Eagle-eyed viewers of Netflix's reboot of Little House on the Prairie spotted a familiar face in a surprise cameo: Alison Arngrim, who played the iconic villain Nellie Oleson in the original series.
Alison Arngrim Returns as a New Character
Arngrim, now 64, appears as Ida, an eerie woman living in the woods who leads the Ingalls girls into potential danger. She described the role as "basically a crazy lady in the woods. Sort of a forest drifter with drifter friends." Arngrim admitted the "creepy" part was "right up her alley."
Fans React to the Cameo
Fans took to X to share their excitement. One wrote: "Alison Arngrim is in the reboot of 'Little House on the Prairie'. Cool. One of the best shows ever." Another said: "Omg. I just watched that scene and I kept thinking the creepy woman looked familiar... Way to go, Alison Arngrim aka Nellie Oleson!" A third added: "What a thrill to see Alison in the new version, much darker than the original."
Advice for the New Nellie Oleson
A new actress has been cast as Nellie Oleson for Season 2. Arngrim offered advice: "I've been waiting for the new Nellie for years. I absolutely went bonkers. My advice? Take it and run with it. Enjoy yourself. As far as I know, it's the most fun part to play ever. Make friends with the other girls — become friends with your mortal enemies on the show."
Arngrim's Original Role
Arngrim played Nellie on NBC from 1974 to 1982, originally auditioning for Laura or Mary Ingalls before being cast as the antagonist. Her portrayal became a cultural archetype for the spoiled "bad girl" of the 1970s. The Netflix reboot is now streaming.
