The Mary Ingalls that generations grew up with was always seen through Laura’s eyes. Skywalker Hughes, who plays Mary in Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie, says the new series finally lets the eldest Ingalls daughter stand on her own. “The version of Mary in the show is deeper and more faceted, because the books were based from Laura’s perspective on Laura’s life,” the 14-year-old said in a Q&A with HarperKids, the books’ publisher.
Hughes comes to the role with a lifetime inside these stories. In the conversation, which People highlighted this week, she says her mother read her the books before she can remember, she learned to read at three, and she spent her childhood imagining herself into Laura Ingalls Wilder’s world. Playing Mary, she says, gave the show a chance to reveal a deeper side of every character.
Her co-star Alice Halsey, 11, offers a similar read on Laura, describing the show’s version as a touch more mature, with a clearer grasp of her family’s struggles. The two also share an affection for the show’s craft, from the life-or-death stakes of pioneer life to the calico-print costumes Hughes calls gorgeous.
Little House on the Prairie premiered July 9 on Netflix, where it climbed to number one in the US, and was renewed for a second season in March. TDN has followed the revival from its first teaser through its premiere, including Halsey’s take on bringing Laura to life.