At first I hardly recognise the elegant little Venus in jeans, with opulent Scarlett Johansson lips. It’s abundantly obvious that Anna Popplewell has done a lot of growing up since she made her name as bossy schoolgirl Susan, one of the four Pevensie children who discover the magic kingdom of Narnia in the Disney film adaptation of C S Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. As Anna puts it, ‘I was 13 when I had my first audition for Susan; 15 when I made the first movie; 16 at the end of the shoot; 17 when it was released; 18 when I filmed the sequel, Prince Caspian, and now I’m 19.’

The comparisons with 18-year-old Emma Watson, who plays Hermione in the Harry Potter films, are irresistible. Both are bright and talented, and both have had to live their adolescence in the glare of the spotlight as the iconic screen heroines of two of the most famous children’s fantasy adventures in the world. Anna’s second Narnian outing, in Prince Caspian, gives Susan a startling change of image as a warlike queen in titanium chain mail and a leather corset. ‘I have a lot more action going on in this movie, which is great,’ she says, delighted to find herself armed with a quiver of arrows, the only female on the battlefield as she helps the disinherited Prince Caspian to regain his Narnian throne. ‘I was quite worried about not being able to keep up with the boys,’ she admits, ‘so, on the quiet, I had twice as many riding lessons as anyone else before we went out to film in Prague. When the battle scene was being choreographed, we started a body count of all the people we had “slain” and I was doing very well,’ she adds with a grin.

As an actress, you can’t hope for a more high-profile film role than an action heroine. And despite having to fit A-level revision into breaks between takes, during 12-hour days in the 40C heat of a Czech summer, Anna enjoyed every perspiring minute of the adrenalin rush. ‘At least I didn’t have to run up and down hills wearing a suit of armour, like the boys,’ she points out. ‘There were 500 people on the battlefield one day and it was so hot and crazy that there were some injuries – but nothing too bad.’

The filming proved to be a particularly poignant time for Anna, because Prince Caspian will mark her swan song as Susan; as all devotees of C S Lewis’s seven chronicles of Narnia know, Susan only appears in two of the novels. Another book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, is currently in preproduction, but the two eldest children, Peter and Susan, won’t appear in it, for at the end of Prince Caspian they are told by the lion Aslan that they won’t be coming back to the magic kingdom of Narnia because they are too old. And although Peter makes an appearance in the final Narnia book, The Last Battle, by then Susan is no longer a friend of Narnia because ‘she’s interested in nothing except nylons and lipstick and invitations’.

Mention of the line that left readers in no doubt what Lewis thought of frivolous girls provokes a giggle from this blue-eyed, brown-haired teenager in her hoop earrings and black, high-heeled boots. ‘I’m not totally “nylons and lipstick” orientated like Susan,’ she protests playfully. We’ve met in London’s Soho at her first grown-up fashion shoot, to celebrate her transition from child star to full-time student, and in fact she couldn’t look more contented and happy with what seems to me like a new-found freedom. Her departure from the Narnia series was a genuine case of life imitating art – since Anna, like the fictional Susan, was developing other interests anyway and felt ready for a change (she went to Oxford University to study English two months after finishing the filming). But she admits she will ‘miss the people and the buzz of being on a massive film’, adding, ‘It was quite a bitter-sweet thing to film Susan and Peter’s departure because it was quite true to life. I think it’s sad, but it’s also realistic for Susan at that stage in her life to go back into the real world and forget about Narnia,’ she says.

Read the rest at Daily Mail!

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MovieWeb has posted no fewer than 18 video clips of interviews with cast and crew members. Here you’ll find two of those clips embedded. Be sure to visit MovieWeb for the rest. You’ll find them under “Interviews.”

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We were there as well, but you’ll have to wait for our full report. In the meantime, here are some clips from their vantage point along the red carpet:

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Be on hand for an event promoting The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, on Monday, May 5th at 7:00pm at Barnes & Noble in Union Square. Andrew Adamson, director and co-writer, will read from C. S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian, followed by a panel discussion with Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian), William Moseley, (Peter Pevensie), Anna Popplewell (Susan Pevensie), and Georgie Henley (Lucy Pevensie), audience question and answer session, and signing.

This is a great opportunity for Narnia fans to participate in all the excitement surrounding the theatrical premiere!!

