Anna Popplewell
Anna Katherine Popplewell (born 16 December 1988) is an English actress. Popplewell is known for playing Susan Pevensie in the fantasy film series The Chronicles of Narnia (2005–2008), that earned her a number of accolades.
Anna Popplewell | |
---|---|
Born | Anna Katherine Popplewell 16 December 1988 London, England |
Education | Magdalen College, Oxford (BA) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1998–present |
Spouse |
Sam Caird (m. 2016) |
Parent |
|
Relatives | Lulu Popplewell (sister) Nigel Popplewell (paternal uncle) Oliver Popplewell (paternal grandfather) |
Aside from her The Chronicles of Narnia role, Popplewell played the role of Chyler Silva in the web series Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (2012) which is based on the video game of the same name, and starred as Lady Lola in the historical romantic drama series Reign (2013–2016), which was her first leading role in a television series.
Early life
Popplewell, the oldest of three children, is the daughter of the Court of Appeal judge Andrew Popplewell and Debra Lomas, a dermatologist who studied at Newnham College Cambridge. She was born in London. Her siblings are actress Lulu Popplewell, who starred as Daisy in Love Actually, and Freddie Popplewell, who starred as Michael Darling in the film Peter Pan. Her paternal grandfather, Sir Oliver Popplewell, is a former judge, and her uncle is former cricketer Nigel Popplewell.
She attended North London Collegiate School and was a senior student in 2006–07.[1] She was admitted to Oxford University in 2007 where she studied English Language and Literature at Magdalen College.[2][3]
Career
Popplewell began acting at the age of six, taking classes at the Allsorts Drama School. She began acting professionally in the TV production Frenchman's Creek in 1998. She made her film debut in 1999 in the film Mansfield Park, and followed up with supporting roles in the films The Little Vampire (2000) and Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), with Scarlett Johansson. In 2001, she appeared as Victoria in the BBC serial Love in a Cold Climate.[4]
Her first major role was in the film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) where she played Susan Pevensie at the age of 17. She has a fear of mice, requiring a double to undertake part of her scene at the Stone Table in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.[5] She reprised her role in the sequel, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008), in which she acted with William Moseley, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley and Ben Barnes.[6] She also made a cameo appearance in the third Narnia film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).[7]
In 2012, she played the character Chyler Silva in the live action 5-part mini series Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn. In 2013, Popplewell played Lola, a friend of Mary, Queen of Scots, in the CW television series Reign. Filming took place in Ireland and Canada.[8] She played the role until 2016, when her character was killed off in the season 3 finale.[9]
Since 2018, Popplewell has narrated the audiobooks Dear Mrs. Bird and its sequel Yours, Cheerfully for Simon & Schuster Audio; London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency, for HarperAudio; Queen of Coin and Whispers for Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd; and Jane Eyre for Penguin Audio.[10]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Mansfield Park | Betsey | |
2000 | The Little Vampire | Anna Sackville-Bagg | |
2001 | Me Without You | Young Marina | |
2002 | Thunderpants | Denise Smash | |
2003 | Girl with a Pearl Earring | Maertge | |
2005 | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Susan Pevensie | |
2008 | The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | Susan Pevensie | |
2010 | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader | Susan Pevensie | Cameo |
2012 | Payback Season | Izzy | |
2015 | Freak of Nurture | Nurse Bethany Lane | |
2017 | The Last Birthday | Olga | Short |
2019 | You are here | Tanya | |
2022 | The Gallery | Morgan/Dorian | Interactive movie |
2022 | Fairytale | Frankie | |
2023 | The Nun II | Kate |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Frenchman's Creek | Henrietta | Television film |
2000 | Dirty Tricks | Rebecca | Television film |
2001 | Love in a Cold Climate | Victoria | Television mini-series |
2002 | Daniel Deronda | Fanny Davilow | Television mini-series; 3 episodes |
2011 | Comedy Lab | Herself – Guest | Episode: "Totally Tom" |
2011 | Brave New World | Maura Taft | Television film |
2012 | Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn | Chyler Silva | Web series; Main cast; 5 episodes |
2012 | Looking Back | Herself | Documentary short |
2013–2016 | Reign | Lady Lola/Lola Narcisse | Main cast (seasons 1–3); 62 episodes |
2020 | Prop Culture | Herself | Disney+ docuserie; Episode: "The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe" |
2020 | The Left Right Game | Laura | Podcast; 1 episode (voice) |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Susan Pevensie | Voice role |
2008 | The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | Susan Pevensie | Voice role |
2022 | The Gallery | Morgan/Dorian | Interactive |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Teen Choice Awards | Best Movie Choice Actress | The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe | Nominated | |
CAMIE Awards | — | Won | [11] | ||
2008 | Nickelodeon UK Kids' Choice Awards | Best Film Star | The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian | Nominated | |
2009 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Ensemble Cast | Nominated | ||
2012 | Streamy Awards | Best Female Performance: Drama | Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn | Nominated |
Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Hedda Gabler | Hedda Gabler | Theatrical debut | Reading Rep, Reading, Berkshire |
2024 | Othello | Desdemona | Leading stage role | |
2025 | The Crucible | Mary Warren | ||
References
- "The Big 6" (PDF). Newsletter. North London Collegiate School. March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2008.
- Little, Reg (27 June 2008). "Magdalen's leading lady". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- Griffiths, Sian (15 June 2008). "The chronicles of Narnia's children". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- "Child stars of new Narnia film unveiled". Irish Examiner. 12 October 2005. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- Anna Popplewell and Andrew Adamson (2006). The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe [Cast Commentary] (DVD).
- Utichi, Joe (25 June 2008). "RT Interview: Anna Popplewell on a Different Side to Narnia in Prince Caspian". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- Martin, Paul (17 September 2010). "Anna Popplewell confirms Tiny role in Dawn Treader". Narnia Fans. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- "M3 - Details". bellmediapr.ca. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
- Valentine, Genevieve (20 June 2016). "In a bitter finale, Reign goes gloriously for broke". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 19 July 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- "Audible Narrator Anna Popplewell".
- "2006 Camie Awards".