It is one of those movies that just feels like damp moss and heavy velvet. If you grew up in the nineties, Agnieszka Holland’s 1993 adaptation of The Secret Garden wasn't just a movie; it was a core memory. The haunting score by Zbigniew Preisner, the crumbling Yorkshire estate, and that massive, overgrown door—it all worked because the kids were actually good. They weren't "Hollywood" kids. They were moody, strange, and a little bit unlikable, which is exactly how Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote them.
Decades later, people still hunt for news about The Secret Garden actors because that film captured a specific kind of gothic magic that the 2020 remake honestly struggled to replicate. You've probably wondered if the girl who played Mary Lennox stayed in the industry or if the boy who played Colin ever actually walked again (spoiler: the actor is doing just fine).
The thing is, child stardom is a weird beast. Some of these actors leaned into the fame, while others basically vanished into normal lives, which is kinda fitting for a movie about finding peace in a hidden corner of the world.
Kate Maberly: The Defiant Mary Lennox
Kate Maberly was only ten when she landed the role of Mary Lennox. She beat out hundreds of other girls because she had this specific, sour expression that could melt into genuine wonder. She didn't play Mary as a "sweet" orphan; she played her as a brat who had been ignored her whole life. It was brilliant.
After the film, Maberly didn't just disappear. She stayed very active in the British acting scene for a long time. You might have spotted her in Finding Neverland (2004) alongside Johnny Depp, or in various BBC period dramas like The Langoliers or North & South. But if you look at her career lately, she’s moved behind the camera.
She’s a musician and a director now. She’s been developing a feature film adaptation of The Garden of Evening Mists, showing that her taste for atmospheric, literary stories hasn't really faded. Honestly, it’s cool to see a child star transition into a creator rather than just burning out. She’s also a classically trained musician—playing piano and cello—which makes sense given the lyrical quality of the film that made her famous.
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Heydon Prowse: From Colin Craven to Political Prankster
If there is one person in the cast who took a sharp left turn, it’s Heydon Prowse. In the movie, he was Colin, the "hypochondriac" boy confined to a bed who thought he had a lump on his back. He was fragile. He was pale. He was loud.
Fast forward to adulthood, and Prowse is basically the last person you’d expect to find in a Victorian manor. He became a well-known activist and satirist in the UK. He co-created the BAFTA-winning BBC series The Revolution Will Be Televised.
Basically, he spends his time pranking politicians and giant corporations. He once tried to give a "benefit" to a major bank and got chased off by security. It’s a wild career trajectory. From a boy who was afraid of the wind to a man who intentionally causes chaos in the halls of power. He’s also done a lot of work directing documentaries and digital content that focuses on climate change and social justice. He seems to have traded the "lump on his back" for a very loud voice in British politics.
Andrew Knott: The Ever-Present Dickon
Andrew Knott played Dickon, the animal charmer who was basically the "nature whisperer" of the Yorkshire moors. Out of all The Secret Garden actors, Knott has probably had the most consistent, "working actor" career in the UK.
He didn't go the superstar route, but he’s been in everything. He was in the original cast of The History Boys on stage (and in the film), which is a huge deal in the theater world. If you watch British TV, you’ve seen him. Gavin & Stacey, Coronation Street, Where the Heart Is, and Black Mirror. He’s one of those actors where you see his face and go, "Oh, it's that guy!"
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He’s stayed close with his History Boys castmates, including James Corden and Samuel Barnett. There’s something very grounded about Knott. He didn't let the early success of a major Warner Bros. film warp his career; he just put his head down and became a respected character actor.
The Legends: Maggie Smith and John Lynch
We can't talk about the cast without mentioning the heavyweights. Maggie Smith, who played the icy Mrs. Medlock, was already a legend then, but The Secret Garden was a precursor to her becoming a global icon as Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter. Her ability to be terrifying and then suddenly sympathetic is what gave the 1993 film its weight. Sadly, her passing in 2024 marked the end of an era for British cinema, but her performance as Medlock remains one of her most nuanced "strictly business" roles.
Then there’s John Lynch as Lord Craven. He played the grieving, hunched-over father with so much pain that you almost forgave him for neglecting his son. Lynch is still very active, notably appearing in The Fall with Jamie Dornan and Medici. He’s aged into a very distinguished, intense performer who still carries that same brooding energy he had in the gardens of Misselthwaite Manor.
Why This Specific Cast Still Matters
There’s a reason we don't talk about the 2020 version's cast as much. That film relied heavily on CGI. The 1993 version relied on the chemistry between Maberly, Prowse, and Knott.
Director Agnieszka Holland insisted on a certain level of realism. The kids were dirty. They were sweaty. When they cried, it wasn't pretty. This authenticity is why the The Secret Garden actors feel like real people we grew up with rather than characters in a fairy tale.
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Interestingly, some of the supporting cast had fascinating lives too. Irène Jacob, who played both Mary's mother and her aunt (Lilias Craven), was a giant of European arthouse cinema. Having an actress of her caliber play what was essentially a "ghost" role gave the film a dreamlike, high-art quality.
Misconceptions About the Film's Legacy
People often think child actors from the 90s all ended up in "where are they now" tabloids for the wrong reasons. But the trio from The Secret Garden is a rare example of a healthy outcome.
- They weren't "stage parents" kids.
- They were mostly British or worked within the UK system, which tends to be less "meat grinder" than the LA scene for minors.
- They all took long breaks to finish school.
Actually, the biggest misconception is that the movie was filmed in one location. While the house looks like a single, cohesive gothic nightmare, it was actually a patchwork of various estates, including Fountains Hall and Allerton Castle. The actors had to maintain their performances across totally different environments, which is tough for kids who aren't even teenagers yet.
What You Can Do Now
If you’re feeling nostalgic, the best way to appreciate the work of these actors isn't just rewatching the movie on a loop.
- Check out Kate Maberly's music. She has a very ethereal, folk-influenced sound that fits the vibe of the movie perfectly.
- Watch The Revolution Will Be Televised. See Heydon Prowse in his element. It’s jarring but hilarious to see "Colin" trolling politicians.
- Look for Andrew Knott in The History Boys. It shows his range as an adult and why he’s stayed employed for thirty years.
- Visit the filming locations. If you’re ever in Yorkshire, visiting the ruins of Fountains Abbey (where some scenes were shot) gives you a real sense of the scale these actors were working with.
The 1993 film remains the definitive version for most fans because it didn't talk down to children. It treated the actors like adults, and in turn, they gave performances that have stayed relevant for over three decades.