The Pevensie children weren't the only ones stepping through the wardrobe into Narnia in the 2005 movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. From the comfort of our own homes, we were given the opportunity to journey with them into the wondrous winter wonderland of talking animals, despicable witches, and magical prophecies.
This was the first of two other book-to-film adaptations based on CS Lewis' classic works, and alongside Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, they became the next big thing in the world of fantasy after the Lord Of the Rings movies. Sadly, a fourth movie in the franchise never came to pass, so we never got to see the further adventures of the Pevensie children. But what about the actors who played them? What became of them?
We are going to reveal exactly what these young actors have been up to since the wardrobe doors closed on the world of Narnia for good.
Lucy - Georgie Henley
Georgie Henley was only 10-years old when she was chosen to play Lucy Pevensie in the film series.
We saw the film through her character's eyes, as Lucy was the first to enter through the wardrobe. From wide-eyed innocent to the eventual Queen Lucy the Valiant, she enthralled us all.
In real-life, Henley returned to the less fantastical world of Bradford in the UK, where she continued her schooling. She then went to Cambridge University and studied for a BA in English, and in her spare time, continued to act in smaller film projects, including the mystery-thriller Perfect Sisters and witchcraft tale The Sisterhood Of the Night.
Georgie was set to return to the world of fantasy in the now-canceled Game of Thrones prequel, which was supposed to air in 2019. The series never came to pass but Georgie has continued to work hard, both in theatre and on the occasional film. She is currently working on her first directorial project, Tide, which you can support by pledging money on Kickstarter.
Edmund - Skandar Keynes
London-born Skandar Keynes was spotted by a talent agent at the age of 14. After losing out on a role in the Emma Thompson movie Nanny McPhee, he won the role of Edmund Pevensie in the Narnia movies. His character was difficult to like at first, partly because he turned traitor after affiliating himself with the White Witch in the first of the series, but he began to show his heroic side as the franchise continued.
He became King Edward the Just in the movies and shared rulership of Narnia with his siblings. In real-life, rulership seems to be where his heart lies, as he has given up his acting career for a life in politics. After studying Middle Eastern Studies at Cambridge University, he ditched acting for his current role as a parliamentary adviser. Who knows, he may one day rule over the UK just as his character ruled over Narnia!
Susan - Anna Popplewell
Popplewell began acting at the 6 and had small roles in children's movie The Little Vampire and Scarlet Johannson period drama, Girl With a Pearl Earring. However, it was her role as bossy older sister Susan Pevensie that brought her to the attention of movie-going audiences. Winning the role at the age of 13, the series dominated her teenage years, although she did find time to get an Oxford education during the filming of the second and third movies in the series.
Anna's character in the film went on to become known as Queen Susan the Gentle, and in real-life, her most notable post-Narnia role also had links to royalty, as she played a friend to Mary, Queen of Scots in the successful drama series Reign.
Anna has had some success acting on the stage, but her film roles have gone under the radar. Interestingly, her next film role will be in the movie Fairytale which is currently in post-production, but the IMDB page suggests it will be a 'sweeping romantic story,' so don't expect another Narnia-type movie.
Peter - William Moseley
Moseley's first appearance on the screen was at the age of 11 when he appeared as an extra on the television drama series, Cider With Rosie. His agent recommended him for the part of Peter Pevensie, and 18 months after the audition, he was chosen for the role. Both noble and brave, Peter battled the might of the White Witch and became High King Peter the Magnificent. In reality, William battled type-casting and carved out a fairly successful career in film.
After playing small roles in fairly missable movies, he was able to land more interesting parts in such films as Carrie Pilby and the Erroll Flynn biopic In Like Flynn. He also played the romantic lead in the 2018 Little Mermaid remake, cameoed in the critically panned Artemis Fowl, and played his first villainous role in the 2019 action movie, The Courier. After wielding a sword in the Narnia movies, he is set to do so again in his next film project, the Michael Caine-starring Medieval.
Long May They Reign
In the words of Aslan the lion:
"To the glistening eastern sea, I give you Queen Lucy, the valiant. To the great western wood, King Edmund The Just. To the radiant southern sun, Queen Susan, the gentle, and to the clear northern sky, I give you King Peter, the magnificent. Once a king or queen of Narnia, always a king or queen, may your wisdom grace us till the stars rain down from the heavens."
And may the same be true of the young actors who played these now-famous characters.