'Wonder Years' star Danica McKellar explains why she became a mathematician and stopped acting
"The Wonder Years" actress Danica McKellar quit acting to pursue a career in math, and now she's explaining why.
McKellar's younger son Draco recently interviewed his mom for ET, asking her, "You were my age when you starred in 'The Wonder Years.
What do you remember most about those years?" - McKellar said, adding that it was hard to balance work and school.
"What I remember the most is being an actress and doing my schoolwork," she said. "It was a lot to go on and on in the back and forth of the school trailer."
Taking a break from acting for a while, she became an acclaimed mathematician. McKellar has also written 11 children's books about mathematics.
"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 went to school, everywhere I went, people all over campus would shout, you know, 'Hey Winnie!' Or 'Hey, love you 'the wonder years!'" McKellar said of his character on the show Winnie Cooper.
"I couldn't get away with it. So I had to figure out how much I was worth to Winnie Cooper outside, and the math was challenging and I did well at it. And I love to feel that my value, in the important stuff." It had nothing to do with how I watched or television."
She also told her son that acting life is tough, but she will support him if he chooses that path. "Draco, whatever you want to do, I'll support you. I'll put you in acting classes and I'll help guide you through it," she said.