Danica McKellar, here in 2021, appeared on "The Wonder Year's" from 1988 to 1993.
(CNN) -
Danica McKellar, the actress who played Winnie Cooper in "The Wonder Years," quit acting to pursue a career in mathematics, and now she explains why.
McKellar's youngest son, Draco, recently interviewed her for
ET
and asked, "You were about my age when you performed in 'The Wonder Years.' What do you remember most about those years?"
McKellar said it was difficult to balance work and school.
"What I remember most was juggling being an actress and doing my homework," she said.
"There was a lot of going back and forth to the school trailer."
While taking a break from acting, she became an acclaimed mathematician.
McKellar has written 11 children's books on math.
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His son asked him why.
"When and why did you decide to take a break from acting and become a mathematician?" Draco asked.
"I went to UCLA, but when I got to college, everywhere I went, people all over campus were yelling, you know, 'Hey, Winnie!'
or 'Hey, I loved you on 'The Wonder Years!'" McKellar said of his character on the show.
"I couldn't walk away from that. So I needed to figure out my worth away from Winnie Cooper, and math was a challenge and I was good at it. And I love this feeling that my worth, the important things had nothing to do with how I felt." watched or with television," he said.
She also told her son that while life as an actor is difficult, she would support him if he chose that path.
"Draco, I'll support you in whatever you want to do. I'll put you through acting classes and help guide you," he said.
math
