Newcomer Ruby Barnhill to Lead Steven Spielberg's 'The BFG'

Casting child actors in their first movie role doesn't always work out for the best, in fact it fails more often than not. Sure, every now and then you get a Quvenzhane Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild or Tatum O'Neal in Paper Moon but those times are rare. What you normally get are kids mugging for the camera in an effort to be cute as a button. Steven Spielberg, who has some experience pulling good performances from young stars, is taking this gamble once again with his adaptation of The BFG.

Spielberg has cast newcomer Ruby Barnhill to play Sophie, the young girl who befriends a"Big Friendly Giant" in the film based on Roald Dahl's book. This will be 10-year-old Barnhill's first film role, although she has some experience working on the stage and small screen. She joins Mark Rylance who plays the benevolent giant and helps capture evil, man-eating giants terrorizing London.

The BFG opens July 1st 2016.