Danica McKellar rang in her 51st birthday with a refreshingly real Instagram post, and her fans from The Wonder Years are here for it.
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On Jan. 3, the actress kicked off another trip around the sun with a makeup-free selfie and a caption that perfectly captured her approach to aging: “This is 51! 🌟No makeup, no filters, just front-facing lighting and a healthy lifestyle to look – and more importantly – feel the best I can.”
McKellar’s birthday celebrations were just as wholesome as her post. In the caption, she described a mix of brain-teasers with loved ones, a workout, an ocean plunge, and prepping for a family dinner.
Showing that her The Wonder Years brain is still as sharp as ever, the actress-turned-mathematician couldn’t resist a little birthday arithmetic: “And fun fact, 51 is not a prime number; 3 x 17 = 51. 😁”
‘Wonder Years’ Fans and High-Profile Pals Praise Danica McKellar’s Candid Selfie
Of course, the comments section became a full-blown fan club, with followers and friends lining up to cheer on McKellar’s refreshingly filter-free moment.
“Happy birthday, Danica!! A beauty inside and out,” fellow former child star Candace Cameron Bure gushed. “You look stunning. Happy Birthday!!” author Mary Lenaburg added. “And so extraordinarily beautiful! Love you, friend! I’m so grateful for you, Danica!!” actress and Hallmark favorite Jen Lilley wrote.
Others couldn’t get enough of her effortless take on beauty and aging. “Classic beauty, proving 51 is not fatal! So beautiful,” one commenter quipped. Another chimed in: “You are a natural beauty!”
“Happy Birthday, twin. Only 24 years difference in you and me. I was glad God woke me up this morning. Have a great 51st year,” a thoughtful 75-year-old fan added.
The Wonder Years aired for six seasons from 1988 to 1993. It was followed by a reboot that ran for two seasons from 2021 to 2023. The original series featured Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold, Dan Lauria as Jack Arnold, Alley Mills as Norma Arnold, Jason Hervey as Wayne Arnold, and Josh Saviano as Paul Pfeiffer, Kevin’s best friend, alongside other notable cast members.
Meanwhile, McKellar played Kevin’s love interest in the show, Gwendolyn “Winnie” Cooper.
In recent years, the mathematician has re-focused on her acting career, starring in Great American Family TV movies after leaving the Hallmark Channel.