Babygirl star Sophie Wilde's life including 'surreal' rise to fame and dodging a deadly avalanche

A24's steamy new offering, Babygirl, has hit the big screen and boasts a stellar cast which audiences may find recognisable.

Released on January 10, the much-awaited erotic thriller charts the intense romance between an influential CEO (Nicole Kidman) and her youthful intern (Harris Dickinson).

While Kidman and Dickinson dominate the narrative, co-stars Antonio Banderas and Sophie Wilde aren't left in the shadows, both delivering performances that are poised to capture the audience's attention.

Wilde, previously aligned with A24 for the lauded horror flick Talk To Me, ventures into novel territory with this film. The Aussie-Ivorian talent embodies Romy's (Kidman) perceptive assistant, Esme, who dares to defy her superior confronting the impropriety of her affair.

As cinephiles get engrossed in the sultry storyline, let's delve into actress Sophie Wilde's background, charting her journey to stardom and reflecting on her popular Netflix series that faced an abrupt cancellation, reports the Mirror.

Sophie was born on February 22, 1998, in Sydney and found herself spellbound by acting from the tender age of five.

Now at 26 years old, she reminiscences about being inspired by a classic Audrey Hepburn film which she watched on VHS at her parent's place. "I watched Roman Holiday and said, 'That's what I want to do,'" Sophie revealed to AnOther Magazine in 2024.

Her mother, an Ivorian grief counsellor, and her father, an Australian visual artist, have been pillars of support in her pursuit of acting, propelling her towards her aspirations and earning the title of her biggest supporters.

Sophie completed her studies in the dramatic arts at The National Institute of Dramatic Art, in Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting in 2019.

Nepal tragedy

The budding actress experienced a terrifying ordeal before finishing her degree. Sophie and her father Simon were reported "missing" amid the deadly 2014 Nepal snowstorm disaster that hit the Annapurna region, claiming the lives of at least 43 individuals.

Only 17 at that time, Sophie's family had endured over a week without any word from them. Thankfully, they finally reached out to confirm their safety.

Sophie's grandfather, Patrick, shared an update with the ABC in October 2014, which read: "[Simon] and Sophie are both OK and they'll be back in Kathmandu and flying home to Australia on Saturday."

Rise to fame

Sophie describes her escalation to fame as "surreal." Her portfolio may feature just eight listings on IMDB, yet she has swiftly become a face to watch within the circle of screen stars.

At age 26, she made waves featuring in BBC One's crime drama You Don't Know Me, opposite the talented Samuel Adewunmi, remembered for his role as Queenie's actor.

Subsequently, Sophie was seen in the critically lauded horror drama, Talk To Me, portraying Miaa young woman overwhelmed by grief and drawn towards summoning spirits.

A year on, she mesmerized audiences again in a Netflix original Everything Now. Echoing the themes of her earlier work, this coming-of-age drama drew applause from both fans and critics, boasting an 83% critic rating and a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sophie took on the role of Mia, a 16 year old who compiles an ambitious bucket list after her time in a rehab centre for an eating disorder. The drama was lauded for its frank portrayal of mental health issues and their effects on everyday life.

Despite glowing reviews, the series was axed following its initial season. Nevertheless, Sophie's career has gone from strength to strength, culminating in a prestigious BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination in 2024, where she was mentioned in the same breath as Jacob Elordi and Ayo Edebiri.

After the debut of Talk To Me, the Babygirl actress shared with NME that her career progression felt like "the most surreal year of my life".

Babygirl is out in cinemas now.