Little House On The Prairie: Then & Now

Melissa Gilbert as Laura Ingalls

It can’t be easy being catapulted into the national spotlight as a 9 year old, but that’s just what happened to Melissa Gilbert. California native Melissa won the role after beating out over 500 other actresses for the part. She played the role of Laura, the second daughter of the Ingalls family. The show chronicled the highs and lows of the family, and much of the focus was on Laura’s development and growth. In many ways, the show can be seen as a coming-of-age, or Bildungsroman, following Laura’s journey to adulthood. Melissa gave a depth and maturity to the character and stole the hearts of viewers all over the world.