Newcomer Nabs the Lead in the Film Adaptation of ‘The BFG’

Ruby Barnhill to Star in The BFG for Steven Spielberg
Ruby Barnhill (Photo by Paul Worpole)

Director Steven Spielberg has found the young actress who’ll lead the cast of The BFG set up at DreamWorks Studios. Spielberg has tapped newcomer Ruby Barnhill to play Sophie in the big screen adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl story published in 1982.

Barnhill will play the central character, a young girl who is introduced to the “beauty and peril of Giant Country” by a big friendly giant. Mark Rylance is set to play the giant who befriends Sophie and takes her on a fantastic adventure.

“I feel incredibly lucky and I’m so happy,” said Ruby Barnhill. “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 marvelous as we do,” stated Spielberg. “We have discovered a wonderful Sophie in Ruby Barnhill.”

“The character of Sophie is one of the most endearing young heroes in Roald Dahl’s stories,” added Roald Dahl’s grandson Luke Kelly. “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.”


Melissa Mathison adapted the book for the screen and Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Sam Mercer are producing The BFG. Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden and Michael Siegel are on board as executive producers.

Filming’s expected to get underway early next year, with the Walt Disney Company setting a July 1, 2016 theatrical release date.

Details on Ruby Barnhill, courtesy of DreamWorks: “The BFG will be 10-year-old Ruby Barnhill’s first feature film role. She has been acting for two years and will appear in the upcoming BBC BAFTA award-winning children’s drama Four O’Clock Club. Ruby lives in Cheshire with her parents, younger sister and Tom the cat and is a member of her local youth theatre.”

-By Rebecca Murray

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