‘Little House on the Prairie’: ‘Nellie Oleson’ Actor Alison Arngrim Wants This ‘Stranger Things’ Star To Revive the Character
Alison Arngrim played Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie for seven seasons. After she made her exit from the show, Arngrim continued to get recognized as the popular character.
In 2019, rumors began to surface that Little House on the Prairie is coming back to television. Arngrim shared her thoughts on the revival and dished on who she would like to see play Nellie.
How Alison Arngrim felt about playing ‘Nellie Oleson’
Arngrim booked Little House on the Prairie when she was 11. She grew up around actors most of her life. Her mother voiced the characters Gumby and Casper, The Friendly Ghost. When she initially heard about the series, Arngrim auditioned for the part of Laura Ingalls. The role ultimately went to Melissa Gilbert, and Arngrim landed the job of playing Laura’s adversary. Viewers watched as Nellie bullied Laura on multiple occasions on the show. The girls even fought over Almanzo Wilder, who later became Laura’s husband.
During an April 2018 interview with From The Desk, Arngrim reflected on becoming a household name by playing Nellie. She confirmed that she didn’t mind being a mean girl on-screen.
“I am so glad I didn’t have the burden of having to play a ‘nice’ person for all those years,” Arngrim said. “I think it would have been exhausting! And if you look at the reaction of viewers 40 plus years later, you can see how each of us made our character “iconic” and forever identified with our individual performances. In millions of people’s head, ‘Laura Ingalls Wilder’ will always conjure up the face of Melissa Gilbert.”
Alison Arngrim wants Millie Bobby Brown to be the next ‘Nellie Oleson’
Little House on the Prairie ended in 1984. In the show’s series finale, the residents of Walnut Grove burned the town down. The show’s ending struck controversy over the years, which many cast members have addressed. Since its final episode, Little House on the Prairie has lived on through syndication.
In October 2019, Arngrim spoke to Fox News about the show’s possibly coming back with an all-new cast. She said the show’s producer, Tripp Friendly, has the rights to the original series. Although Friendly planned on creating a movie inspired by the show. However, Arngrim said the show’s fans are “rabid” for a reboot.
Arngrim also said that if Little House on the Prairie does get a reboot, Millie Bobby Brown would be the perfect Nellie. She raved about the Stranger Things star’s acting abilities to the outlet.
“Can we get Millie Bobby Brown in a blond wig? Because she would knock it out of the park,” Arngrim said, adding that Brown is “one of the best young actresses of today.”
Would Alison Arngrim come back to ‘Little House on the Prairie’?
Arngrim said in her Fox News interview that the cast is open to doing a reboot. Although several cast members have died since the series ended, she said those who are alive keep in touch. While she said she knows she couldn’t play Nellie, Arngrim would come back as another character on the show.
“I would like to see a reboot of the show with the fabulous new young people, some adorable little girls in L.A., a gorgeous little blond awful child, as me, but have everyone from the old show do like a cameo, just pop in,” Arngrim said.
“Also, I am the correct age now to play Mrs. Oleson, and I’m available, so I have no shame. I would play her in a second. I would totally do that,” she continued.
