News | Entertainment
29 Mar 2024 6:56
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Danica McKellar swapped acting for mathematics to find her "value" away from 'The Wonder Years'

    The 47-year-old star - who rose to fame as a child actress playing Winnie Cooper on the hit show - took a step back from her career on screen to figure out what she wanted from life


    Speaking to her son Draco, 11, for 'Entertainment Tonight', she said: "I went to UCLA, but when I got to school, everywhere I went, people all over campus would shout across campus, you know, 'Hey Winnie!' [or] 'Hey, loved you on 'The Wonder Years!'

    "I couldn't get away from it. So I needed to find out how I was valuable outside of Winnie Cooper, and math was challenging and I did well at it.

    "And I love this feeling that my value, the important stuff had nothing to do with how I looked or television."

    In 1998, she graduated summa cum laude with a BS in mathematics, and has gone onto publish 11 children's books on the subject, while also becoming an advocate for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

    Danica was around the same age as her son when she appeared in the show, and she reflected on that period as she tried to balance her career with schoolwork.

    She admitted: "What I remember the most is juggling being an actress and doing my schoolwork. It was a lot of going back and forth to the school trailer."

    Her son - who has appeared in some of her more recent Hallmark movies - was also curious if she would let him follow in her footsteps by pursuing a similar career.

    She added: "Draco, I will support you whatever you wanna do. I would put you in acting classes and I would help guide you through it.

    "I'm not gonna ever push you in that direction [though], because it's a tough life."

    © 2024 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Mar: Bill Nighy thinks he could deliver a baby via caesarean section
     29 Mar: Paris Hilton created a "Barbie doll perfect life" persona as a "trauma response" to the alleged abuse she suffered at school
     28 Mar: Lily Allen was introduced to Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher as Rita Ora - and was too mortified to disclose who she really was
     28 Mar: Mel B's fiance visited her father's grave to "ask permission" to propose to her
     28 Mar: Kris Jenner won't spend quality one-on-one time with her grandchildren because it would cost her too much time and money
     28 Mar: Halle Berry's perimenopause symptoms were mistaken for herpes
     28 Mar: Keke Palmer wants 10 kids
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Crusaders' struggles to start Super Rugby have drawn concern from Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Another pay offer is on the table for Police - after union members labelled the last one insulting More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Bill Nighy thinks he could deliver a baby via caesarean section 6:53

    Law and Order:
    Police enquires are continuing in Auckland's Brown's Bay this morning after a person died after an incident at a sushi restaurant 6:27

    Entertainment:
    Paris Hilton created a "Barbie doll perfect life" persona as a "trauma response" to the alleged abuse she suffered at school 6:23

    Business:
    Another pay offer is on the table for Police - after union members labelled the last one insulting 5:17

    Entertainment:
    Lily Allen was introduced to Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher as Rita Ora - and was too mortified to disclose who she really was 21:53

    Entertainment:
    Mel B's fiance visited her father's grave to "ask permission" to propose to her 21:23

    Accident and Emergency:
    State Highway 6 is blocked by a serious crash, South of Lake Paringa in the South Island's Tasman region 21:17

    Accident and Emergency:
    State Highway One is has now reopened between Kaikoura and Riverlands - after a two-vehicle collision at Kekerengu, north of Kaikoura, this morning 21:17

    International:
    Shopper swallowed as shopping mall floor collapses in eastern China 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Kris Jenner won't spend quality one-on-one time with her grandchildren because it would cost her too much time and money 20:53


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2024 New Zealand City Ltd