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Correcting wrong names
Changed line(s) 32 (click to see context) from:
* CringeComedy: ''WGAS'' - Mara attempts stand-up comedy, bombs on stage and discovers that Creator/ZackGalfianakis was watching the whole thing.
to:
* CringeComedy: ''WGAS'' - Mara attempts stand-up comedy, bombs on stage and discovers that Creator/ZackGalfianakis Creator/ZachGalifianakis was watching the whole thing.
Changed line(s) 81 (click to see context) from:
* VacationDearBoy: [[invoked]] Mara says she made ''Film/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' just because she'd get to visit the UK.
to:
* VacationDearBoy: [[invoked]] Mara says she made ''Film/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' just because she'd get to visit the UK.
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Changed line(s) 1,2 (click to see context) from:
''Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame'' is the 2016 {{Autobiography}} by FormerChildStar Creator/MaraWilson.
to:
''Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame'' is the 2016 {{Autobiography}} {{autobiography}} by FormerChildStar Creator/MaraWilson.
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* {{Autobiography}}: By Mara Wilson about her life as a child star and eventual fallout from Hollywood.
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Super OCD is no longer a trope per this TRS thread
Zero Context Examples and examples that do not fit existing tropes will be deleted.
Zero Context Examples and examples that do not fit existing tropes will be deleted.Deleted line(s) 75 (click to see context) :
* SuperOCD: Deconstructed in ''Patterns'' - a chapter dealing with Mara's own OCD diagnosis.
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TRS cleanup
Deleted line(s) 10 (click to see context) :
* AdultFear: In ''The C-Word'', your daughter discovering photoshopped porn of herself online or getting creepy fan mail from older men.
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Romantic Two Girl Friendship (or rather, Pseudo Romantic Friendship as it's been renamed to) is not for crushes or potential (or actual) romantic feelings. Please find more appropriate tropes for such examples
Deleted line(s) 70 (click to see context) :
* RomanticTwoGirlFriendship: Mara and Olivia in ''National Enchoirer''. Of course Mara later came out as bisexual, so that makes it more of a full blown crush.
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Changed line(s) 27 (click to see context) from:
* ContractualPurity:[[invoked]] Discussed. Mara's parents said she could only do family-friendly movies while she was a child actress. She wanted to move away from that image by starring in ''The Safety of Objects'' - simply because her character smoked and discussed penises. Her father didn't want her to audition for ''{{Film/Thirteen}}'' because the protagonist didn't get any redemption. Later in life she worries about writing a sex comedy in case her ''Matilda'' fans hear about it.
to:
* ContractualPurity:[[invoked]] Discussed. Mara's parents said she could only do family-friendly movies while she was a child actress. She wanted to move away from that image by starring in ''The Safety of Objects'' ''Film/TheSafetyOfObjects'' - simply because her character smoked and discussed penises. Her father didn't want her to audition for ''{{Film/Thirteen}}'' ''Film/Thirteen2003'' because the protagonist didn't get any redemption. Later in life she worries about writing a sex comedy in case her ''Matilda'' fans hear about it.
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None
Added DiffLines:
* AnAesop:
** ''The C-Word'' drops the lesson hard on how child actors are objectified, and how Mara struggled with beauty and body image issues for years because of it.
** ''National Enchoirer'' points out that real life {{Alpha Bitch}}es come in many forms, deconstructing NotLikeOtherGirls too.
--->''"Anyone can play the game, but the only way to win is to not play at all."''
** ''The C-Word'' drops the lesson hard on how child actors are objectified, and how Mara struggled with beauty and body image issues for years because of it.
** ''National Enchoirer'' points out that real life {{Alpha Bitch}}es come in many forms, deconstructing NotLikeOtherGirls too.
--->''"Anyone can play the game, but the only way to win is to not play at all."''
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Jossed is a YMMV Definition Only Page now. Deleting examples, fan theories that are in objective pages - they need to go on YMMV pages - and moving these about a specific fan work to Outdated By Canon. Moved to discussion
Deleted line(s) 57 (click to see context) :
* {{Jossed}}:[[invoked]] Mara josses the claims that she is ashamed of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' - taking the time to praise the director Britt Alcroft and saying she enjoyed her time in the UK and Canada. The issue she had was developing breasts by the time re-shoots had to be done - meaning it didn't help her body image struggles.
