Danica Mckellar, the actress who played Winnie Cooper in the hit ’90s show The Wonder Years, has continued to have a successful career in Hollywood. Now 48 years old, Mckellar says she feels very close to her character and calls The Wonder Years a representation of a big part of her childhood. The actress notes that the show was unique in how it honored the feelings and emotions of children, rather than just using them for comic relief. Mckellar will be appearing at this year’s 90s Con, along with a host of other ’90s TV and movie stars, including her good friend Candace Cameron Bure.
The two actresses first met as teenagers at parties thrown by teen magazines like Bop and Teen Beat. They grew closer in 2014 when they both competed on Dancing With the Stars, and have worked together on a number of Hallmark romantic comedies. Last year, they both left Hallmark for new network Great American Family, which faced criticism from some audiences after Bure made comments about the network’s commitment to traditional marriage. Mckellar defended her friend, saying that Bure’s comments were not definitive and that she herself supports the LGBTQ community.
Before their Hallmark days, Mckellar and Bure starred in the 1990 TV movie Camp Cucamonga, alongside a host of other ’90s TV stars. The movie was a teen comedy that Mckellar remembers fondly. She recalls how enjoyable it was to shoot the movie during the summer, not having to worry about schoolwork between scenes. She also remembers listening to Billy Joel on repeat on her cassette player in her trailer.
At this year’s 90s Con, Mckellar will be sharing stories and memories of her time on The Wonder Years, including her favorite episode, which is also a fan favorite. In the poignant scene, Mckellar’s character Winnie Cooper shares her first kiss with Kevin Arnold, played by Fred Savage, as “When a Man Loves a Woman” plays in the background. Mckellar says it’s some of the best television ever made and that it’s amazing to look back at all the love that went into the show’s first episode.
The Wonder Years may have ended more than 25 years ago, but it appears that Mckellar and her co-stars are still as close as ever, promoting the show and sharing their fond memories with fans at events like 90s Con.
