Lisa Jakub (; born December 27, 1978) is a Canadian writer, yoga teacher, and former child actress. She is best known for her roles as Lydia Hillard in the comedy-drama film Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and as Alicia Casse in Independence Day (1996).
Childhood and education Jakub was born on December 27, 1978, in Toronto, Ontario. She is of Slovak (father) and Welsh and Scottish (mother) descent. Jakub attended multiple schools in her early life, including Hillfield Strathallan College.
Jakub graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in sociology in 2010.
Acting Jakub's first role was as Katis' Granddaughter in the 1985 film Eleni. She appeared in comedy-drama film Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) alongside Mara Wilson, Sally Field, Matthew Lawrence, and Robin Williams. When Jakub received the part of Lydia in Mrs. Doubtfire, her high school expelled her for accruing too many absences. Robin Williams wrote a letter to Jakub's high school, pleading with them to re-admit her, but this was unsuccessful.
Jakub played Sandra in Matinee (1993), appeared in A Pig's Tale (1994) and Independence Day (1996), The Beautician and the Beast (1997), and played the "inspiration" for Princess Leia in the short film George Lucas in Love (1999). She starred in Picture Perfect (1995) and portrayed a bordello worker in the American Old West in Painted Angels (1997).
Personal life Jakub retired from acting in 2001 at age 22, and soon moved to Virginia. In 2005, she married Jeremy Jones, a longtime friend and former theatre manager. In 2014, Jakub stated she has no plans to return to acting.
Jakub later became a writer, authoring two non-fiction books: the autobiography You Look Like That Girl (2015) and Not Just Me (2017). She also contributes to online blogs.
Jakub is a qualified Kripalu yoga teacher. She has openly discussed her battles with anxiety, depression and panic attacks, from which she has suffered since her teenage years, and credits her yoga practice for helping her to overcome them. In 2021, Jakub launched a new website, BlueMala, which she described as the resource that she wished she had when she was in her darkest moments. The website contains Jakub's articles on mental wellness along with her yoga and meditation videos.
Writings You Look Like That Girl: A Child Actor Stops Pretending and Finally Grows Up (2015) Not Just Me: Anxiety, Depression, and Learning to Embrace Your Weird (2017) (Don't) Call Me Crazy (contributing writer) (Algonquin, 2018)
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1985EleniKatis' Granddaughter1991Rambling RoseDoll1993MatineeSandra1993Mrs. DoubtfireLydia "Lydie" Hillard1994TiffanyVideo1996Independence DayAlicia Casse1997Katrina Pochenko1998Painted AngelsGeorgie Alternative title: The Wicked Wicked West1999Myra Naidell1999George Lucas in LoveMarionShort film2000Double FrameTara
Television Year Title Role Notes1986KatieTV film1986Kay O'BrienAllison VillaneuvaEpisode: "Taking the Heat"1986Christmas EveLittle GirlTV film1987Friday the 13th: The SeriesKristenEpisode: "A Cup of Time"1988Once Upon a GiantLittle Red Riding HoodTV film1988Alfred Hitchcock PresentsMissyEpisode: "Kandinsky's Vault"1988Emergency RoomAngie SertoliEpisode: "All Hallows Eve"1989Lisa CranstonEpisode: "Street of Shadows"1989Friday the 13th: The SeriesJanine CarlsonEpisode: "The Playhouse"1989Glory! Glory!TV film1989Holly HendersonTV film1990War of the WorldsJulieEpisode: "The Pied Piper"1990Night CourtBarbieEpisode: "My Three Dads"1991Carrie WillisTV film1991Alexandra PollardTV film1993Bride of Violence 2AnnaTV film1994Amanda SpencerTV film1994Due SouthChristina NicholsEpisodes: "Chicago Holiday: Parts 1 & 2"1995Fight for Justice: The Nancy Conn StoryLeisa ConnTV film1995Picture PerfectJ.J. ThomasTV film1996Bermuda TriangleAnnieTV film1996ReckoningShelley MaitlandTV film1997Newton: A Tale of Two IsaacsClara StoreyTV film1997On the Edge of InnocenceAlly WinthropTV film1998Dream HouseJenny ThorntonTV film1999MentorsJoan of ArcEpisode: "Raising the Siege"1999Jack & JillMegEpisode: "Pseudos, Sex and Sidebars"2000IsabelTV film
References
External links
You Look Like That Girl Lisa Jakub's Blue Mala website