Robin Williams delighted fans throughout his career, starring in Jumanji, Good Will Hunting, Aladdin and many, many more films before his tragic death, at the age of 63.
Hollywood was sent into mourning following the news of his death in 2014, with many sharing their appreciation for his magnificent movie moments, and his efforts behind the camera.
One of the roles he is most known for is the 1993 classic, Mrs Doubtfire, alongside Sally Field and James Bond legend Pierce Brosnan.
Today marks the 30-year anniversary of the Hollywood icon lighting up the screen as Daniel Hillard, who went to drastic lengths during his divorce from wife Miranda (Field), disguising himself as a housekeeper to spend more time with his children, Lydia (Lisa Jakub), Chris (Matthew Lawrence), and Natalie (Mara Wilson).
Although the role was ‘written just for Williams’, casting director Janet Hirshenson has opened up about the moment he went above and beyond to help young actors with their auditions.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk ahead of the poignant date, she told us: ‘What was most fun was, I loved casting the children. We took all of our favorite children from LA to San Francisco to test with Robin, and Robin was so…. wonderful.
‘He improvised all the time but these were little children, including five year olds and it was their test.
‘He was trying so hard to keep on book, to help the kids with their audition.’
Hirshenson also revealed that Wilson – who delighted us all as the youngest Hillard child – almost didn’t get the part.
‘My favorite, Mara Wilson… When she walked in my office in LA, before she sat down, she was it for me. I loved her from the moment she walked in my door,’ she continued.
‘She just came in and I adored her. When Chris [Columbus, director] was figuring out the little girls he wanted to bring up there, at first she wasn’t included but I said we really should bring her.
‘He went, “Sure, fine, bring her up”. So she came up.’
In true Natalie Hillard form, Hirshenson recalled there was one moment where Wilson got a little sassy with her on-screen dad in front of the camera.
‘She was one of those magic children,’ she added. ‘I remember when Robin did the scenes with her and the older children.
‘Mara with that tiny little lisp of her of hers, she was holding her sides. Robin laughed, and joked, “You can’t read that!”
‘She said, “Yes, I can read”. The other kids looked at her like, “Woah!”’
We would expect nothing less from Matilda.
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