North London Collegiate School

(b. 1988, North London Collegiate School 2000 -2007)

“It was bizarre”, says Anna.” Today I had a normal day at school, then I went to Armani couture and spent three hours looking for a dress to wear to the premiere, then I went home to do my essays”.[1]

The school to which Popplewell refers is our very own, during the year in which she finished the infamous, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the film in which she plays one of the lead roles, as Susan Pevensie, and for which she was nominated for several awards.

It is clear that she was shocked by her busy schedule as a young actress, and although she suggests that it was rather hectic, she dealt with it with maturity and organisation, sitting her GCSEs in April after filming had finally ended.

This former Senior Student (2006-2007) has many aspirations, which began quite a while before she was chosen for the part as Susan Pevensie. She has been acting since the age of six, and played film roles in Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Little Vampire and Mansfield Park. Whilst at North London Collegiate School, she played lacrosse and learned sign language, hoping to use her drama to work with deaf children in the future.

Whatever rewards her talents have brought her, and however much fame and attention she receives, it is clear that she will always stay true to her roots, as she recognised at the Première of the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: “It’s really nice to bring the film home for us British actors and to be with the home crowd”. Having conquered the hearts and minds of many children and parents, as seen by her presence on the Peter Pan Award Panel, she serves as an inspiration to others. She has chased after her dreams, but never at the price of her education, and is living proof of her philosophy: “You get what you give”.

From North London Collegiate, Anna won a place at Magdalen College, Oxford, to read English. She has gone on to star in the Oxford University Dramatic Society.

Written & researched by Praveena Sivakumaran (Sixth Form History student)

[1] Sunday Telegraph, 2005