When Matilda was published in 1988, the world was drastically different than it is now, even three short decades later. For an established, incredibly popular male author to not only portray the emotional abuse of a young girl as the primary plot of his story but also imbue her with the supernatural powers necessary to overcome it was an extremely rare occurrence in literature. In some ways, it remains a singular feat. There is no Prince Charming here — Matilda achieves the life she wants on her own because of her wit, her femininity, and her vulnerability, not in spite of them.

“I think there was this respect for what little girls can do,” Mara explained of the hopelessly devoted fanbase that Matilda’s story has acquired over the years. “She’s one of the few female characters who uses her intelligence and her resourcefulness to work for justice in the world, and also create a family for herself. You don’t see a lot of little girls going for justice. At the same time, she’s unabashedly feminine, she loves tea parties, she loves books, she loves having these gatherings. You don’t see a lot of girls who got ahead by being smart and who aren’t punished, ignored, or mocked for it. There’s also an empowering message regardless of gender: That you can make your own family and your own justice in the world. It’s a really important message, and it’s taken on this feminist life of its own.”

Wilson’s observations are astute: in Matilda’s world, a voracious love for reading is her saving grace — not something to be mocked for — and arguably lays the groundwork for the powerful telekinesis she later develops. Her relationship to her own family is strained and painful, but that doesn’t stop her from staying tender and having an open heart to other influences like her kind teacher, the darling Ms. Honey, who eventually becomes her chosen family. Within Dahl’s expertly crafted framework, the severe underestimation of Matilda, and her uncanny ability to extract justice over her mistreatment, made the character into an instant icon — not just for girls, but for everyone. And certainly for anyone who had ever felt mistreated, misunderstood, or alienated from their own family.

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