Name: Dakota Blue Richards

Birth Name: Dakota Blue Richards

Birthdate: April 11, 1994

Birthplace: Brighton, England

Born in Brighton, England to an American anthropologist mother, Dakota Blue Richards went from normal schoolgirl to the star of the next big fantasy franchise when she was cast as Lyra in the film adaptation of His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass. The then 11-year-old went to open casting calls in Cambridge, Oxford, Exeter and Kendal, where more than 10,000 girls longed for the same big break. Richards had only acted in amateur productions before, but director Chris Weitz was sure about her, saying: "Usually, it's a gut-wrenching decision … You realize the whole time how much rests on the shoulders of this kid. But I didn't have any doubts about Dakota. She looks not quite tamed, and that's Lyra." Up next for the young ingenue is another fantasy tale, The Moon Princess, and then The Subtle Knife, the next installment in the His Dark Materials franchise.


1. She beat out more than 10,000 girls at the open casting calls in Cambridge, Oxford, Exeter and Kendal for the role of Lyra in The Golden Compass.
2. She was nearly passed over for the role of Lyra because in the book, she has not yet started puberty, while Dakota clearly had.
3. Her name, Dakota, means "friend" in the language of the Dakota (A North American Aboriginal tribe, who are native to the Mississippi).
4. Philip Pullman (Author of the His Dark Materials trilogy) signed off on Dakota himself, picking her as one of his favorites from the 40 finalists.
5. Her first-ever co-stars in The Golden Compass were Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman and James Bond himself, Daniel Craig.

"I feel like I can relate to (Lyra). I like to think I'm quite brave. I stand up for myself. And I don't let other people tell me what to do … Well, unless it's my mum."
— Newsweek