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* SuppressedMammaries: While filming ''Thomas'', Mara developed breasts and had to have them strapped down for re-shoots.
to:
* SuppressedMammaries: [[invoked]] While filming ''Thomas'', Mara developed breasts and had to have them strapped down for re-shoots.
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None
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to:
----
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* VacationDearBoy: [[invoked]] Mara says she made ''Film/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' just because she'd get to visit the UK.
to:
* VacationDearBoy: [[invoked]] Mara says she made ''Film/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' just because she'd get to visit the UK.UK.
----
----
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* ArmourPiercingQuestion: ''The Junior Anti-Sex League'' - Mara rants about a GirlPosse who are more beautiful than her, that she calls 'The Slut Squad'. Her brother asks her what exactly they do to warrant such a nickname.
** She also thought a sex scene in ''Film/FourWeddingsAndAFuneral'' was just two people bouncing on a trampoline that was off-camera.
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* InMemoriam: ''Remembering Robin'' naturally enough is a chapter about Mara's friendship with Robin Williams.
to:
* InMemoriam: InMemoriam:[[invoked]] ''Remembering Robin'' naturally enough is a chapter about Mara's friendship with Robin Williams.
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* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Mara lampshades the irony that show choir was looked down on by everyone in their school, right before ''{{Series/Glee}}'' became a success.
to:
* ItWillNeverCatchOn: ItRunsInTheFamily: Like her mother, Mara was an actress in her youth but as she grew up, only did it for fun. Her brother Danny was also a child actor briefly.
* ItWillNeverCatchOn:
** Mara lampshades the irony that show choir was looked down on by everyone in their school, right before ''{{Series/Glee}}'' became asuccess.success.
** Her parents thought she would get a few small roles to pay for college and quickly get bored. Then she auditioned for ''Mrs Doubtfire''.
* {{Jossed}}:[[invoked]] Mara josses the claims that she is ashamed of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' - taking the time to praise the director Britt Alcroft and saying she enjoyed her time in the UK and Canada. The issue she had was developing breasts by the time re-shoots had to be done - meaning it didn't help her body image struggles.
* LiesToChildren: Defied by Mara's mother Suzie. She had a habit of telling children uncomfortable truths. Mara was told about sex at age five!
* ItWillNeverCatchOn:
** Mara lampshades the irony that show choir was looked down on by everyone in their school, right before ''{{Series/Glee}}'' became a
** Her parents thought she would get a few small roles to pay for college and quickly get bored. Then she auditioned for ''Mrs Doubtfire''.
* {{Jossed}}:[[invoked]] Mara josses the claims that she is ashamed of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' - taking the time to praise the director Britt Alcroft and saying she enjoyed her time in the UK and Canada. The issue she had was developing breasts by the time re-shoots had to be done - meaning it didn't help her body image struggles.
* LiesToChildren: Defied by Mara's mother Suzie. She had a habit of telling children uncomfortable truths. Mara was told about sex at age five!
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* SlutShaming: PlayedForLaughs in ''The Junior Anti-Sex League''. Mara says she often started her stories with "there once was a very bad girl..."
--> "How bad?"
--> [[AndThatsTerrible "Well, she wasn't a virgin!"]]
--> "How bad?"
--> [[AndThatsTerrible "Well, she wasn't a virgin!"]]
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* SuppressedMammaries: While filming ''Thomas'', Mara developed breasts and had to have them strapped down for re-shoots.
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None
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* ButNotTooWhite: Apparently a 'Where are they now?' special featuring her never aired because she looked "too pale" for the video.
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* CoolBigSis: Anna certainly thought Mara was, as described in ''Goddess Oracle''.
--> "As a sister, you were a pretty good mom."
--> "As a sister, you were a pretty good mom."
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* CringeComedy: ''WGAS'' - Mara attempts stand-up comedy, bombs on stage and discovers that Creator/ZackGalfianakis was watching the whole thing.
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* {{Flanderization}}: What Mara says happened to her character in ''Film/MiracleOnThirtyFourthStreet'', due to an inexperienced director emphasising cuteness over substance.
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* MamaBear: Suzie kept going to bat for Mara as her character in ''Miracle'' underwent {{Flanderization}}.
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* SecondLove: Mara mentions that her father eventually remarried, and she was very close with this stepmother.
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* StageMom: Averted by Mara's parents, who did their best to keep her grounded.
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None
* AnachronicOrder: The chapters don't follow Mara's life chronologically, instead focusing on different sections.
Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Although Mara learned about sex early on, she had a very innocent view of it. She describes wiping the toilet seat in case a boy had used it before and residual semen accidentally got her pregnant.
to:
* ChildrenAreInnocent: ChildrenAreInnocent:
** Although Mara learned about sex early on, she had a very innocent view of it. She describes wiping the toilet seat in case a boy had used it before and residual semen accidentally got her pregnant.
** She also assumed that ''Series/MelrosePlace'' was an expose into the lives of adults.
* ComingOfAgeStory: A lot of the chapters do have narratives about Mara's growing up.
** Although Mara learned about sex early on, she had a very innocent view of it. She describes wiping the toilet seat in case a boy had used it before and residual semen accidentally got her pregnant.
** She also assumed that ''Series/MelrosePlace'' was an expose into the lives of adults.
* ComingOfAgeStory: A lot of the chapters do have narratives about Mara's growing up.
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* ContractualPurity: Discussed. Mara's parents said she could only do family-friendly movies while she was a child actress. She wanted to move away from that image by starring in ''The Safety of Objects'' - simply because her character smoked and discussed penises. Later in life she worries about writing a sex comedy in case her ''Matilda'' fans hear about it.
to:
* ContractualPurity: ContractualPurity:[[invoked]] Discussed. Mara's parents said she could only do family-friendly movies while she was a child actress. She wanted to move away from that image by starring in ''The Safety of Objects'' - simply because her character smoked and discussed penises. Her father didn't want her to audition for ''{{Film/Thirteen}}'' because the protagonist didn't get any redemption. Later in life she worries about writing a sex comedy in case her ''Matilda'' fans hear about it.
* DaddysGirl: It's clear that Mara grew up very close to her father.
* EmbarrassingNickname: Defied. Mara's younger sister was named Anna, and everyone else had to promise never to call her 'Anna-Banana'.
* FemaleMisogynist: Mara admits to being one in her teen years, hating girls who were prettier than her and being jealous of the attention they got from boys.
* FirstGuyWins: Mara desperately hoped this would be the case with her first boyfriend Zack. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for her) reality ensued.
* FirstGuyWins: Mara desperately hoped this would be the case with her first boyfriend Zack. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for her) reality ensued.
* FunWithAcronyms: Mara's father comes up with 'Radio WGAS' (who gives a shit?)
Changed line(s) 33,34 (click to see context) from:
* IAmNotSpock: Discussed in ''Dear Matilda'', where Mara talks about being seen as Matilda all her life. She herself says she may have thought Matilda was 'her' character for a while.
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: As a teenager, Mara is constantly hoping she'll grow up to be beautiful enough to make it as a Hollywood actress.
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: As a teenager, Mara is constantly hoping she'll grow up to be beautiful enough to make it as a Hollywood actress.
to:
* IAmNotSpock: IAmNotSpock:[[invoked]] Discussed in ''Dear Matilda'', where Mara talks about being seen as Matilda all her life. She herself says she may have thought Matilda was 'her' character for a while.
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: As a teenager, Mara is constantly hoping she'll grow up to be beautiful enough to make it as a Hollywood actress. She describes wishing she would get into a car accident so she could get cosmetic surgery without feeling guilty. And at one point she seriously considered getting surgery just so she could play the "ugly best friend" roles. Ouch.
* InMemoriam: ''Remembering Robin'' naturally enough is a chapter about Mara's friendship with Robin Williams.
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: As a teenager, Mara is constantly hoping she'll grow up to be beautiful enough to make it as a Hollywood actress. She describes wishing she would get into a car accident so she could get cosmetic surgery without feeling guilty. And at one point she seriously considered getting surgery just so she could play the "ugly best friend" roles. Ouch.
* InMemoriam: ''Remembering Robin'' naturally enough is a chapter about Mara's friendship with Robin Williams.
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* MotorMouth: Mara describes her child self as such. Robin Williams "made the mistake" of asking her to tell him a story - so she rambled on for ages.
* NamedAfterSomeoneFamous: As children, Mara's siblings named the tooth fairy Sally after Creator/SallyField (who played Mara's mother in ''Film/MrsDoubtfire'').
* NamedAfterSomeoneFamous: As children, Mara's siblings named the tooth fairy Sally after Creator/SallyField (who played Mara's mother in ''Film/MrsDoubtfire'').
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* RefugeInAudacity: One of Mara's choreographers in choir called one move 'the Stripper Move' and then said "don't call it that because I don't want to get fired".
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* SiblingYinYang: ''Goddess Oracle'' illustrates the differences between Mara and her sister Anna - Mara is a more structured nerdy writer, while Anna is a Bohemian artist type.
