Mark Rylance has been at home in the role of the titular Big Friendly Giant since October, and now Steven Spielberg's much anticipated Roald Dahl adaptation The BFG has finally found its Sophie. A statement from dreamworks reveals that newcomer Ruby Barnhill will be making her big screen debut in perhaps the biggest way imaginable.
Ten-year-old Ruby comes from Cheshire where she's active in youth theatre, and will shortly be seen in the BBC's The Four O'Clock Club. “I feel incredibly lucky and I’m so happy,” she says. “Sophie gets to go on this wonderful adventure and I’m so excited that I get to play her.”
“After a lengthy search, I feel Roald Dahl himself would have found Ruby every bit as marvellous as we do,” says Spielberg. “We have discovered a wonderful Sophie.”
Luke Kelly, managing director of the Roald Dahl Literary Estate and Roald Dahl's grandson, says: “The character of Sophie is one of the most endearing young heroes in Roald Dahl’s stories. She is as brave as she is curious and has an innate sense of wonder. Many congratulations to Ruby on landing the role. We hope that making The BFG proves an utterly magical adventure for her.”
If you’re not familiar with the story, The BFG tells of the world’s only friendly giant and his friendship with young Sophie. He makes it his mission to collect good dreams and gift them to children while destroying nightmares and keeping his nasty fellow gigantic brethren from eating “human beans”.
Spielberg’s take has been penned by E.T. screenwriter Melissa Mathison. It’s had a lengthy and often briar-strewn path to the screen, passing through the hands of directors such as John Madden and Chris Columbus, before Spielberg took up the gauntlet for DreamWorks. It'll finally arrive in British cinemas on July 22, 2016.