A long-forgotten star from the beloved Home Alone franchise has recently shared a heartfelt tribute to her co-star, the talented Catherine O'Hara, 34 years after her own departure from the movie industry. Hillary Wolf Saba, now 49, played Meghan, Kevin's (Macaulay Culkin) sister, in both Home Alone 1 and 2 during the early 90s. But here's where it gets controversial... despite a promising film career, including a lead role in the comedy Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even in 1992, Hillary chose to swap the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for the discipline of judo.
Last week, following Catherine's untimely death at the age of 71 from a pulmonary embolism, Hillary made a rare social media post, sharing a cast photo from the Home Alone days. In her caption, she wrote, "My onscreen mom was so good to all of us kids on the sets of Home Alone 1 & 2. She was sweet and she was hilarious! RIP Catherine O'Hara." This isn't the first time Hillary has spoken fondly of Catherine; in a 2021 essay for Newsweek, she described Catherine as "funny, great with kids, and just a wonderful person."
And this is the part most people miss... Hillary's memories of filming Home Alone are filled with fun and laughter, creating a kid-friendly environment with the McCallisters and their cousins. She even described Macaulay Culkin, the iconic child star, as a "typical little boy" whose personality shone through.
Macaulay himself paid a heartbreaking tribute to Catherine on Instagram, writing, "Mama. I thought we had time. I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you. But I had so much more to say. I love you. I'll see you later."
But what about Hillary's own journey? After ranking as the number two child star of all time by VH1 last year, Macaulay took an eight-year hiatus from acting in 1995. Similarly, Hillary's path took an unexpected turn as she became a talented martial artist, winning the junior judo world championships in 1994 and representing the USA at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games. Despite not replicating her junior success in the senior category, her love for physical sports remained, and she and her husband, Chris, opened a wrestling club near their home in Colorado in 2004. The couple later welcomed two sons, Michael and Dylan.
So, what do you think? Is it surprising that Hillary chose to leave the movie industry for judo? And what about Macaulay's tribute to Catherine - does it resonate with you? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