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* TheTalk: The very first chapter - ''The Junior Anti-Sex League'' - opens with Mara's mother giving her one. Mara was five and filming ''Mrs Doubtfire'' at the time. HilarityEnsues.
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: In ''The C-Word'' Mara talks about getting annoyed with this archetype - saying parts for young girls were either the super girly Shirley Temple roles or else "Bart Simpson with pigtails".
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: In ''The C-Word'' Mara talks about getting annoyed with this archetype - saying parts for young girls were either the super girly Shirley Temple roles or else "Bart Simpson with pigtails".
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None
Added DiffLines:
''Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame'' is the 2016 {{Autobiography}} by FormerChildStar Creator/MaraWilson.
While best known for her roles in ''Film/MrsDoubtfire'', ''Film/MiracleOnThirtyFourthStreet'' and of course ''{{Film/Matilda}}'' - Mara also goes into detail about things such as her first impression of sex, her mother's death when she was only eight, grappling with body image as she got older, discovering she had OCD and even the politics of high school show choir.
Mara also narrates the audio version.
!!Tropes:
* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Mara's mother is initially furious when she sings "I know about sex!" on the set of ''Mrs Doubtfire'', but Chris Columbus and Robin Williams finding it amusing softens her attitude a little.
* AdultFear: In ''The C-Word'', your daughter discovering photoshopped porn of herself online or getting creepy fan mail from older men.
* AlphaBitch: Olivia from ''National Enchoirer'' - though the trope is played with. Olivia is not the most popular girl in school and is in fact jealous of girls who are more successful, but she's the head of the clique that Mara falls in with.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: As a teenager, Mara felt this way towards Creator/ScarlettJohansson and Creator/KristenStewart - actresses who successfully transitioned from child to adult stars.
* BigDamnKiss: Gavin the South African shows up at Mara's front door saying he forgot something. And that something is to kiss her there on the spot.
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Although Mara learned about sex early on, she had a very innocent view of it. She describes wiping the toilet seat in case a boy had used it before and residual semen accidentally got her pregnant.
* ComplimentBackfire: Mara eventually comes to find the word 'cute' to be a back-handed way of calling her young.
* ContractualPurity: Discussed. Mara's parents said she could only do family-friendly movies while she was a child actress. She wanted to move away from that image by starring in ''The Safety of Objects'' - simply because her character smoked and discussed penises. Later in life she worries about writing a sex comedy in case her ''Matilda'' fans hear about it.
* ContrivedCoincidence: A coincidence that Mara herself can't ignore is discovering that ''Kissing Doorknobs'' - the book that helped her realise she had OCD - was written by the mother of one of her ''Matilda'' co-stars.
* CreepyChild: ''Elementary Existentialism'' illustrates Mara as one, due to her worry about death and the end of the world.
* DCupDistress: Initially. Mara getting big breasts made it very hard for her to play tomboyish or less girly roles in films. She eventually grew to like them.
* ADeathInTheLimelight: Robin Williams's death and Mara's relationship with him is given a chapter.
* TheDeterminator: When she first wanted to act, Mara's mother made her do several mock auditions and prepared her for the rejections by simply telling her she didn't get the part over and over. Mara's response? "I can just go on more."
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Olivia cutting her hair short in ''National Enchoirer'' coincides with the beginning of the end of her friendship with Mara.
* FailedAttemptAtDrama: Mara pokes fun at one of her headshots - "so cool, so edgy, so should have taken off the Tigger watch."
* ForeignFanservice: When meeting a South African called Gavin, Mara warns herself not to exoticise his accent. [[spoiler: It doesn't work]].
* FromTheMouthsOfBabes:
** In the very first chapter, Mara recounts learning about sex and then running around the set of ''Film/MrsDoubtfire'' singing about it.
** After going to a movie premiere, Mara says to her mother "the men look great, but the women need to go home and [[{{Stripperiffic}} get dressed]]" - prompting a laughing fit from Suzie.
* GenderFlip: The producers of ''Film/MiracleOnThirtyFourthStreet'' wanted to have the remake's child be a boy (following the lead of ''Film/HomeAlone'') but people recommended Mara for the part, so the character became a girl once again.
* GirlinessUpgrade: Mara was subjected to a lot of this while filming ''Miracle'', as the studio wanted to curl her hair and make her into "the next Creator/ShirleyTemple" - which was completely against her personality. As a teenager her breasts developed to be quite big, meaning she was auditioning for girly roles that she didn't want to play.
