‘Little House' Troublemaker, 64, Looks Totally Different Without Her Trademark Curls While Out in L.A.
Alison Arngrim, who rose to stardom as Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie, will always be associated with the jumbo curls of her childhood role. But in a new candid appearance in Los Angeles, the actress and author managed to fly entirely under the radar.
Known for her snobby attitude and barrel curls, Nellie made life hard for our favorite girl, sweet Laura Ingalls. But don't worry, because in real life, Arngrim is a real gem. The Daily Mail caught Arngrim out and about running errands in Los Angeles, and without those legendary curls, nobody even realized she was the iconic child star of the '70s.
Click here to head to The Daily Mail to see the new candid photos of Arngrim.
A seasoned actress and author of Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated, Arngrim is thriving in adulthood. In a side-by-side photo, you can truly tell that she used to be TV's favorite frontier bully.
What Does Arngrim Say About Michael Landon in Her Book?
In her fascinating book, Arngrim opened up about working on the set of the beloved frontier show. She also discussed how Michael Landon was both a respectful and stern boss to the many child actors who filled the set.
"He respected me," Arngrim wrote. "Respect is something very hard to come by for child actors. They are often treated as dumb animals or props, objects to be moved about in service of the plot or the other actors."
What is Alison Arngrim Up to These Days?
Arngrim has parlayed her experience on Little House into a one-woman show, appropriately titled Confessions of a Prairie Bitch. In a recent interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, she explained why people are so eager for her to resurrect the iconic character.
"It started because Nellie and Mrs. Oleson (her mom on the show) are high camp," Arngrim said. "You cannot get campier than Mrs. Oleson." Now that's the truth!
For a delicious moment of that Little House campiness, here's one of the show's best moments:
When Does the New Little House on the Prairie Premiere?
The Little House on the Prairie reboot premieres on Netflix on July 9, 2026. The show stars Elvis actor Luke Bracey as Charles "Pa" Ingalls, Alice Halsey as Laura, and Skywalker Hughes as Mary.
"Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's iconic semi-autobiographical Little House books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier," the Netflix synopsis reads.
Check out the official teaser trailer below:
Related: ‘Little House on the Prairie' Star Was Told She Had To Lose Weight To Join the Series
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 8:24 AM.