GAF Star’s Relatable Off-Camera Life Centers on Homeschooling, Faith
By Movieguide® Contributor
You might know Danica McKellar from her role in THE WONDER YEARS or her appearances in dozens of GAF Christmas movies, but there’s much more to the actress’ story.
McKellar rose to fame as a child star on THE WONDER YEARS, playing Winnie Cooper. However, after the show came to an end, she decided to step away from acting for a while.
“I went to UCLA [after THE WONDER YEARS ended],” she told PEOPLE. “I needed to find out how I was valuable outside of [my character] Winnie Cooper, and math was challenging and I did well at it.”
McKellar graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and went on to write 11 children’s books on the topic, encouraging girls to pursue interests in STEM fields.
She eventually returned to acting, but McKellar still puts her degree to use, homeschooling her 14-year-old son Draco.
‘There are more and more reasons that maybe homeschooling is a good choice,” she shared. “I’ve had a good experience with it…You just have more control over what your child is exposed to. And in all kinds of ways socially, academically, you name it, you can be a little more in control.”
McKellar has also been vocal about her faith journey. She became a Christian in 2022 after attending a Passion play with friend Candace Cameron Bure. Bure later gave her a Bible that kickstarted her faith journey. Movieguide® previously reported:
Danica McKellar recently sat down with pal Candace Cameron Bure to talk about the impact faith has had on her life this year.
“Candace, I don’t want to brush over the huge, huge impact that you’ve had on my life this year,” McKellar started. “I don’t even know how to call that, like, friendship. It’s more than that. Because of you helping me to find my relationship with God and Jesus, it’s been like a revolution in my life. It’s been a revelation in my life.”
She continued, “You gave me this Bible that I read all the time and I love it so much and I go to church now and I just, I talk to Jesus all the time every day. It’s unbelievable. And you were like my guide. You were just an angel in my life and you still are. And I just wanna thank you for that publicly.”
McKellar even co-hosted the 2024 Movieguide® Awards alongside fellow GAF star Trevor Donavan. Movieguide® previously reported:
“Danica and Trevor bring tremendous talent and joy to every role, and we know they will bring the same caliber of excellence to hosting the MovieGuide® Awards,” said Robby Baehr, MovieGuide®CEO. “Talent and a passion for creating values-oriented content makes Danica and Trevor the perfect fit to host our annual awards show,” Baehr concluded.
Iconic TV star Danica McKellar said, “I’m incredibly grateful to make movies for Great American Family because of the joy and inspiration each provides to audiences. What a thrilling opportunity to co-host the MovieGuide® Awards with my friend, Trevor Donovan, and to celebrate film and television that uplifts and inspires.”
Donovan demonstrates his commitment to positivity with his anti-bullying campaign. “If you’re doing positive things in life that creates happiness and productivity in your own heart, you end up meeting like-minded souls. Great American Family is producing entertainment for a vastly underserved audience, and I am proud of the stories we create,” Donovan said.