* GrowingUpSucks: Initially for Mara, who is unable to cope with her identity as she ages from child to teenager. She subverts the trope in ''Elementary Existentialism'', affirming she worries less about the end of the world or things she did as a child now that she's older.
* HollywoodPudgy: [[invoked]] Mara describes getting offered the role of the fat girl in a pilot, although they told her she would be padded out. She wanted to play a character closer to her personality, and then discovered that the actresses being seen for that role were far more beautiful.
* IAmNotPretty: Mara felt this way as a teenager, but at the end of the chapter in question she lists things she came to like about her appearance - especially [[WhatBeautifulEyes her eyes]].
* IAmNotSpock: Discussed in ''Dear Matilda'', where Mara talks about being seen as Matilda all her life. She herself says she may have thought Matilda was 'her' character for a while.
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: As a teenager, Mara is constantly hoping she'll grow up to be beautiful enough to make it as a Hollywood actress.
* {{Irony}}: When auditioning for show choir, the teacher is shocked that Mara is nervous - after having performed at the Oscars.
* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Mara lampshades the irony that show choir was looked down on by everyone in their school, right before ''{{Series/Glee}}'' became a success.
* MoodWhiplash: The way Mara describes her mother's behaviour. "Her unpredictability was predictable".
* NotLikeOtherGirls: Deconstructed in ''National Enchoirer'' - where Mara illustrates that a girl with that attitude just views herself as better than everyone else in an internalised misogynistic way.
* PartingWordsRegret: Mara wishes she could have explained to Robin Williams that she didn't want to do a ''Mrs Doubtfire'' sequel because she would want it to be done right.
* PromotionToParent: After their mother's death, Mara gets called out by their brothers for acting more like a parent to their sister Anna.
* RomanticTwoGirlFriendship: Mara and Olivia in ''National Enchoirer''. Of course Mara later came out as bisexual, so that makes it more of a full blown crush.
* SuperOCD: Deconstructed in ''Patterns'' - a chapter dealing with Mara's own OCD diagnosis.
* TWordEuphemism: There's a chapter called ''The C-Word'' which [[CountryMatters isn't the one you're thinking of]]. Mara refers to being called 'cute'.
* TakeThat: Mara gives one to Creator/JenniferLoveHewitt for donating money to a school with a great choir program already, as opposed to a small midwestern school who couldn't afford one.
* VacationDearBoy: [[invoked]] Mara says she made ''Film/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' just because she'd get to visit the UK.
While best known for her roles in ''Film/MrsDoubtfire'', ''Film/MiracleOnThirtyFourthStreet'' and of course ''{{Film/Matilda}}'' - Mara also goes into detail about things such as her first impression of sex, her mother's death when she was only eight, grappling with body image as she got older, discovering she had OCD and even the politics of high school show choir.
Mara also narrates the audio version.
!!Tropes:
* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Mara's mother is initially furious when she sings "I know about sex!" on the set of ''Mrs Doubtfire'', but Chris Columbus and Robin Williams finding it amusing softens her attitude a little.
* AdultFear: In ''The C-Word'', your daughter discovering photoshopped porn of herself online or getting creepy fan mail from older men.
* AlphaBitch: Olivia from ''National Enchoirer'' - though the trope is played with. Olivia is not the most popular girl in school and is in fact jealous of girls who are more successful, but she's the head of the clique that Mara falls in with.
* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: As a teenager, Mara felt this way towards Creator/ScarlettJohansson and Creator/KristenStewart - actresses who successfully transitioned from child to adult stars.
* BigDamnKiss: Gavin the South African shows up at Mara's front door saying he forgot something. And that something is to kiss her there on the spot.
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Although Mara learned about sex early on, she had a very innocent view of it. She describes wiping the toilet seat in case a boy had used it before and residual semen accidentally got her pregnant.
* ComplimentBackfire: Mara eventually comes to find the word 'cute' to be a back-handed way of calling her young.
* ContractualPurity: Discussed. Mara's parents said she could only do family-friendly movies while she was a child actress. She wanted to move away from that image by starring in ''The Safety of Objects'' - simply because her character smoked and discussed penises. Later in life she worries about writing a sex comedy in case her ''Matilda'' fans hear about it.
* ContrivedCoincidence: A coincidence that Mara herself can't ignore is discovering that ''Kissing Doorknobs'' - the book that helped her realise she had OCD - was written by the mother of one of her ''Matilda'' co-stars.
