“The Housemaid” author Freida McFadden revealed what she looks like without her wig after finally disclosing her real identity.
McFadden wore a lab coat and a pair of glasses in the first photo of her real appearance that she shared with Today.com on Monday.
The New York-born doctor had her real name, Sara Cohen, labeled on the coat.
In a statement to the outlet, McFadden said, “It became clear to me that the mystery around my real name was taking on a lore of its own, and I decided it was time to share it.”
The 45-year-old explained that over the years, people online “teased” her about knowing her real name and threatened to tell people.
“It made me laugh because it’s not like I’m in witness protection!” she said. “I just always wanted the focus to be on my books, not my identity.”
She added, “I write because I love doing it and I love sharing my work with my readers.”
McFadden also said that she’s “astonished” by the public’s reaction to her true identity, which she finally revealed last week.
“I’m a very private person and will stay that way, but I have been so honored by the outpouring of love and support,” the author shared. “I’ve read so many comments saying, ‘This is the plot twist I needed!’ which have made me smile.”
But McFadden did clarify that she plans to continue publishing books under her pseudonym.
She said: “It has always been my intention to entertain people and that is what I will continue doing as long as you keep reading.”
Until her April 8 interview with USA Today, McFadden hid her real name and job as a brain disorder doctor to maintain her privacy.
“My whole goal was to keep it a secret until I was [ready to] step back from my doctor job, so it wouldn’t be like everyone I work with suddenly knew and it compromised my ability to do my job,” she said.
McFadden noted that many of her colleagues already figured her identity out, but they kept it a secret for her.
The author published her first book, The Devil Wears Scrubs” in 2013, but it wasn’t until the release of “The Housemaid” in 2022 that she became a household name.
“The Housemaid” was recently adapted into a hit film starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried which made nearly $400 million at the worldwide box office.
A sequel, “The Housemaid’s Secret,” is already in the works starring Sweeney and Kirsten Dunst.