Alison Arngrim, who portrayed the unforgettable Nellie Oleson on NBC's "Little House on the Prairie" from 1974 to 1983, has returned with a surprise cameo in Netflix's new reboot of the series, now streaming.

Although Arngrim has not yet met Willa Dunn, the child actress taking over the iconic role of Nellie, she has shared hard-earned advice on how to master playing the character everyone loves to hate. Arngrim told Fox News Digital, "You've got to have a solid sense of who you are. It's a tall order for someone who's like 10, 11 or 12 years old, but when people are talking about this other person who lived in the 1800s, saying, 'I hate her so much. She's so awful. I can't stand her. I want to slap her in the face,' you can't take that personally."

Reflecting on her enduring association with the character, Arngrim said, "But it's really weird because I'm 64 years old, and I still have people yelling at me about all the things I did to Laura 52 years ago."

She also referenced the experience of other actors known for villainous roles, stating, "Remember, Sir Anthony Hopkins didn't lose sleep over being Hannibal Lecter."

The original "Little House on the Prairie" series has cultivated a devoted following over the decades, with Arngrim's portrayal of Nellie Oleson remaining one of television's most iconic young villains. Arngrim appeared at the 63rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco in June 2024 during a photocall for the series.

Sources