* CreepyChild: ''Elementary Existentialism'' illustrates Mara as one, due to her worry about death and the end of the world.
* DCupDistress: Initially. Mara getting big breasts made it very hard for her to play tomboyish or less girly roles in films. She eventually grew to like them.
* ADeathInTheLimelight: Robin Williams's death and Mara's relationship with him is given a chapter.
* TheDeterminator: When she first wanted to act, Mara's mother made her do several mock auditions and prepared her for the rejections by simply telling her she didn't get the part over and over. Mara's response? "I can just go on more."
* ExpositoryHairstyleChange: Olivia cutting her hair short in ''National Enchoirer'' coincides with the beginning of the end of her friendship with Mara.
* FailedAttemptAtDrama: Mara pokes fun at one of her headshots - "so cool, so edgy, so should have taken off the Tigger watch."
* ForeignFanservice: When meeting a South African called Gavin, Mara warns herself not to exoticise his accent. [[spoiler: It doesn't work]].
* FromTheMouthsOfBabes:
** In the very first chapter, Mara recounts learning about sex and then running around the set of ''Film/MrsDoubtfire'' singing about it.
** After going to a movie premiere, Mara says to her mother "the men look great, but the women need to go home and [[{{Stripperiffic}} get dressed]]" - prompting a laughing fit from Suzie.
* GenderFlip: The producers of ''Film/MiracleOnThirtyFourthStreet'' wanted to have the remake's child be a boy (following the lead of ''Film/HomeAlone'') but people recommended Mara for the part, so the character became a girl once again.
* GirlinessUpgrade: Mara was subjected to a lot of this while filming ''Miracle'', as the studio wanted to curl her hair and make her into "the next Creator/ShirleyTemple" - which was completely against her personality. As a teenager her breasts developed to be quite big, meaning she was auditioning for girly roles that she didn't want to play.
* GrowingUpSucks: Initially for Mara, who is unable to cope with her identity as she ages from child to teenager. She subverts the trope in ''Elementary Existentialism'', affirming she worries less about the end of the world or things she did as a child now that she's older.
* HollywoodPudgy: [[invoked]] Mara describes getting offered the role of the fat girl in a pilot, although they told her she would be padded out. She wanted to play a character closer to her personality, and then discovered that the actresses being seen for that role were far more beautiful.
* IAmNotPretty: Mara felt this way as a teenager, but at the end of the chapter in question she lists things she came to like about her appearance - especially [[WhatBeautifulEyes her eyes]].
* IAmNotSpock: Discussed in ''Dear Matilda'', where Mara talks about being seen as Matilda all her life. She herself says she may have thought Matilda was 'her' character for a while.
* IJustWantToBeBeautiful: As a teenager, Mara is constantly hoping she'll grow up to be beautiful enough to make it as a Hollywood actress.
* {{Irony}}: When auditioning for show choir, the teacher is shocked that Mara is nervous - after having performed at the Oscars.
* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Mara lampshades the irony that show choir was looked down on by everyone in their school, right before ''{{Series/Glee}}'' became a success.
* MoodWhiplash: The way Mara describes her mother's behaviour. "Her unpredictability was predictable".
* NotLikeOtherGirls: Deconstructed in ''National Enchoirer'' - where Mara illustrates that a girl with that attitude just views herself as better than everyone else in an internalised misogynistic way.
* PartingWordsRegret: Mara wishes she could have explained to Robin Williams that she didn't want to do a ''Mrs Doubtfire'' sequel because she would want it to be done right.
* PromotionToParent: After their mother's death, Mara gets called out by their brothers for acting more like a parent to their sister Anna.
* RomanticTwoGirlFriendship: Mara and Olivia in ''National Enchoirer''. Of course Mara later came out as bisexual, so that makes it more of a full blown crush.
* SuperOCD: Deconstructed in ''Patterns'' - a chapter dealing with Mara's own OCD diagnosis.
* TWordEuphemism: There's a chapter called ''The C-Word'' which [[CountryMatters isn't the one you're thinking of]]. Mara refers to being called 'cute'.
* TakeThat: Mara gives one to Creator/JenniferLoveHewitt for donating money to a school with a great choir program already, as opposed to a small midwestern school who couldn't afford one.
* VacationDearBoy: [[invoked]] Mara says she made ''Film/ThomasAndTheMagicRailroad'' just because she'd get to visit the UK.
