Georgie Henley on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Georgie Henley has spent more than half her young life involved in the Chronicles of Narnia films. She was just seven when she auditioned for the role of Lucy Pevensie; now, having completed the third Narnia movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, she's a rather articulate 15. The Britsh actor spoke to Time Out from London.

You'd read the CS Lewis series before shooting the first film. What'd you think of this one, Voyage of the Dawn Treader?
It's my favorite in the series. I love the episodic nature of it.

Are you into fantasy novels in general?
I used to be completely into fantasy novels; they were all I read. Now I like the classics, like To Kill a Mockingbird, also modern-day books like Junk. I just started reading a Nick Hornby book, which is about suicide [A Long Way Down], but it's quite interesting actually. [Laughs] When you're my age, you have to read the right balance between adult books which aren't too adult and children's books which aren't too young.

The Narnia books and films have been a lightning rod for debates about Christianity.
I think you can see Christianity in any story, any film. It just depends on your personal beliefs and your faith and whether you're looking for it or not. I think the books are actually more tailored to Christians than the films.

Has doing publicity taken some getting used to?
I enjoy publicity because I don't really get to talk about the film much with my friends at all. We have more important things to talk about. [Laughs]

More important than starring in a Hollywood movie?
We're much more concerned about our coursework than my past experiences.

What do people in your hometown of Ilkley, England, say about your film success?
I've always made it a rule that I wouldn't do local publicity, so it's always been very removed from Ilkley. If my two lives came together, it wouldn't be too great, I don't think.

Do you also act in school?
I used to do a drama group out of school.

But not anymore?
It's difficult because people kind of see me as more of a threat now. It's difficult to do drama with people who don't really trust you. I think they felt like I was, um - I can't really describe it.

Like you're the big movie star.
Yeah, a little bit like that, and that's not really my mind-set, but it was their mind-set.

Do you ever visit your fan sites: Perfectly Georgie, Gorgeous Georgie, Simply Georgie?
I don't because I don't think it's healthy to hear people being either really nasty about you or being really nice about you.


The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader screens from Thu 2 Dec.