Sophia Lillis

Sophia Lillis was born on February 13, 2002, in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Her acting career began at the age of seven, encouraged by her stepfather to attend classes at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Manhattan. A teacher at the institute recommended her for a role in an NYU student film, which led to her signing with an agent and pursuing professional acting opportunities. Lillis initially appeared in short films and made her feature film debut in “37” in 2016. Her early career also included a minor role in Julie Taymor’s stage production of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which was filmed for live showings. In 2012, she made a brief appearance as herself in an episode of “The Real Housewives of New York City.”

Lillis gained significant recognition for her breakthrough role as Beverly Marsh in the horror film “It” (2017), an adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. This performance, along with her reprisal of the role in “It: Chapter Two” (2019), showcased her talent in complex roles. Her career progression continued with diverse projects, including the HBO psychological thriller miniseries “Sharp Objects” (2018), where she portrayed a young Camille Preaker. In 2019, she took on the lead role of Nancy Drew in “Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase,” earning praise for her performance. The subsequent year, 2020, was particularly active for Lillis, as she starred as Gretel in “Gretel & Hansel,” played the lead character Sydney Novak in the Netflix original series “I Am Not Okay with This” across seven episodes, and appeared in the independent film “Uncle Frank” alongside Paul Bettany.

Her career further diversified with roles in Wes Anderson’s ensemble film “Asteroid City” (2023) and the fantasy adventure “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” (2023), playing Doric. Lillis continues to take on new challenges, including a role in the upcoming action film “Trap House” and a video game titled “OD.” Her consistent work across various genres demonstrates her commitment to her craft and her evolving presence in the entertainment industry.