What are some of your stand-out memories from starring as Celia Gray in Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang at the start of your screen career?

One of the most stand-out parts of playing Celia Gray was just how overwhelming (in the best way) the job was. It took over my whole life for six months. I was taken out of school to shoot the film, which felt absolutely surreal at 12 years old. I had my own trailer, was put up in a hotel for the duration, and even got flown to America for press tours and the premiere – it was a complete dream. That whole experience introduced me to the world of screen acting in the most magical, larger-than-life way.

 
What was Celia like to play and how was it filming with Emma Thompson and the rest of the cast?

Celia, as a character, is still so close to my heart. She comes across spoilt and bossy, but she has a heart of gold, and her journey throughout the film is so moving. She was given everything in life – except the one thing she really craved: love and attention from her parents. She missed them deeply, and I remember feeling that so strongly while filming. Even now, thinking about how much she just wanted her mum still breaks my heart. I adored playing her – she was brave, vulnerable, and full of fire. I think she’ll always stay with me.

Working with Emma Thompson was incredible – she’s an absolute powerhouse of a woman. What made her so special was how much she championed us kids. She constantly asked, “Would you say that?” when we were rehearsing lines, and would help us rework things so they felt natural and authentic to us. She encouraged us to play and explore in the best way. And her laugh was huge and infectious. You felt so proud if you managed to make her laugh on set. She’s beautiful inside and out, and I feel unbelievably grateful that she supported me and believed in me at such a young age. Her presence and guidance have stuck with me throughout my whole career.

How did you get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do?

I got into acting at a very young age when I was cast in Nanny McPhee. I was always an extroverted kid who loved chatting and getting to know people as well as possible. I still love making friends and connecting with everyone, and I think that naturally makes you an actor – acting is all about discovering the character, understanding who they are, and how they would react in different situations. For me, it’s about knowing when they would pause, why they would pause, and who they would show that vulnerability to.

My parents were never pushy about acting; they just introduced me to different clubs and took me to various lessons, and acting was the one that stuck. In one of my first lessons, an agent came to watch people perform, and everything took off from there. I’ve always seen acting as a career rather than a hobby, and I’m all about working hard and giving it my all in this job.