Any show that follows a family has to consider the logistics of working with child actors. Little House on the Prairie had an extensive cast with actors who had not reached adulthood and famously featured an ongoing rivalry between the young Laura Ingalls and Nellie Oleson, played by Melissa Gilbert and Alison Arngrim respectively.
They were peers who continually butted heads, with Arngrim’s character even earning the moniker Nasty Nellie. But this famous feud is made all the more remarkable since the two are not actually the same age, even though it plays out so much like they are. What about Arngrim let her play such a younger character?
Alison Arngrim looked younger than she was playing Nellie Oleson
Little House on the Prairie aired from 1974 to 1983 and featured an ensemble cast living in Walnut Grove, Minnesota through the late 1800s. “Half-Pint” Melissa Gilbert was nine years old when she played a young Laura Ingalls. Not by choice, Laura was often seen around Nellie, usually for some back-and-forth teasing to take place. Though they may seem like peers, Arngrim was not nine like Gilbert when she starred as Nellie, but rather 12.
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Arngrim could pull this easily thanks to her uniquely small frame. She had been small for her age; in fact, she was a full 20 pounds below the average weight for someone her age in those early years. But she had some competition with Gilbert, who Arngrim joked could fit inside a purse then chew her way out because of her large teeth.
More connections between Arngrim and Gilbert
Though they played TV enemies, Arngrim and Gilbert are actually good friends behind the camera. Maybe that’s because the two had their sights set on the same character. Originally, Arngrim actually auditioned to play Laura Ingalls, not Nellie Oleson. Michael Landon, Pa himself, oversaw a lot of decisions for the show, and ultimately gave the role to Gilbert.
But remember, the two actresses are friends, the first hint that there are no hard feelings. Arngrim confirms these suspicions too, and admitted, “I am so glad I didn’t have the burden of having to play a ‘nice’ person for all those years. I think it would have been exhausting!” Though it did lead to some typecasting and some hate on Laura’s behalf, Arngrim assures she’s flattered people found her so effective playing such a mean spirit. It’s a mark of her skill she could fall into such a role in such a believable way.
For more secrets, check out the Little House on the Prairie deep dive below!