Freida McFadden, the author behind the popular psychological thriller "The Housemaid" and multiple other New York Times bestsellers, has publicly revealed her true identity. The writer, known for using a pen name, disclosed this week that she is Sara Cohen, a brain disorders specialist based in the Boston area. Cohen confirmed that her author photograph features a wig, which she wears due to personal preference, and real glasses necessary for her vision.

For years, Cohen had kept her authorship separate from her medical career, fearing that revealing her identity could affect her privacy and professional standing. In an interview, she explained that maintaining anonymity was critical to protecting her patients and preserving her ability to practice medicine without distraction. Cohen’s decision to disclose her identity follows a period in which she significantly reduced her clinical hours, now seeing patients only once or twice a month after stepping back from full-time work in late 2023.

Cohen, 45, who completed her undergraduate studies at Harvard University, has published approximately 20 books over the past decade, with more titles forthcoming. She said the growing success of adaptations of "The Housemaid," including a film starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried and a confirmed sequel, played a role in her decision to come forward. “I’m at a point in my career when I’m tired of this being a secret,” Cohen stated. “I am a real person, and I have a real identity, and I don’t have anything to hide.”

Previously, Cohen spoke openly about the challenges of balancing her dual careers in medicine and writing. In a 2022 essay titled “My Double Life,” she reflected on the difficulty of keeping her author identity under wraps while maintaining her medical practice. She described resisting the urge to reveal her secret in everyday conversations and emphasized her desire to separate her medical profession from her work as a thriller writer.

Cohen lives with her husband, two children, and a cat in the Boston area. Despite her rising prominence as an author, she had never before participated in public events or appearances under her real name. Now, with a growing readership who call themselves “Mcfans” and continued success in both print and film, she has embraced full transparency about her identity and career trajectory.