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 widely acclaimed author of The Housemaid, known by millions as Freida McFadden, unveiled her real name. The revelation came through USA Today, where she confirmed her identity as Sara Cohen, a doctor who had long maintained a dual life under the pseudonym.
A Pseudonym That Outsold Many
McFadden’s pen name has been synonymous with global success, particularly with her 2022 novel The Housemaid, which became a cultural phenomenon. The book’s popularity led to a film adaptation starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, further cementing her status as one of the UK’s top-selling authors in 2025. She sold 2.6 million copies in the country that year, trailing only Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo in overall sales.
Her publishing career has been marked by prolific output, with 29 novels to her name. This year, she has already dominated bestseller lists with three titles: The Housemaid, Want to Know a Secret?, and Dear Debbie. Yet, for years, her true identity remained hidden, a secret she was finally ready to share.
From Doctor to Author: A Dual Life
Cohen first adopted the pseudonym in 2013 when she self-published The Devil Wears Scrubs, a fictionalized account of her life as a resident doctor. The name Freida was a playful nod to the medical system—derived from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database. While managing her doctor role in Boston, specializing in brain disorders, she crafted psychological thrillers under the name McFadden.
She maintained strict separation between her two lives, fearing that her patients might feel awkward about being treated by a bestselling author. “At work, I want to be a doctor,” she told the New York Times in 2024. “A lot of my books have medical stuff in them, and I don’t want people saying, ‘Is this based on me?’ It feels unprofessional.”
Revealing the Secret: A New Chapter
With her author career thriving, Cohen decided to step back from her medical work in 2023, transitioning to part-time hours. This shift made it easier to reveal her identity, which she now says was a long-held secret. “My whole goal was to keep it a secret until I was ready to step back from my doctor job,” she explained. “So it wouldn’t be like everyone I work with suddenly knew and it compromised my ability to do my job.”
Though she has since reduced her medical duties, she still works once or twice a month. “I just realized I was completely overwhelmed from trying to do both,” she admitted. The pressure of maintaining her double life has eased with this change.
Even after revealing her name, Cohen plans to keep her pen name for her readers. “I still want McFans and Freida Readahs to know me by Freida McFadden,” she said. “Even though the name will be a surprise, nothing else will. I’ve always been genuine with my readers.”
For now, she’s embracing the transition, though the process wasn’t entirely smooth. In January, a colleague at the hospital recognized her in a Freida photo, sparking the first public whispers of her true identity. “The cat is out of the bag,” she joked. “But they’ve been really respectful about not posting anything about me on social media, and I tried to repay them with a book signing at work.”
Interestingly, Cohen also wears a wig during public appearances as Freida—not for disguise, but because she “has no idea how to style my hair.” Despite the adjustments, she remains committed to her dual identity, even as it becomes less of a mystery.
