Character guide
Matilda Wormwood
from Matilda the Musical
Matilda Wormwood is the brilliant, book-loving little girl at the center of Matilda the Musical, the 2013 show based on Roald Dahl's novel with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
- Show
- Matilda the Musical
- Broadway premiere
- 2013
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Tim Minchin
Matilda Wormwood on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1996 film and 2022 movie musical
On Broadway, Matilda was never one girl: Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, and Milly Shapiro shared the role when the show opened at the Shubert Theatre in 2013, with Gennusa playing opening night. In London, the four original Matildas shared the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
On screen, Mara Wilson played a 6-year-old Matilda in Danny DeVito's non-musical 1996 film, in which her father is under FBI surveillance and the Wormwoods, fleeing to Guam, sign adoption papers so Miss Honey can raise her. Alisha Weir starred in the 2022 movie of the musical, singing Naughty and Quiet, and in that version the Wormwoods let Miss Honey take care of Matilda as they leave for Spain.
Who is Matilda Wormwood?
Matilda is a five-year-old with an extraordinary mind, a love of reading, and a home life that gives her little credit for either. Ignored and dismissed by her parents, she finds refuge in stories and in her own quiet cleverness, using her wits to push back against the unfair adults around her.
Her journey through the musical is really about a child insisting on her own worth. As she bonds with her teacher and squares off against her school's fearsome headmistress, Matilda grows from an overlooked kid into someone who actively reshapes her own story.
Matilda's role in the musical
Matilda is the title character and the clear lead of the show, carrying much of its emotional and narrative weight. The role demands a young performer with sharp comic timing, strong storytelling instincts, and the stamina to anchor a full-length Broadway musical, since Matilda is on stage for a large portion of the runtime.
Because the part is so demanding, it is frequently played by rotating young actors in professional productions. Audiences respond to Matilda because she embodies a very relatable childhood fantasy: that being smart, kind, and a little bit rebellious can actually win.
Matilda Wormwood: frequently asked questions
What show is Matilda Wormwood from?
Matilda Wormwood is the title character of Matilda the Musical, which premiered in 2013 with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
Is Matilda a lead or supporting role?
Matilda is the lead role and title character of the musical.
Who wrote the music for Matilda the Musical?
Tim Minchin wrote the music and lyrics for Matilda the Musical, based on Roald Dahl's novel.
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