When:
Monday, May 5th, 7:00pm

Where:
Barnes & Noble
Union Square
33 East 17th Street
New York, NY 10003

Who: Andrew Adamson, Ben Barnes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Georgie Henley

What: Reading from C. S. Lewis’ Prince Caspian, panel discussion with the members of the cast and crew of “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” audience question and answer session, and signing.

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As the release of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian draws ever nearer, Rotten Tomatoes has been inviting members of the cast and crew to give readers a glimpse into the new film. A few weeks ago Caspian himself, Ben Barnes, had some words. Today Anna Popplewell and William Moseley, explain why Susan’s and Peter’s [MAJOR SPOILERS - Do NOT proceed unless you've read the books] last journey into Narnia shouldn’t be missed…

ANNA POPPLEWELL

I suppose I should be used to it by now, but the scale has upped itself pretty-much proportionately going into this film. It’s still a huge deal. Having another fantasy race of people in the Telmarines, meant that we had hundreds and hundreds of extras playing soldiers on set. That meant bigger cameras and bigger departments and it just meant that everything was upped in terms of the scale.

In the first movie, Susan took on a very motherly role because the children had been evacuated – she feels very responsible for her siblings. In this film, as before, Peter takes charge quite a lot and I think although Susan, being quite a bossy person, would love to take charge if she had the opportunity, she has to put up with some of Peter’s not-so-wise decisions.

I think one of the major developments in this film is the fact that Peter and Susan are told at the end of the movie that they’re not coming back to Narnia. That’s obviously a really big deal and is a mark of the fact that they’ve grown up and learnt a lot. It was a weird and bittersweet moment when we filmed that scene with Aslan because it was pretty-much at the end of filming. It really drove it home! I think there’s a scene in Dawn Treader in which Lucy talks about Susan and they could do a flashback, but I’ve not been talking to them about it at all and I’m not attached to it yet. I think Will and I are going to do a planned visit and storm in and hijack the whole thing! Rewrite it!

WILLIAM MOSELEY

The first film was a children’s Narnia. This film is going to be an adult Narnia, and I say that with every implication, as in we’re fighting adults this time, we’re not fighting mythical creatures anymore. Even Tilda Swinton as an actress is definitely a mythical creature! We’ve got a whole army of humans to fight this time. Narnia’s changed. It’s 1300 years later, it’s not pastoral anymore, or idyllic. It’s dark and nasty and all the creatures we once knew, who roamed the land freely, have been pushed into the forest and the woods and forced to live this closed lifestyle.

Read the rest at Rotten Tomatoes

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Weekly Reader has posted the questions and answers of fan-produced questions for Anna Popplewell, the actress who portrayed Susan Pevensie in the Chronicles of Narnia films.

1. While filming Prince Caspian, did you have that sense of returning “home” much like your character does in the story?
—Le-Ann, 17

Anna Popplewell: I think a movie set is a bit too crazy to feel like home. It’s a bit more like a traveling circus! It was lovely, though, to be back with lots of good friends and to see lots of familiar faces. All the good memories of making the first movie sort of carried over into this one when we started shooting.

2. Which movie was more fun to film: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or Prince Caspian?
—Regan, 10

Anna Popplewell: They were very different. I think Caspian was more difficult – I was working adult hours and I had to take some public exams right in the middle of it. There are more action scenes so it was more physically challenging too. I don’t think I enjoyed it less though—it was an incredibly dynamic set to be on. There was always something going on. They were both great, but I liked the new challenges of Caspian.

3. What is your favorite creature in The Chronicles of Narnia?
—Shawna, 13

Anna Popplewell: I used to think boggles were absolutely terrifying and compelling. I’m excited to see Puddleglum the marshwiggle, although he doesn’t feature in Caspian. Centaurs are always good—yeah, I’ll go with centaurs.

Read the rest at Weekly Reader

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SpoilerTV has been able to obtain some new exclusive promotional pictures for the new The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian movie.

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Walt Disney Pictures’ epic film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, based on C.S. Lewis’ timeless tale, comes to life through Robert Tonner’s collection of TONNER CHARACTER FIGURES™ (TCF).

The life-like figures are authorized portraits of William Moseley in the role of Peter Pevensie; Anna Popplewell in the role of Susan Pevensie; Skandar Keynes in the role of Edmund Pevensie; and Georgie Henley in the role of Lucy Pevensie.

