| Ruby Barnhill | |
|---|---|
 Barnhill in 2016 | |
| Born | (2004-07-16) 16 July 2004 (age 20) Knutsford, Cheshire, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2015–2019, 2024–present |
Ruby Barnhill (born 16 July 2004) is an English actress. She played the lead role of Sophie in Disney's live-action adaptation of The BFG, directed by Steven Spielberg, in 2016. She also subsequently provided the voice of Mary Smith in the English dub of 2017's Mary and the Witch's Flower, a film from Studio Ponoc directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi.
Early life and career
Barnhill was born on 16 July 2004 in Knutsford, Cheshire, England. She lives with her parents and younger sister in Cheshire, and she is a member of the local youth theatre.
In 2024, it was confirmed that Barnhill would voice Aurora in the English dub of The Imaginary. Prior to her aforementioned role in the English dub of The Imaginary, Barnhill's acting career seemed to be on hiatus as she had not been in anything since 2019's Princess Emmy, in which she voiced the title character. Back in 2016, Barnhill said in an interview that she was being careful not to let her instant fame go to her head. She admitted: "I'm not sure I want to do any more films. I like the idea of becoming a director – TV or maybe theatre – or a drama teacher."
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | The BFG | Sophie | Nominated – London Film Critics Circle Award for Young British/Irish Performer of the Year Nominated – Young Artist Award for Best Young Leading Actress Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor |
| 2018 | Mary and the Witch's Flower | Mary Smith | Voice; English dub |
| 2019 | Princess Emmy | Princess Emmy | Voice |
| 2024 | The Imaginary | Aurora | Voice; English dub |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–2017 | 4 O'Clock Club | Isobel | 14 episodes |
References
- Wrap Staff (16 December 2014). "Steven Spielberg Casts 10-Year-Old Ruby Barnhill as Lead in 'The BFG'". Thewrap.com. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- "How schoolgirl landed a giant role in Hollywood's BFG", telegraph.co.uk; accessed 25 November 2016.
- "We found Sophie – Newcomer Ruby Barnhill from Cheshire, UK, is cast as Sophie in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Roald Dahl's The BFG". Roalddahl.com. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- "Hayley Atwell, LeVar Burton, Kal Penn Star in English Dub for Ponoc's the Imaginary Film".
- "Steven Spielberg -- Stick With Me Kid … I'll Make You a Quick Million!". TMZ.com. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- "Studio 100 Announces International Cast for 'Princess Emmy'". Animation Magazine. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- "Hayley Atwell, LeVar Burton, Kal Penn Star in English Dub for Ponoc's the Imaginary Film".