Mary Stuart Masterson burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced blonde ingenue, making her screen debut at just eight years old. In a bit of real-life symmetry, she played the daughter of her actual father, Peter Masterson, in the 1975 film The Stepford Wives. Though Mary Stuart Masterson’s introduction to acting wasn’t exactly groundbreaking—her most memorable line being, “Daddy, I just saw a man carrying a naked lady”—it was still a start. After that somewhat quiet beginning, Mary Stuart Masterson took a step back from Hollywood, choosing instead to focus on her education. During those years, she only made a few rare appearances on television, including a 1980 ABC movie titled City of Fear and a segment of Amazing Stories in 1986, directed by Robert Zemeckis.
By the time she turned 18, Mary Stuart Masterson had made up her mind: she wanted to follow in her parents’ footsteps and fully commit to an acting career. And so, she returned to the screen with a powerful role in the emotionally charged TV movie Love Lives On (ABC, 1985). In it, Mary Stuart Masterson portrayed a young woman battling cancer—someone who triumphs over illness, only to face new struggles with addiction and the heartbreaking reality of giving birth to a drug-dependent baby. It was a dramatic and mature turn, signaling that Mary Stuart Masterson was ready to be taken seriously as an actress.
When it comes to Mary Stuart Masterson’s filmography, one standout performance that consistently receives high praise is her role in At Close Range from 1986—many critics and fans alike consider this her highest rated movie. Mary Stuart Masterson brought a compelling depth to the character, which likely contributed to the film’s strong reception. On the other end of the spectrum, Mary Stuart Masterson appeared in Funny About Love in 1990, a film that generally garnered less favorable reviews and is often cited as her lowest rated movie. While Mary Stuart Masterson delivered a solid performance, the overall response to the movie didn’t match the acclaim of her earlier work. Still, Mary Stuart Masterson has maintained a respected presence in the industry throughout her career.