Best-selling The Housemaid author Freida McFadden reveals true identity
A major publishing enigma has finally been unraveled as the renowned US author Freida McFadden, whose thrillers have captivated millions, unveiled her real name: Sara Cohen. Known for her gripping novel *The Housemaid*, which launched in 2022 and inspired a film starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, McFadden has long used a pseudonym while maintaining a dual life as a physician. Her revelation, shared with USA Today, marks a shift in her career and identity. “I’ve reached a point where I’m tired of keeping this a secret,” she said. “People have been debating whether I’m one person or three men. I’m real, and I have nothing to hide.”
Under the name Freida McFadden, she ranked second in UK best-sellers for 2025, with 2.6 million copies sold. Her home country saw six million print sales, driven by the popularity of *The Housemaid*. Only Julia Donaldson, author of *The Gruffalo*, surpassed her in total UK sales that year. Cohen’s literary output includes 29 novels, with three titles—*The Housemaid*, *Want to Know a Secret?*, and *Dear Debbie*—already dominating the charts in 2025.
Cohen first adopted the pen name to conceal her medical background, using it for her debut novel, *The Devil Wears Scrubs*, a fictionalized account of her life as a resident doctor. The name Freida was chosen as a nod to the medical training system, the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database. While working as a brain disorders specialist in Boston, she continued writing, eventually pivoting to psychological thrillers. However, she kept her two identities separate, fearing her patients might feel uneasy about being treated by a bestselling novelist. “At work, I want to be seen as a doctor,” she told the *New York Times* in 2024. “I don’t want people wondering if my stories are based on them.”
Her decision to reveal her identity came after stepping back from full-time medical work in 2023. Now, she dedicates only a few hours monthly to her doctor role, making it easier to disclose her true name. “I felt overwhelmed trying to balance both careers,” she explained. “The secret was becoming harder to maintain.” A colleague’s recognition of her in a Freida-themed photo last January forced the truth into the open, though her former coworkers have respected her privacy. “They didn’t post anything about me online, and I returned the favor with a book signing at the hospital,” she noted.
Cohen, who still wears a wig during public appearances as Freida, admitted the wig was “just for fun” and not out of necessity. “I have no idea how to style my hair,” she joked. Despite the reveal, she hopes her fans will continue to recognize her by the pen name. “Even though my real name is now known, nothing else has changed,” she said. “I’ve always been genuine with my readers, and the name will be a surprise—but the rest of who I am is familiar.”
Why the pseudonym?
Originally, Cohen used the name Freida McFadden to protect her identity while writing. She found the pseudonym fitting as a medical in-joke, referencing the hospital training system that inspired it. Over time, the pen name became synonymous with her work, but she never wanted her patients to confuse her professional role with her literary persona. “I didn’t want them to think my books were about them,” she said in a 2024 interview.
Yet, her dual life also brought challenges. She described the pressure of maintaining both identities as “hard to keep up.” The stress of being a bestselling author while treating patients led her to scale back her medical duties. “The spotlight on me specifically was difficult,” she told the *Washington Post*. “It’s not just about privacy—it’s also about social anxiety. I feared I wasn’t living up to the expectations people had of me.”
Now, with her career as a doctor less demanding, Cohen feels ready to embrace her true self. “I’m only working once or twice a month,” she said. “It’s easier to be honest now.” Her latest book signing at the hospital was a way to bridge the gap between her two worlds, proving that even with a new name, her connection with readers remains unchanged.
