Mara Hobel’s unforgettable performance as the young Christina in “Mommie Dearest” left a lasting impact, yet her journey beyond that iconic role remains shrouded in mystery. In this article, we’ll explore what happened to Mara Hobel, the actress who brought young Christina Crawford to life, tracing her path from Hollywood’s spotlight to the enigmatic life she leads today.
Background Info
Born on June 18, 1971, in New York City, Hobel knew from an early age that she wanted to be an actress. At the age of 3, she was singing and dancing, and listening to vaudeville routines and when she turned 5, she announced to her parents that nothing would stop her from pursuing her passion.
She would eventually catch the eye of a talent agent, who arranged for her to audition and win her first national television commercial with Dick Van Dyke. Before the age of 8 she would appear in over 150 commercials, ranging from fast food to toy products.
At the age of 8 she would make her motion picture film debut and land her most notable role.
Mommie Dearest
In 1981, Mara Hobel landed the pivotal role of young Christina Crawford in “Mommie Dearest,” a biographical drama directed by Frank Perry, adapted from Christina Crawford’s memoir of the same name.
The film delves into Christina’s turbulent upbringing with her adoptive mother, the iconic Hollywood actress Joan Crawford, famous for her roles in classics like “Mildred Pierce” and “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”
Starring Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford, Mara Hobel as young Christina, and Diana Scarwid as the adult Christina, the movie vividly portrays the alleged abuse inflicted by Joan on her children.
While “Mommie Dearest” gained notoriety for its melodramatic style and Faye Dunaway’s extravagant performance, Hobel’s portrayal earned her critical acclaim and industry recognition, including a Young Artist Award and a Razzie Award.
Post-“Mommie Dearest,” Mara Hobel’s career continued intermittently with appearances in television movies like “The Wilder Summer” and “Doing Life.” Despite her early success, Hobel emphasizes her normal upbringing in Putnam Valley, New York, albeit one punctuated by the unique challenges of balancing school and acting commitments.
Teaching the New Generation
At 25, Hobel briefly shifted gears, becoming a teacher and director at Rising Star Productions, where she mentored students in areas such as agent selection, audition preparation, and headshot photography.
During this time, she made occasional guest appearances in series like “Third Watch,” “The Jury,” and “Law and Order.” Following her role in the 2008 film “The Happening,” Hobel took a seven-year hiatus from acting.
What is Mara Hobel Doing Now?
Mara Hobel’s most recent foray into acting occurred in 2019 when she made an appearance in an episode of “Blue Bloods,” taking on the role of Heidi Voorhees. Prior to that, she portrayed a jail receptionist in the 2015 movie “True Story.”
However, her current activities remain shrouded in mystery, and it is unclear whether she continues to operate her Rising Star Productions business.
Her inactive website and the absence of any social media presence make it challenging to ascertain her current endeavors.
Hobel maintains a notably private life, with scarce recent interviews or public appearances. What we do know is that she is married to Mark Furrer, and the couple has two sons and a daughter.
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