Sophie Wilde

Sophie Wilde
Wilde at the 2024 Venice Film Festival
Born (1998-02-22) 22 February 1998 (age 26)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Alma materNational Institute of Dramatic Art (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active2020–present

Sophie Wilde (born 22 February 1998) is an Australian actress. She gained early attention for her roles in the Stan series Eden and the BBC One drama You Don't Know Me (both 2021). Her performance in the horror film Talk to Me (2022) brought her further recognition, winning the AACTA Award for Best Actress. She also received a nomination for the BAFTA Rising Star Award and was honoured with the Trophée Chopard.

Her other films include The Portable Door (2023) and Babygirl (2024). On television, she starred in the ITV period drama Tom Jones, and the Netflix series Everything Now (both 2023) and Boy Swallows Universe (2024). For the latter, Wilde received a Logie Award.

Early life and education

Wilde was born around 1998[1][2] to an Ivorian mother, Monalisa, and an Australian father, Simon.[3] She has a younger brother and grew up in Enmore, an Inner West suburb of Sydney.[4]

As a child, Wilde's grandparents would take her to "theatre shows, the opera and random musicals". From the age of five, she took drama classes at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP).[5]

She attended Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.[6] After finishing school, she studied acting at NIDA, graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting.[7]

In 2014, during a trip to the Himalayas, Wilde, then 17 years old, and her father were reported missing following the 2014 Nepal snowstorm disaster. After nine days, Wilde's father contacted her mother to tell her they were fine, having travelled to a remote area of the Himalayas when the avalanche hit.[6]

Career

In 2020, Wilde played Ophelia in the Bell Shakespeare production of Hamlet.[8] That same year, she was named a Rising Star by the Casting Guild of Australia.[9]

In 2021, Wilde made her television debut as Scout in the Stan drama series Eden. Wilde said that it was the "first audition where she had gut-certainty that it was the right role".[10][4] Later that year, she starred as Kyra opposite Samuel Adewunmi in the BBC four-part series You Don't Know Me. To prepare for the role, Wilde practised her English accent by watching and listening to British actresses such as Michaela Coel.[10]

Wilde made her feature film debut in the supernatural horror film Talk to Me, which screened at the 2022 Adelaide Film Festival and the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.[11] She earned critical praise for her performance. Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times wrote that the film "owes much of its potency to Sophie Wilde's continually evolving lead performance".[12] Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times said that "...even when Talk to Me flirts with incoherence, Wilde pulls it back from the brink. More than just a great scream queen, she makes vivid sense of Mia's ravaged emotions, revealing her to be a captive less to the spirit realm than to her own inconsolable grief."[13] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter said that "...talented newcomer Wilde does the heaviest dramatic lifting."[14] For her performance, she won the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role[15] and was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress,[16][17] among other accolades.

In August 2022, Wilde was cast in the lead role of Mia Polanco in the Netflix series Everything Now, which was released in 2023.[18][19] In 2023, Wilde starred as Sophie Western in the ITV period drama Tom Jones alongside Solly McLeod and Hannah Waddingham,[20][21] and in the fantasy film The Portable Door with Christoph Waltz.[22][23]

In 2024, Wilde was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award.[24] Also in 2024, she played reporter Caitlyn Spies in the Australian Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe.[25][26] She will next star in the upcoming erotic thriller film Babygirl[27][28] and in a live-action film adaptation of the video game Watch Dogs alongside Tom Blyth directed by Mathieu Turi.[29][30][31]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Bird Short film
2022 Talk to Me Mia
2023 The Portable Door Sophie Pettingel
2024 Babygirl Esme
TBA Watch Dogs TBA Post-production[32]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2021 Eden Scout Main role
You Don't Know Me Kyra Miniseries; 4 episodes
2023 Tom Jones Sophia Western Miniseries; 4 episodes
Everything Now Mia Polanco Main role
2024 Boy Swallows Universe Caitlyn Spies Main role

Stage

Year Title Role Notes
2020 Hamlet Ophelia Bell Shakespeare[8]

Music video

  • "River of Neglect" (2019), Charbel

Accolades

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2020 Casting Guild of Australia Rising Star Herself Won [9]
2024 AACTA Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Talk to Me Won [16]
Black Reel Awards Outstanding Lead Performance Nominated [33]
British Academy Film Awards Rising Star Herself Nominated [24]
Cannes Film Festival Trophée Chopard — Honored [34]
Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress Talk to Me Nominated [17]
Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Horror Movie Won [35]
Logie Awards Best Supporting Actress Boy Swallows Universe Won

