Best-selling The Housemaid author Freida McFadden reveals true identity
Best-selling The Housemaid author Freida McFadden reveals true identity
A major publishing enigma has finally been unraveled as the acclaimed author of *The Housemaid*—a thriller that captivated millions of readers—disclosed her real name. Known to fans worldwide as Freida McFadden, the writer has long used a pseudonym, but she has now confirmed she is Sara Cohen. The revelation came via USA Today, where Cohen explained her decision to step out of the shadows. “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. I don’t have anything to hide.”
The Dual Life of a Doctor and Author
Cohen, who works as a doctor specializing in brain disorders in Boston, Massachusetts, has maintained two distinct identities for years. Under the name Freida McFadden, she became the second best-selling author in the UK in 2025, with 2.6 million books sold. In her home country, the author has sold six million print copies, driven by the massive popularity of *The Housemaid*, which debuted in 2022 and was adapted into a film last year. The novel, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, edged out only Julia Donaldson’s *The Gruffalo* in UK sales that year.
The Origin of a Pen Name
Her journey as an author began with a self-published book titled *The Devil Wears Scrubs* in 2013—a fictionalized account of her life as a resident doctor. Cohen chose the name Freida as a playful nod to the medical world, referencing the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database. While balancing her medical career, she continued writing psychological thrillers, but kept her dual life private. “I worried my patients might feel awkward about being treated by a best-selling thriller writer,” she told the *New York Times* in 2024. “At work, I want to be a doctor. It feels unprofessional if they think my books are based on them.”
Shifting Priorities and Public Exposure
As her success grew, Cohen faced increasing pressure to maintain her secret. She told the *Washington Post* she disliked being the focus of attention. “I love that people are reading my books,” she said. “But the spotlight on me specifically is hard… It’s not just about privacy; it’s also about social anxiety. My success has made me fear I might not be ‘that amazing person everyone expects you to be.’”
In 2023, she transitioned to part-time work, which eased the burden of hiding her identity. By 2025, she had fully stepped away from her medical career, now working only once or twice a month. “My whole goal was to keep it a secret until I was ready to retire from my doctor job,” she said. “Otherwise, my colleagues would have known, and it would have compromised my work.”
Despite the revelation, Cohen hopes her fans will continue to recognize her by her pen name. “Even though I haven’t told my real name until now, I feel like I’ve shared the real me all along,” she remarked. “Everything I’ve told them has been the truth. The name will be a surprise, but nothing else will. I’ve always been genuine with my readers.”
Cohen also explained her habit of wearing a wig during public appearances. “I have no idea how to style my hair,” she laughed. “It’s a small detail that helps keep my identity a little more private.” With her dual life now fully exposed, the author remains focused on her writing, having already claimed the best-seller list this year with three titles: *The Housemaid*, *Want to Know a Secret?*, and *Dear Debbie*.
