Mara Wilson has described the experience of having her image used in child sexual abuse material as a “living nightmare”, as she warns about the growing risks posed by generative artificial intelligence.

The former child star, now 38, shared her account in an essay published in The Guardian on January 17, drawing on her experiences growing up in the public eye. Wilson, who rose to fame starring in family films including Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, said her image was exploited online for years while she was still a minor.

“From ages 5 to 13, I was a child actor. And while as of late we’ve heard many horror stories about the abusive things that happened to child actors behind the scenes, I always felt safe while filming,” she wrote. However, she said the real danger came from public exposure, explaining that her image was used to create child sexual abuse material before she was even in high school.

“I’d been featured on fetish websites and Photoshopped into pornography. Grown men sent me creepy letters,” Wilson said. “But I was a public figure, so I was accessible. That’s what child sexual predators look for: access. And nothing made me more accessible than the internet.”

Wilson added that the material was deeply traumatic, regardless of whether it was technically legal or digitally altered. “It was a painful, violating experience; a living nightmare I hoped no other child would have to go through,” she wrote.

Now a writer and mental health activist, Wilson said she fears advances in AI technology are making exploitation easier and more widespread. “It is now infinitely easier for any child whose face has been posted on the internet to be sexually exploited,” she warned, adding that millions of children could face similar harm.

She urged greater accountability for technology companies and stronger legal safeguards, calling for legislation and technical protections. Wilson also encouraged parents to consider the risks of sharing children’s images online, warning that awareness and prevention are increasingly essential in the digital age.