Robert Tonner, CEO and head designer of the award-winning Tonner Company, is thrilled to re-create the magic and mystery of Narnia through his figures. “I was intrigued when I heard about the movie. When I saw it, I was convinced that I had to do it.”

This project has been one of the most painstaking endeavors for Tonner. “So much of each character is in the presentation that we didn’t want to overlook a single detail,” Tonner admits. “We drew on our strengths to accurately depict those critical elements.”

Ranging from 13″-19″ tall, each perfectly replicated Pevensie sibling comes authentically dressed. The intricate costume details range from to real buttons and lace-up shoes to custom knit sweaters. The kings and queens of Narnia also have separate coronation costumes available which include fine details such as intricately molded crowns, hand-embroidery details and luxurious fabrics.

These wardrobe adventurers are perfectly scaled and composed of fine quality hard-plastic and vinyl. Each TONNER CHARACTER FIGURE™ features hand-painted face details and 14-points of articulation for the most realistic poses.

About Tonner: Headquartered in Hurley, New York, the Tonner Doll Company, Inc. develops and markets high quality collectible dolls like Betsy McCall®, Effanbee® Dolls, and the popular Tyler Wentworth® line of dolls and fashions, as well as other licensed characters, including THE WIZARD OF OZ dolls and HARRY POTTER™ TCFs.

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The graduate of London’s Kingston University can’t believe he’s playing the main character from one of his favorite childhood tales.

“It still hasn’t sunk in,” he says. “It’s been a whirlwind.”

One minute, Barnes was doing an audition tape in London. The next, he was in L.A., charming director Andrew Adamson. A couple of weeks later, he stood on Narnia’s set in New Zealand.

Anna Popplewell, who co-stars as Susan, says Barnes might need to invest in bodyguards soon.

“He’s very gorgeous,” says the actress, 19.

Another factor worked in his favor: He’s a good fibber.

“I didn’t lie,” Barnes insists. “I just exaggerated the truth. They said, ‘Can you ride a horse?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ I did not say I understood the intricacies of genuine horsemanship.”

His Narnia adventures continue aboard a ship in 2010’s The [Voyage of The] Dawn Treader.

He knows naught about nautical matters. “If they ask, I’ll answer with a big, fat no. I have the job.”

Read more at USA Today

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Peter Dinklage has steadfastly avoided the sorts of roles that Hollywood tends to offer an adult actor who is 4-foot-5.

Santa’s elves, evil leprechauns, hobbit doubles.

So it is meaningful that he is willingly decked out like a warrior garden gnome in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the second film based on C.S. Lewis’ seven-part book series.

Not even three hours of makeup each morning could discourage Dinklage as he was transformed into Trumpkin, the doubting red dwarf who joins the fight to reclaim Narnia.

“I’m not interested in doing something not fully fleshed out,” he says of his previous avoidance of such make-believe adventures. “Often, you get the hero and the villain and not much in between. Trumpkin is in between. He is not a lovable Snow White dwarf. Audiences appreciate these cynical characters. It helps parents and adults to go along with the journey.”

As director Andrew Adamson says, “Trumpkin is a great acerbic, curmudgeonly character.” After Disney production chief Oren Aviv looked at dailies last week, “He felt Peter was the heart and soul of the film.”

You can read the rest of the article at USA Today.

Further down the article, Anna Popplewell speaks a bit, about her role in the film as well:

As a father of two daughters ages 4½ and 2, Adamson made sure that the girls weren’t off to the side during the fighting but directly involved. “Susan really kicks (butt) in this film, and Lucy gets to use her dagger,” he says. “Georgie would have complained loudly if she hadn’t.”

Popplewell proudly notes, “I shoot lots of people with my arrows. We kept a sort of death count, and I reached 14 halfway through shooting.”

Not to worry. The film is still a family-safe PG.

Anyone who has read Caspian knows SPOILERS!that Susan and Peter are told by Aslan the lion that they are too old to visit Narnia again. The Dawn Treader, due in 2010, will set sail without them.END SPOILERS!

“We shot the scene near the end of filming, and it had a ring of truth to it,” Popplewell says. “It’s bittersweet. Yet, in some ways, it feels perfect.”

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