premiere of the film out of “solidarity” with the actors’ union.

The rules of the SAG-AFTRA strike

Under the direction of SAG-AFTRA, all covered services and work must be withheld, including but not limited to:

Principal on camera work, such as:

  • Act
  • To sing
  • Dancing
  • Perform stunts
  • Controlling on-camera aircraft
  • Puppet show
  • Performance capture or motion capture work

Most important off-camera work, such as:

ADR/loops

TV trailers (promos) and cinema trailers

Voice acting

  • To sing
  • Narration
  • Stunt coordination and related services
  • Entry work
  • Photo and/or body doubles
  • Fits, wardrobe tests and make-up tests
  • Rehearsals and camera tests
  • scan
  • Interviews and auditions (eg via self-tape)

Promotion/publicity services for work under the TV/theatrical contracts, such as:

  • Tours
  • Personal appearances
  • Job interviews
  • Conventions
  • Fan exhibits
  • festivals
  • Events for consideration
  • Panels
  • Premieres/screenings
  • Award Shows
  • junkets
  • Podcast appearances
  • Social media
  • Studio showcases

Negotiate and/or enter into and/or agree to:

  • An agreement to perform covered services in the future
  • Any new merchandising agreement related to a covered project
  • Making and using digital replicas, including by reusing previous work
  • Perform in a trailer for a scrapped production or other additional content associated with a scrapped production