Alison Arngrim Returns in Netflix’s ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Reboot

Alison Arngrim, best known for her role as Nellie Oleson on NBC’s original Little House on the Prairie, is making a cameo in Netflix’s reboot of the series, currently streaming. Arngrim offers valuable advice to Willa Dunn, the young actress stepping into the role of Nellie Oleson, on how to handle playing such a notorious character.

Arngrim emphasizes the importance of separating oneself from the villainy of the character. She notes, “You’ve got to have a solid sense of who you are.” This mindset allows young actors like Dunn to endure the negativity aimed at their characters. Arngrim, who played Nellie from 1974 to 1983, understands the allure of playing someone everyone loves to hate: “You have to understand the job is to irritate, annoy and upset people.”

The historical drama maintains a loyal fanbase, known as “Bonnetheads,” who continue to hold a strong affinity for the original series. More than 40 years after Little House on the Prairie ended, Arngrim recounts memorable encounters with fans who remain unable to separate her from Nellie. In her words, she regarded these intense reactions as recognition: “If you do it correctly with a character like Nellie, people are going to be annoyed.”

Arngrim’s return to the series was a last-minute addition about two weeks before filming commenced. Unlike her previous glamorous portrayal, this cameo sees her transformed into a peculiar woman in the woods. “When I sat in the makeup chair this time around, the makeup artist said, ‘We’re going to make you look so awful,'” Arngrim shared, revealing the thorough effort put into her appearance for the cameo.

Reflecting on the technological advancements in Hollywood, Arngrim believes Michael Landon, the original showrunner, would be “fascinated.” She reminisces about Landon’s foresight that Little House would be timeless, asserting that, “Michael somehow knew that ‘Little House’ would stand the test of time.”

As Netflix introduces a new adaptation, Arngrim encourages fans to embrace the reboot. She hopes to meet Dunn and praises the current cast’s understanding and portrayal of the cherished narrative. “These actors get it. The cast is fabulous,” she commented, advocating for the continuous retelling of such beloved stories.