Chronicles of Narnia's cast now - from politics to Hollywood

Irish Daily Mirror

16-05-2025

This year marks the 75th anniversary of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the inaugural book in C.S. Lewis' cherished Chronicles of Narnia series. Since its debut in 1950, the series has captivated generations of readers with its blend of fantasy, wartime fortitude, and spiritual allegory.
The film trilogy from 2005 to 2010 brought this world to life for a new generation, combining pioneering visual effects with heartening performances from a largely unknown cast at the time. Many of the stars have since forged varied careers both on and off the screen - some venturing into Hollywood, others into politics and academia.
Here's a look at what happened to the stars who made Narnia so magical:
In her first acting role, Georgie portrayed Lucy, the youngest of the four siblings and the one who initiates their entire journey after accidentally discovering the world of Narnia through the wardrobe, reports the Daily Record. She played Lucy from ages 10 to 15, earning acting awards and critical praise for her performance.
Concurrently, she had a minor role as the younger version of the title character in BBC's Jane Eyre. Following her success in Narnia, Georgie took on lead roles in Perfect Sisters (2014) - a crime drama about two Canadian girls who murder their mother - and The Sisterhood of Night (2015) - a teenage mystery thriller.
She pursued English studies at the University of Cambridge, where she was involved in several plays and even dabbled in directing a short film. Since 2018, Georgie has had sporadic roles on TV and documentary films.
She currently lives in London and identifies as queer.
The most controversial of the four siblings - who traded his family's loyalty for some Turkish delight - hasn't shown much enthusiasm in maintaining his acting career since the series concluded, despite numerous award nominations and media acclaim.
Instead, his academic achievements are quite remarkable. His lineage already suggested such aspirations: he's the great-great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, the great-nephew of economist John Maynard Keynes, and part of a family tree brimming with Cambridge professors and Middle Eastern historians.
On his mother's side, he is of Lebanese heritage and the grandson of writer and diplomat Cecil Hourani. He achieved a Double First in Middle Eastern Studies at Pembroke College, Cambridge, specialising in Arabic and Persian.
His dissertation compared the teaching of history in Iran and Saudi Arabia, and he spent a year living in Beirut to perfect his colloquial Arabic. From 2015 to 2018, he served as a parliamentary adviser in the UK House of Commons, accompanying MPs on diplomatic visits across the Middle East and North Africa.
Today, he is a political consultant and remains deeply involved in Middle Eastern policy. In his leisure time, Skandar enjoys playing the guitar, flute and cornet, running marathons, engaging in extreme sports, and supporting conservation projects globally.
Anna Popplewell played Susan Pevensie, the second eldest sibling known for her logical thinking and maturity - characteristics that often conflicted with the magic and wonder of Narnia. Her performance across three films garnered her a dedicated fan base and a nomination for a Young Artist Award.
At the time of her Narnia casting, Anna had already gained experience in period dramas, including Girl with a Pearl Earring and Love in a Cold Climate. Post-Narnia, Anna featured in the war romance Me and Orson Welles (2008) and starred as Lady Lola in the CW's Reign from 2013 to 2016 - a role that marked her transition into more mature, politically driven narratives.
She has also lent her voice to characters in video games and audio dramas, most recently appearing in The Left Right Game and Amazon's The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne. Beyond acting, Anna studied English Literature at Oxford's Magdalen College and has spoken publicly about the challenge of balancing academic life with a childhood spent on film sets.
Although she is more selective with her on-screen roles these days, she continues to act on stage and in independent productions.
Since taking on the role of Peter, the eldest Pevensie sibling, William has carved out a successful career in both film and television. During his time in Narnia, he bagged acting awards in the UK and across the globe for his portrayal of Peter, but that wasn't the end of his achievements.
William landed roles in the action-packed thriller Run (2013), the adventure drama The Silent Mountain (2014) - where he was struck by lightning, leaving him with a scar on his arm - and the Hindi-language coming-of-age film Margarita with a Straw (2015). His second major role was in the E! Original series The Royals as Prince Liam, which he likened to "like (if) Prince Harry was thrown into being the next King of England. He basically is sort of a rebel.."
Following this, he appeared in the chilling Friend Request (2016), the eerie My Sweet Audrina (2016), the dystopian The Veil (2017), among other successful ventures. Additionally, William starred in a music video for The Living Tombstone's 'Long Time Friends', and was romantically involved with Kelsey Asbille, whom he met on the set of Run, from 2012 until 2018.
His latest appearance was in the supernatural horror flick Home Sweet Home Rebirth (2025), inspired by the 2017 Thai video game bearing the same title.
In the role that endeared him to a younger audience, James McAvoy portrayed the faun Mr. Tumnus - Lucy Pevensie's initial friend in Narnia. Although already recognised in the UK for his television roles in Shameless and State of Play, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) marked McAvoy's first significant Hollywood outing.
James two years later, he catapulted into international fame with his BAFTA-nominated performance in Atonement (2007), followed by the action-packed thriller Wanted (2008) and the memorable portrayal of young Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men prequels, which he embodied from 2011 to 2019. Whether on screen or stage, James has consistently opted for unpredictable and demanding roles - such as his lauded solo stage act in Cyrano de Bergerac (2019–2022) or his spine-chilling dual role in M. Night Shyamalan's Split (2016) and Glass (2019).
He has been nominated for numerous BAFTAs and Olivier Awards, and is widely regarded as one of the UK's most esteemed actors. Away from the limelight, James has discreetly supported children's charities in both Scotland and Africa and currently resides in London with his wife, production assistant Lisa Liberati.
Already a captivating enigma in British cinema, Tilda Swinton brought a chilling threat to her portrayal of the antagonist Jadis, the White Witch of Narnia. Tilda's career took off with experimental films and collaborations with Derek Jarman, before she gained international recognition for roles in Orlando (1992), The Deep End (2001), and The Chronicles of Narnia.
In 2008, she bagged an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Michael Clayton, and has since carved a niche for herself by opting for ambitious, art-house projects like We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011), Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), and numerous collaborations with Wes Anderson. A virtuoso of transformation, Tilda has embodied characters of various ages, genders and species, often blurring the boundaries between performance and performance art.
She's also been outspoken about her Scottish roots, her unconventional approach to gender, and her commitment to experimental cinema. She now resides in the Highlands of Scotland and works worldwide on films that span from indie projects to Marvel blockbusters like Doctor Strange (2016).
Entrusted with voicing one of the most iconic characters in children's literature, Liam Neeson took on the role of Aslan, the noble lion and spiritual guide of Narnia. Prior to Narnia, Liam had already become a familiar name owing to Oscar-nominated roles in Schindler's List (1993), Michael Collins (1996), and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999).
After his stint with Aslan, he enjoyed an unexpected resurgence as an action hero in the Taken trilogy (2008–2014), which reshaped his career and public persona. He continued to feature in a host of thrillers, from The Grey (2011) to Non-Stop (2014), whilst also taking on character-centric dramas and lending his voice to animated films like The Lego Movie.
Hailing from Northern Ireland, he has openly discussed his Catholic upbringing, the tragic loss of his wife Natasha Richardson in 2009, and his enduring commitment to human rights.