Arngrim: Advice for New 'Little House' Villain

Alison Arngrim, famous for her portrayal of Nellie Oleson, has returned to the prairie with a surprise cameo in the new Netflix "Little House on the Prairie" reboot. Arngrim appears as a "very strange woman in the woods," a role that involved extensive makeup to create an unappealing appearance.

She shared valuable insights for the young actress now embodying the iconic character. Arngrim stressed that playing a villain requires a strong sense of self and understanding that audience dislike is a compliment to a job well done. She recounted personal experiences of fans reacting strongly to her character, even decades later.

Arngrim noted that the production team used special effects to make her look intentionally "awful," painting her teeth and using colors meant to simulate dirt and tobacco. She reflected on how original showrunner Michael Landon would have been impressed by modern Hollywood technology and speculated he would have enjoyed directing the new episodes.

Looking back, Arngrim expressed no regrets about playing Nellie Oleson, understanding the role's purpose was to be disliked. She encourages fans to embrace the new "Little House" series, drawing parallels to the many iterations of "Star Trek" and highlighting the enduring appeal of these stories.