Anna Popplewell

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0691600/

I think that every Christian child grows up with the required reading being the Bible and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was made into a major motion picture in 2005. I remember watching the BBC version that had been done back in the 80’s that mixed live action and animation. It was spectacular though to see the book made into a film for the big screen.

Anna Popplwell is the third in a row of young girls on this blog that took on major film roles that were destined to get a lot of attention. She is the second in a row who played a character that was based on a literary character. But Hermione was a new character so the film was in the same generation as those who read it. Susan was created in 1950 by C. S. Lewis and the Narnia series has thrilled a few generations of fans. I thought Anna did a good job breathing life into Susan since Lewis left a lot of room for imagination in the details of the characters. Although I like the first film better, I think you see a real improvement in her acting for the second film. I really like the scene where Peter and Caspian have just failed when tested by the idea of bring back the White Witch in order to help defeat their enemies that seem poised to overpower them until Edmond steps up and takes their choice away. The level of disappointment in her eyes and face is a living, breathing thing and she communicates it so effectively. (BTW, although it was never there in the book, the star-crossed lover thing she has going on with Prince Caspian was cute.) I also think they cameoed her into the third film extremely well and she looked stunning.

One last thing is from the ‘She’s one of us’ file which is that apparently Anna is a member of the Anglican church in England which considering the Christian leanings of Narnia’s author just seems fitting.