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Alison Arngrim’s ‘Little House’ Memories — And Why She’d Play Nellie Oleson All Over Again
Alison Arngrim was often recognized for her role as mean girl Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie, and not always in a nice way — but she fully embraces her villainous image.
Once a fan threw a soda in her face, which, “I kind of took it as a weird compliment,” says Alison, 63. “I’ve had people just go off about how much they hated me and how they wanted to punch me in the face.”
It didn’t take long for her to draw fans’ ire.
“I had a girl yell at me literally after the very first episode aired,” confides Alison. “Nobody thought ‘Little House’ was going to be a hit. It ran for years, and it’s still in reruns. It was well-written, well directed, and I had an awesome character. I got to be the villain.”
She also got to work with Michael Landon.
“He was really interesting,” Alison remembers. “He was writing the show, directing the show, starring in the show and producing the show. He was like this mad scientist making television.”
Michael was good to the child actors, even though “he was strict,” Alison says. “Your grades had to be above a certain level, and you had to have your three hours of school every day. There was no cheating. But we were treated with respect. Sometimes kids on shows aren’t taken seriously.”
Alison adds, “You don’t see the disasters that so many kid actors had because we were just treated and raised in a very different way than a lot of the other shows. And that all came from Michael Landon.”
These days, Alison still acts occasionally and travels the world in a one-woman comedy act about playing Nellie. She also penned the best-selling memoir Confessions of a Prairie Bitch.
When at home, she reveals, “I’m totally into gardening and cooking. I usually grow tomatoes, jalapeños and basil.”
Alison calls the upcoming Little House series more of a prequel than a reboot, insisting, “It will not be exactly like our show in the ’70s. And it shouldn’t be. That would be terrible! I think it is going to be very much like the books. Very historical.”
And she’s up for a cameo — or even a regular role.
“I’ve always said, ‘I’m old enough to be Mrs. Oleson now, so call me,’” Alison says.
Her advice for the next actress to play nasty Nellie? “Enjoy yourself because it is fun,” Alison says. “Don’t hold back. Some people, when they play a character that’s annoying or objectionable, they want to be liked. They’re like, ‘But I have to be likable.’
“No, no, you don’t. The other person is the hero in this movie. They can be likable. You don’t need to be likable. You can be dreadful. Go for it.”
