If you’re reading this, chances are it’s because you remember the 2003 film ‘Peter Pan’, where I had the incredible opportunity to play Wendy Darling. Released two decades ago, this movie remains my most recognized professional achievement. It’s quite something to think that my peak might have been at the age of twelve.
Ever wondered how an ordinary, perhaps slightly awkward schoolgirl with absolutely no prior acting experience could land a lead role in such a significant film? Well, the answer, rather amusingly, lies in my love for sweets. My mother, upon hearing about an open casting call in Birmingham for a new Peter Pan movie, thought I fit the description – at least in terms of height and general appearance. Performing arts wasn’t really my thing, but my mum, like a clever Pied Piper, knew how to lure me: she combined the audition with the promise of a trip to Cadbury’s World.
It will be fun, she assured me. When the Peter Pan 2003 film is released, you can tell all your friends you auditioned, she continued. And there will be chocolate, lots of chocolate, she sweetened the deal.
Imagine my surprise when we ended up not in Birmingham, but on a train to London, for a closer casting session. After a series of callbacks and even a screen test in Australia, I was offered the part of Wendy Darling in the Peter Pan movie. This meant two major things: firstly, I would miss a significant chunk of Year 8 (goodbye, dreaded maths lessons), and secondly, countless trips to the dentist. The film’s producers kindly explained that while there was absolutely nothing wrong with my slightly crooked smile, for cinematic purposes, I’d need temporary veneers. Otherwise, they might have to recast the role.
So, freshly equipped with a set of sparkling white, perfectly aligned, yet comically oversized teeth, my family and I relocated to Australia’s Gold Coast. My younger brother Patrick was enrolled in a local school, and my parents took turns chaperoning me on set, navigating domestic life Down Under amidst the whirlwind of filming the Peter Pan 2003 Film.
Filming spanned nine intense months. During this time, I learned the essential skills of filmmaking: hitting my mark, memorizing lines, taking direction, enduring the gluing back of my ears with prosthetic adhesive, and even accessing emotional depths to produce genuine tears for poignant scenes. Alongside the other young actors in the Peter Pan 2003 cast, I spent countless hours suspended in mid-air in rather uncomfortable harnesses, ‘flying’ in front of a blue screen. We also received fencing lessons and attended tutoring sessions when we weren’t needed on set – though even the best Australian tutors struggled to get long division to stick in my number-averse brain.
Lunch breaks on the set of the Peter Pan movie were a surreal experience. You’d find pirates from the Peter Pan 2003 cast piling their plates high with BBQ, and mermaids spending over six hours in makeup to get their elaborate tails just right. The Lost Boys’ Green Room had a distinct foot odor, a space where kids could usually be found engrossed in Tekken or Burnout on the Playstation. It was also where I had my very first kiss with Peter Pan himself, Jeremy Sumpter, on camera, under the watchful eyes of the entire film crew.
I especially cherished the evenings when Carsen, who played Tigerlily in the Peter Pan 2003 film, and I would play in the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool until our parents called us in for bedtime. And of course, keeping up with my friends back home in England via MSN Messenger, with all the G2Gs, !!!!!1!s and teenage online chatter.
Once filming for the Peter Pan movie wrapped, off came the veneers, and it was back to my old school for the end of summer term. Everything seemed mostly unchanged, except now, as my newly acquired agent insisted, I was officially an actress.
In the years that followed the Peter Pan 2003 film, I tried to juggle my studies and teenage life with this unexpected acting career that had landed in my lap. Being cast in such a massive blockbuster at a young age profoundly shaped my life’s path – in both wonderful and challenging ways. After my time in Neverland, professional doors opened easily, I had opportunities to travel the world, attend glamorous events, and experience a taste of fame. However, as often happens with early success, things gradually became less magical, shifting from fairy dust and thimbles to something more akin to hungover nihilism. Thankfully, I’ve since found my footing as a sober, relatively stable, happily married mother of two, pursuing my dream of writing children’s books. I think Wendy Darling would approve.
Earlier this year, a new adaptation of the Peter Pan story was released. Watching it evoked a bittersweet nostalgia and a sense of pride in being a Neverland alumna. The legacy of J.M. Barrie continues, and the torch has been passed on. Ever Anderson brought a wonderfully fresh and strong portrayal to her Wendy, full of grace. I follow her on Instagram and am amazed by her model-like, couture-filled posts. When I did promotional work back in the day for the Peter Pan 2003 film, I’d show up to photoshoots in mismatched jeans and casual hoodies, feeling accomplished if I’d even brushed my messy hair.
Of the original Peter Pan 2003 cast, some of us are now parents, some are still acting, while others have moved on to different paths. One thing is certain – we have all grown up. I’m still in touch with Carsen, a true earth mother and musical force – though our pool days are over, replaced by liking each other’s Instagram posts and occasional DMs.
Looking back on my experience with the Peter Pan 2003 film, I am deeply grateful to have been part of something that resonated with so many people. Something that hopefully brought them comfort, escapism, and perhaps a touch of magic. I might even show my own children my Peter Pan one day, when they are old enough to appreciate the wonder of Neverland.
But above all, even after all these years, I’m still slightly disappointed that I never got that promised day at the Dairy Milk factory.
