Danica McKellar Reveals She Quit Acting to Find Her ‘Value’

Self-discovery! Danica McKellar recently opened up to son Draco about her life as a child actress — and why she had to hit the pause button on her career after her time on The Wonder Years. 

“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!’” McKellar, 47, revealed to her 11-year-old son during a Tuesday, August 16, interview for Entertainment Tonight. “I couldn’t get away from it.”

The former Hallmark actress was also a star in the ABC series. Fred SavageFrom 1988 to 1993. The coming-of age drama, which was created in 1988 to 1993. Neal Marlens Carol Black, followed Kevin Arnold (“Savage”) as a teenager growing in suburban middle class families in the late 1960s and early 70s. McKellar portrayed Winnie, Kevin’s main love interest and neighbor.

The show was a hit immediately and even won a Primetime Emmy Award 1988 for Outstanding Comedy. Following the series finale, however, McKellar took a step back from acting in order to figure out who she was outside of the entertainment industry — leading her to a career as a mathematician. 

“I needed to find out how I was valuable outside of Winnie Cooper, and math was challenging and I did well at it,” the California native explained. “And I love this feeling that my value, the important stuff had nothing to do with how I looked or television.”

The West WingSince then, the alum has returned to Hollywood, landing roles in various Lifetime and Hallmark movies and voice Judy Jetson. The JetsonsSince 2017. She’s also participated in season 18 of Dancing With the StarsShe was sixth with her partner in the category of Val Chmerkovskiy. In 2014, the California native married. Scott SvesloskyAfter two years of dating.

McKellar’s desire to encourage young girls to investigate mathematics, however, has yet to fade. McKellar’s desire to encourage young girls to study mathematics has not diminished. Domino Masters judge has written 11 children’s books over the years. 

“Math can be cool,” she gushed to USA TodayAugust 2018. “I also [include] stories of my own personal struggles with math and ordinary, everyday life, to let girls realize we’re all the same. We all have the same worries, struggles, insecurities, etcetera.”

McKellar, despite her break from Hollywood, told Draco her son, whom she shares with ex husband Mike VertaIf he decides that he wants to follow in her footsteps she would be happy. 

“I will support you whatever you wanna do,” the GAC star told her son during their ET interview. “I would put you in acting classes and I would help guide you through it.”

She added, “I’m not gonna ever push you in that direction [though], because it’s a tough life.”

Listen to Us Weekly’s Hot Hollywood as each week, the editors of Us breakdown the most important entertainment news stories.
Listen on Google Play Music