Danica McKellar Left Acting for Mathematics

Danica McKellar, best known as Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years, said on the "Hey Dude… The 90s Called!" podcast that she stepped away from Hollywood at 18 to figure out who she was beyond that role. She attended UCLA, where success in calculus and other math courses led her to earn a mathematics degree with honors and gain new confidence. After graduating she worked as a mathematician and launched a website offering math advice. McKellar has authored 12 math books aimed at middle- and high-school readers. She later returned to acting with roles in Lifetime and Hallmark films. McKellar says the hiatus was necessary to escape early fame's insecurity and to discover her own identity.