Sara Cohen, the physician and bestselling author writing under the pseudonym Freida McFadden, has publicly revealed her true identity, according to ew.com.
The author of the psychological thriller The Housemaid, which inspired the 2025 blockbuster film starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, disclosed her name after years of anonymity, stating she was tired of keeping her professional lives separate.
Cohen, who specialises in treating brain disorders, confirmed her identity in an interview with USA Today. She explained that the decision to remain anonymous was initially intended to protect her medical career. She transitioned from full-time medical practice a year after the 2022 release of The Housemaid, by which time she had already established a prolific literary career.
The author has sold more than six million books to date, including three sequels to her breakout hit. Despite her global success, Cohen maintained a private profile, often appearing in a wig for public-facing materials. She noted that while her medical colleagues eventually discovered her “double life,” they had remained supportive and maintained her confidence until she felt ready to step back from her clinical duties.
The revelation follows the massive commercial success of the film adaptation directed by Paul Feig. The production, which explores the tensions of a live-in maid working for a wealthy family, has earned $400 million at the global box office. Cohen assured readers that while her name was a pseudonym, the personality she shared with her audience remained genuine.
The franchise is set to continue with a cinematic sequel based on The Housemaid’s Secret. Sydney Sweeney is confirmed to reprise her role as Millie, with the film scheduled for theatrical release on December 17, 2027.
Pseudonyms are a long-standing tradition in the publishing industry, often used by authors to explore different genres or maintain privacy. In Cohen’s case, the anonymity allowed her to balance a high-stakes medical career with a rapidly expanding literary portfolio that has now become a major cinematic property.
•Featured image: Freida McFadden in 2025/Manoli Figetakis/WireImage
