Alison Arngrim Made a Surprise Appearance in Netflix’s ‘Little House on the Prairie’: Did You Spot Her?

Nobody will ever forget Walnut Grove’s resident mean girl, Nellie Oleson. Portrayed by Alison Arngrim, on the original NBC series, which ran from 1974 to 1983, Nellie was Laura Ingalls’ sharp-tongued bully and the spoiled daughter of the town mercantile owners. Arngrim immortalizes the character with her portrayal and is still recognized for the role today. Now, the actress has once again ventured into the woods of Walnut Grove.

Arngrim was asked to make a surprise cameo in Netflix’s adaptation of Little House on the Prairie as Ida, an unsettling stranger the Ingalls girls encounter in the woods. Although her appearance is brief, it’s a nostalgic nod to the original series and full-circle moment for Arngrim. Learn more about her quick role including who she played and more from the actress.

Alison Arngrim was asked to make a cameo

“I got a phone call:” Arngrim recalled in an interview with Netflix. “[They said,] ‘What are you doing in a week and a half? Could you come to Winnipeg? There’s this character, we want it to be you.’ It was very fast — maybe two weeks’ notice.”

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As for the character Arngrim came back to play? She’s a new addition to the Little House story and she’s as creepy as they come. The actress portrays Ida, a forest drifter who tempts the Ingalls’ girls into a potentially dangerous situation.

“Ida is basically a crazy lady in the woods,” Arngrim explained of her character. “Sort of a forest drifter with drifter friends. They’re hanging out in the woods, having their little dinner, a little campfire in the forest, and the two poor unsuspecting Ingalls girls wander in, and we’re like, ‘Hi, come hang out with us.’ I thought, ‘Oh, that’s creepy as all get‑out. That sounds right up my alley. I’ll be right over!'”

Alison Arngrim loves playing the villain

Despite fans of the show disliking her or her character and having to be awful to Laura (Melissa Gilbert), who she was friends with in real life, Arngrim loved the challenge.

When Arngrim spoke with Woman’s World, she shared her thoughts on what it’s like to play the villain in a show and how it’s one of her favorite things to be cast for.

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“I always liked villains,” she told us. “I loved villains. And I thought, ‘Oh, I’m the villain.’ And then when it escalated and she did more outrageous things, it got very funny and she was the comedy release…I was able to really rid myself of any kind of negative emotions—it was a place to dump that. And what a gift to have an outlet for all of that and to have people applaud it and pay me to do so. I really couldn’t ask for more.”

She’s excited for the new Nellie

With the Netflix adaptation already being renewed for Season 2, fans can expect to see Nellie Oleson for the first time after the Ingalls’ move to Walnut Grove. And Arngrim is excited to see someone new, Willa Dunn, in the role.

“I’ve been waiting for the new Nellie for years,” Arngrim told Netflix. “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. There’s enormous fun to be had. Make friends with the other girls—become friends with [the people who play] your mortal enemies on the show…Realize—and this is the tough part—if you do this correctly, there will be people who will hate you… if you don’t have that weird sense of humor and solid sense of “This is me, that was Nellie,” it can be rough. So know who you are, and don’t take it personally.”