Melissa Gilbert Tells: Life After Little House On The Prairie

The former child star gets candid about what happened after the hit show

She was a star in one of the world’s most beloved TV series – and 45 years on from her iconic role on Little House On The Prairie, actress Melissa Gilbert has opened up about life since the show.

“Everybody has their own journey,” says Melissa, who played Laura Ingalls on the western drama, which focused on a family living on a farm in Minnesota in the 1870s. “I’m much better going forward than backward or sideways.”

There’s no doubt the glamorous brunette has endured her fair share of drama over the years.

She suffered a high-profile break-up from actor Rob Lowe which was followed by two difficult divorces – to actors Bo Brinkman and Bruce Boxleitner – but she looks back fondly on the time when she was a resident of Walnut Grove.

“It was a great place to grow up if you are a child performer,” Melissa recalls of Little House.

“It was fun and amazing.” Melissa also starred alongside her brother Jonathan Gilbert, whose character Willie Oleson was the trouble-making sibling of Laura’s nemesis Nellie, played by Alison Arngrim.

LIFE AFTER LITTLE

HOUSE Despite the onscreen tension, Alison and Melissa became best friends in real life.