Alisha Weir and Tim Minchin arrive for the world premiere of Roald Dahl’s Matilda at the BFI Southbank in London during the BFI London Film Festival (Ian West/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Two of the stars of Matilda said their own childhood experiences inspired them to join the cast as it premiered on the opening night of the London Film Festival.
The film is based on the hit musical version of Roald Dahl’s best-selling children’s book which has played to sell-out audiences in the West End.
Bond star Lashana Lynch, who plays kindly teacher Miss Honey, said: “Miss Honey was my childhood hero; I had my own Miss Honey also and she is just such an incredible character.”
Comedian Sindhu Vee, who plays the librarian Mrs Phelps, said: “I love the story, I love the book, I’ve seen the musical eight times because I have three kids, and I love the idea of being the librarian because there was a librarian in my life who let me read books instead of walk the playground and get bullied.
“I had a terrible stammer as a child and I was the only non-Caucasian child. It speaks to me very, very closely.”
The film, which is released in November, is directed by Old Vic chief Matthew Warchus and stars Dame Emma Thompson as bullish Miss Trunchbull while Stephen Graham and Andrea Riseborough play the trashy, money-obsessed Mr and Mrs Wormwood.
The film’s 13-year-old star Alisha Weir, who takes the title role, said she learned on set by “watching everything” her more established co-stars did. She admitted she burst into “happy and grateful” tears when she was told she had got the part.
She said: “I have always loved Matilda, it has just always been one of my favourites. I just can’t believe it, I don’t know when it will sink in but it’s mad to think that I’m Matilda.”
The festival, that opened with the premiere on Wednesday, will close with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery starring Daniel Craig. Other films on show include the world premiere of Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio starring Ewan McGregor and the European premiere of Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light, with a cast led by Olivia Colman and Colin Firth.
