After years of speculation from fans, acclaimed author of the Housemaid series of books, Freida McFadden has revealed her true identity. Throughout her career as an author, McFadden has kept her true self under wraps employing wigs and glasses to create a disguise that has allowed her to live two lives.
Upon revealing her identity though, she admitted that she was “tired of this being a secret”. Behind the pen name and disguises of Freida McFadden is Sara Cohen, a doctor who treats brain disorders.
In an interview with USA Today, McFadden explained: “I’m at a point in my career when I’m tired of this being a secret.
“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.”
She added that while glasses she wears are real, the wigs became a choice because she had “no idea how to style my hair.”
The author behind the hit Housemaid series and other works including The Brain Damage, Dead Med, The Surrogate Mother and many more originally chose to publish under a pseudonym. Her career as a writer began in 2013 with The Devil Wears Scrubs, and McFadden adopted the pen name in an effort to keep her writing from conflicting with her role as a physician.
“My whole goal was to keep it a secret until I was (ready to) step back from my doctor job,” she said, “so it wouldn’t be like everyone I work with suddenly knew and it compromised my ability to do my job.”
Sara Cohen ceased working in medicine full-time in 2023, when she became overwhelmed with balancing being a full-time doctor and writer at the same time. However, some of her colleagues had already worked out her connection to Freida McFadden. The writer noted that they were “really nice about it”, and helped her to continue keeping the secret.
“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,” McFadden adds. “Even though the name will be a surprise, nothing else will. I’ve always been genuine with my readers.”
Frieda McFadden’s latest novel, The Divorce to due to publish in May this year.
