Danica McKellar discusses Wonder Years fame, leaving acting for math, and a return to entertainment

Danica McKellar, 50, rose to national prominence as Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years after joining the ABC coming‑of‑age drama in 1988. In a recent appearance on the podcast Hey Dude... The 90s Called!, McKellar discussed why she dramatically stepped away from acting when the show ended in 1993 and what drew her to a very different path: mathematics. She recalled that the late-1980s and early-1990s fame felt surreal, and that she didn’t fully grasp how iconic the series had become until a colleague on set referred to her as “America’s Sweetheart.” She said the label was “bizarre” because, to many viewers, she represented a first crush rather than simply a television character.

She said the experience was both a blessing and a confinement. While the show’s success afforded opportunities, it also left her feeling very limited as a teenager. “Everywhere I went it was, ‘Hey aren’t you that girl you know that played Winnie? Aren’t you that girl from TV?’,” McKellar recalled, describing the constant scrutiny and questions about her identity after the series ended in 1993. Those pressures helped push her to reassess who she was beyond Winnie Cooper and to explore life away from the spotlight.

The turning point came with a shift in focus toward academia. McKellar chose to attend UCLA, where she began to shed the public persona and rediscover her interests. She described going to class with makeup removed, carrying a backpack, and adopting a more low‑profile look as she explored who she was beyond Hollywood’s glare. It was during her time studying math that she found her calling in a field far from screens and red carpets.

Her fascination with mathematics intensified after an exceptional score on a difficult calculus examination. “The next day, somebody tapped me on the shoulder and he says, ‘Aren’t you that girl?’ … And he asked, ‘Are you that girl who got the good score on the test?’” The moment, she said, underscored that mathematics could be a true, lasting source of validation and identity. It wasn’t the superficial aspects of show business that mattered most; it was the sense of achievement from solving problems and advancing in a discipline she loved. She later graduated from UCLA with honors and launched a math‑education venture that offered guidance to students online.

Even as she pursued mathematics, acting remained a thread in her life. McKellar eventually returned to screen work, balancing roles in Lifetime and Hallmark films with television appearances, including a run on The West Wing and voice work for video games. She has also expanded into writing and directing, producing two short films, and participating in contemporary entertainment formats such as Dancing with the Stars (season 18) and serving as a judge on Fox’s Domino Masters.

Throughout this period, her passion for math persisted. She authored 11 math books for young readers and students, with a 12th title scheduled for release in November. The books reflect a continued commitment to helping students engage with mathematics beyond the classroom while she remains a visible figure in film and television.

McKellar’s personal life has included two marriages and a public journey through motherhood and partnership. She married composer Mike Verta in 2009; the couple welcomed a son in 2010, but they separated in 2011. In 2014 she married Scott Sveslosky, a partner at a Los Angeles law firm. Beyond family life, she has built a diverse career that bridges entertainment, education and advocacy in STEM. Her evolution from child star to lifelong learner and educator illustrates a broader trend of performers who leverage early fame to pursue multiple, interlinked passions.

In recent years, McKellar has maintained a presence in both acting and math advocacy, with the ongoing release of new educational material and a steady stream of acting projects on cable, streaming and film. Her journey—rooted in a defining television moment and extended by scholarly achievement—highlights how one performer redefined success on her own terms, blending talent with academic rigor and a commitment to inspiring the next generation of learners.