References

  1. ^ "Meet the breakout star of A24's latest cult horror film". British Vogue. 5 August 2023. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Sophie Wilde on her meteoric rise: "I most certainly am winging it"". Marie Claire. 13 October 2021. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  3. ^ Clark, Rebekah. "Wilde about Sophie and Jan Logan". Grazia. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kembrey, Melanie (15 May 2021). "'It was very much a surprise': Rising star Sophie Wilde on making her big break". The Age. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  5. ^ Thompson, Courtney (13 October 2021). "Sophie Wilde Is Australia's Next Great Scene Stealer". Marie Claire Australia. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022. Watching actor Sophie Wilde, 23...
  6. ^ a b Levy, Megan (23 October 2014). "'We're alive': Sydney father and daughter missing after Nepal blizzard phone home". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Sophie Wilde". National Institute of Dramatic Art. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Cast". Bell Shakespeare: Hamlet 2020. p. 25. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  9. ^ a b "CGA names 2020 Rising Stars". IF Magazine. 16 November 2020. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  10. ^ a b McEvoy, Sophie (5 December 2021). "Sophie Wilde Perfected Her British Accent By Watching Michaela Coel". Bustle. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  11. ^ Kroll, Justin (24 January 2023). "'Talk To Me' Directing Duo Danny & Michael Philippou Sign With WME Following Film's Midnight Premiere At Sundance". Deadline. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  12. ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (27 July 2023). "'Talk to Me' Review: Letting the Wrong One In". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  13. ^ Chang, Justin (27 July 2023). "Review: You have to hand it to 'Talk to Me,' a gripping thriller about love and loss". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  14. ^ Rooney, David (21 February 2023). "'Talk to Me' Review: Mingling With the Spirit World Brings Bone-Chilling Shocks in Australian Horror Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  15. ^ Murphy, J. Kim (10 February 2024). "'Talk to Me' Leads Australian Academy Awards, Including Wins for Best Picture, Director and Actress: Full List". Variety. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  16. ^ a b Story, Hannah (8 December 2023). "Talk to Me, The New Boy and The Newsreader lead AACTA Award nominations". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  17. ^ a b Hipes, Patrick (6 December 2023). "'Avatar: The Way of Water', 'Oppenheimer', 'Star Trek' Series Lead Nominations for Genre-Focused Saturn Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  18. ^ Goldbart, Max (4 August 2022). "Stephen Fry Boards Netflix's 'The F**k It Bucket' From 'The Crown' Producer Left Bank; 'You Don't Know Me' Breakout Sophie Wilde To Lead". Deadline. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  19. ^ Staff, Wonderland (13 March 2023). "Lauryn Ajufo Talks Luther: The Fallen Sun And More". Wonderland. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  20. ^ "New 'Tom Jones' Footage Spotlights Solly McLeod and Sophie Wilde's Sizzling Chemistry". Collider. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  21. ^ Grater, Tom (9 September 2022). "Solly McLeod & Sophie Wilde Starring In 'Tom Jones' Reimagining For Masterpiece, Mammoth Screen & ITV". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2 October 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Queensland creatives team with The Jim Henson Company on Fantasy Adaptation The Portable Door". Screen Queensland. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Christoph Waltz and Sam Neill to Star in Film Adaptation of Patrick Holt's 'The Portable Door'". Collider. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Bafta nominations 2024: The full list of film contenders". 18 January 2024. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  25. ^ Sangster, Ella (27 November 2023). "Watch the official trailer for the 'Boy Swallows Universe' series". Harper's Bazaar Australia. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  26. ^ Whittock, Jesse (31 August 2022). "Netflix's 'Boy Swallows Universe': Travis Fimmel, Simon Baker & Phoebe Tonkin To Front Aussie Drama From Brouhaha Entertainment, Anonymous Content & Chapter One". Deadline. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  27. ^ Wiseman, Matt Grobar,Andreas; Grobar, Matt; Wiseman, Andreas (21 November 2023). "A24 Confirms Cast For Halina Reijn's Erotic Thriller 'Babygirl': Nicole Kidman, Antonio Banderas, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde And Jean Reno Aboard". Deadline. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Kit, Borys (21 November 2023). "Nicole Kidman, Antonio Banderas, Harris Dickinson to Star in A24 Erotic Thriller 'Babygirl'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  29. ^ Kroll, Justin (8 March 2024). "'Watch Dogs' Movie In The Works At New Regency With 'Talk To Me' Breakout Sophie Wilde Starring". Deadline. Archived from the original on 8 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  30. ^ "Hunger Games star Tom Blyth's new movie gets exciting update". Digital Spy. 4 July 2024. Archived from the original on 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  31. ^ Kroll, Justin (5 June 2024). "'Hunger Games' Star Tom Blyth Joins Sophie Wilde In New Regency's 'Watch Dogs' Adaptation". Deadline. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  32. ^ "Watch Dogs Movie Starts Production This Summer". news.ubisoft.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  33. ^ Complex, Valerie (15 December 2023). "Black Reel Awards Nominations: 'The Color Purple' And 'Rustin' Dominate". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  34. ^ Gardner, Chris (10 May 2024). "Sophie Wilde, Mike Faist to Be Honored By Chopard During Cannes Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  35. ^ "Nominations announced for the Critics Choice Association's 4th Annual "Critics Choice Super Awards" honoring Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Horror, and Action Movies and Series". Critics Choice Association. 7 March 2024. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.