Over four decades after starring in this Western favorite,Little House on the Prairie,Melissa Gilbertis opening up about how she found out she landed the gig.Based on the popular book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the drama centered on the Ingalls family, who lived on a farm on Plum Creek near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, from the 1870s to the 1890s. Making up the beloved family were Charles, Caroline, Laura, Mary, and Carrie Ingalls, respectively portrayed byMichael Landon,Karen Grassle, Gilbert,Melissa Sue Anderson, and twinsLindsay and Sydney Greenbush.
Per EW, during a recent appearance on theHey Dude… the 90s Called!podcast, Gilbert spoke a bit aboutLittle House on the Prairieand shared details of the events thatled to the audition, as well as how she found out she was cast in the popular series. Recalling the exciting moment, she said:
“I found out really unconventionally, because I was at school one day, in the lunch area, and this girl [from] an upper grade walked over to me. She said, ‘Are you Melissa?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I am.’ And she said, ‘I’mLeslie Landon, and my dad says you’re going to be Half-Pint’ (a.k.a. Laura).”
AsThe Diary of Anne Frankstar recounted, there were no cell phones at the time, so upon hearing the news, she ran “screaming to the office and told them I have to call my mom immediately.” No one knew she had gotten the gig, even her agents, and Landon got in so much trouble for spilling; still, they’ve been “really close friends” since then.
Melissa Gilbert Recalls Smartly Auditioning for ‘Little House on the Prairie’
Little House on the Prairieran from June 02, 2025, to July 15, 2025, on NBC for nine memorable seasons. When Gilbert was 9, the show’s pilot was filmed, making her about 8 when she auditioned forher role as Laura. It all began when she initially auditioned for theMiracle on 34th Streetreboot, but unfortunately didn’t get it, upsetting her. However, her father encouraged her to remain hopeful for “something better”, which two weeks later turned out to beLittle House on the Prairie.
Sharing her experience preparing for the audition for the NBC classic, she appreciated her mother’s involvement, saying:
“My mom was really smart about this stuff. When I auditioned, there was no primping. She left me alone. I’d get the [script pages] and we’d read them just to make sure I knew them, but there was no coaching. The only thing she ever told me was to listen. That’s all. To listen to whoever I was acting across from.”
Little House on the Prairiemay have ended decades ago, butNetflix has another version in the works, directed bySarah Adina Smith. Do stay tuned to Collider for more news about the reboot.
