Newcomer Ruby Barnhill, 10, to play Sophie in Steven Spielberg's eagerly awaited film of Roald Dahl's The BFG
Ruby Barnhill is a name that will be famous soon thanks to Steven Spielberg.
The star-making director has plucked the 10-year-old English girl from relative obscurity and cast her as the heroine in his film adaptation of Roald Dahl's The BFG.
Spielberg similarly launched the careers of former child stars Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas in 1982's ET, along with Christian Bale in Empire Of The Sun in 1987.
Meet your new Sophie: Ruby Barnhill, 10, from Cheshire, England has been cast as the lovable heroine Sophie in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Roald Dahl's The BFG
Now the spirited, brown-eyed Ruby is joining that enviable gathering, according to Deadline.com.
'After a lengthy search, I feel Roald Dahl himself would have found Ruby every bit as marvelous as we do,' Spielberg said in a statement, adding: 'We have discovered a wonderful Sophie in Ruby Barnhill.'
This will be Ruby's first movie role, although she has spent the past two years acting in BBC children’s drama Four O’Clock and in her local youth theater group.
Big heart: The BFG counted as the author's favourite among his children's books and followed the story of a London orphan who befriends a benevolent giant - and there their adventure begins
'After a lengthy search': Steven Spielberg said he has found a remarkable talent in his little star, adding: 'I feel Roald Dahl himself would have found Ruby every bit as marvelous as we do'
The BFG: Mark Rylance (pictured 2011) has already been cast as The Big Friendly Giant
The BFG, which was published in 1982 and was the author's personal favourite, tells the story of a London orphan named Sophie and a kindly giant.
Aided by the Queen Of England, the pair embark on a journey Giant Country where they try to capture the bad giants who have been terrorising the human world.
Mark Rylance (The Other Boleyn Girl, Blitz) has already been cast as The Big Friendly Giant.
Spielberg should start production in early 2015 with a slated US release of July 1, 2016 and a UK bow on July 22, 2016.
Breakout roles: Drew Barrymore and Henry Thomas became overnight superstars thanks to Spielberg's 1982 film ET: The Extra Terrestrial about a family who tries to help a stranded alien return home
Stars of a classic: The now grown stars of ET gather to celebrate the film's anniversaries as they did here in Los Angeles in 2002
Most watched News videos
- Scottish woman has temper tantrum at Nashville airport
- Tesla Cybertruck explodes in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas
- Mass panic as New Orleans attacker flies down Bourbon street
- Shocking moment zookeeper is fatally mauled by lions in private zoo
- Horrific video shows aftermath of New Orleans truck 'attack'
- Meghan Markle celebrates new year in first Instagram video
- Tesla Cybertruck burns outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas
- See how truck that drove into crowd made it through police barrier
- Cheerful Melania Trump bops to YMCA at Mar-a-Lago NYE bash
- New Orleans terror attack suspect reveals background in video
- Plane passenger throws drink at flight attendant in boozy fight
- Horrifying moment yacht crashes into rocks and sinks off Mexico coast
