Wendy Lichtman

Danica McKellar is an American actress, writer, and advocate for mathematics education. She gained widespread recognition for her role as Winnie Cooper in the television series "The Wonder Years." Beyond acting, McKellar has authored several non-fiction books aimed at encouraging middle and high school girls to pursue and excel in mathematics, including titles like "Math Doesn't Suck" and "Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape." Her literary contributions have made her a New York Times bestselling author and earned her accolades for promoting STEM engagement among young women.

Mckellar's career began in acting at a young age. After her breakout role on "The Wonder Years," she transitioned to adult acting roles, appearing in various television films, series, and voice acting projects. She pursued higher education concurrently, earning a degree in mathematics from UCLA, where she co-authored a scientific paper. This academic background informs her writing, which seeks to demystify mathematics and build confidence in young learners. Her efforts have been recognized with awards for her dedication to math education.

Born in La Jolla, California, Danica McKellar relocated to Los Angeles with her family at age eight. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father is a real estate developer. McKellar has Scottish, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese ancestry. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 1998. During her undergraduate studies, she co-authored a significant scientific paper with Professor Lincoln Chayes and fellow student Brandy Winn, which led to the "Chayes–McKellar–Winn theorem." This academic work resulted in her being assigned an Erdős number of four and an Erdős–Bacon number of six, reflecting her connections within mathematical and scientific research communities.

McKellar's acting career commenced with weekend classes at the Lee Strasberg Institute at age seven. She achieved significant fame in her teenage years as Winnie Cooper, the main love interest of Kevin Arnold, in the popular ABC comedy-drama "The Wonder Years" (1988–1993). Transitioning to adult roles proved challenging, but she secured guest spots on television series, appeared in Lifetime films, and had a recurring role on "The West Wing." McKellar has also lent her voice to animated characters, including Miss Martian in "Young Justice" and Killer Frost in "DC Super Hero Girls." More recently, she has been a consistent presence in Hallmark Channel films and joined the main cast of the Netflix series "Project Mc2."

McKellar is a prominent advocate for mathematics education, particularly for young girls. She has authored seven non-fiction books designed to make mathematics more accessible and appealing to middle and high school students, aiming to build their confidence and success in the subject. Her books, such as "Math Doesn't Suck," "Kiss My Math," and "Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape," have appeared on The New York Times bestseller list. McKellar's writing aims to counter negative social perceptions about girls and math, presenting the subject as relevant, engaging, and even glamorous. Her efforts in this area have been recognized with awards, including the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics (JPBM) Communications Award.

“My first kiss was a pretty nerve-wracking experience! But we never kissed off screen, and pretty quickly our feelings turned into brother/sister, and stayed that way.”

“I thought that the two were really, really first-rate.”

“to show girls that math is accessible and relevant, and even a little glamorous”

“damaging social messages telling young girls that math and science aren't for them”