‘The Housemaid’ Author Freida McFadden Reveals Her True Identity: ‘I’m Tired of This Being a Secret’

“The Housemaid” author Freida McFadden said during a recent interview with USA Today that “it’s time” to unveil her true identity. She said her real name is Sara Cohen, and she works as a brain doctor when not writing books.

“I’m at a point in my career when I’m tired of this being a secret,” she said. “I’m tired of people debating if I’m a real person or if I’m three men. I am a real person and I have a real identity and I don’t have anything to hide.”

Related Stories

Three-Day ‘Immersive’ Michael Jackson Fan Experience ‘Dedicated to the Man and the Movie’ Set to Take Place in Berlin

Ryan Gosling Exits ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Directing Duo's Next Movie

Cohen said she took a break from her practice a year after publishing “The Housemaid” in 2022. She tried to keep the pseudonym under wraps, but her co-workers eventually found out. Luckily for Cohen, they were “really nice about it” and agreed to keep her author identity a secret.

“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 recalled. “But I have stepped away from my job. I’m only working like once or twice a month.”

Cohen said she still plans to use the Freida McFadden moniker even though her real name is out in the open.

“Even though I haven’t told my real name until now, I feel like I have shared the real me all along and everything I’ve told them has been the truth,” she explained. “Even though the name will be a surprise, nothing else will. I’ve always been genuine with my readers.”

Paul Feig recently adapted “The Housemaid” for Lionsgate with Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried in the starring roles. Against a reported budget of $35 million, the twisty domestic drama went on to gross nearly $400 million worldwide.