Sophia Hawthorne

Captivated by the work of her parents — actor Elizabeth and director Raymond Hawthorne — Sophia Hawthorne began acting as a child. At age 16 she left Auckland Grammar School, after her classes clashed with rehearsals of Romeo and Juliet. Hawthorne won acclaim as Juliet, and went on to star in Cabaret, The Duchess of Malfi and Closer. After a number of short films, she played wild child roles in movies When Love Comes and Savage Honeymoon, showcasing her singing talents in the former. Further nominations followed for TV series The Insiders Guide to Happiness. Sophia Hawthrone died on 17 February 2016.

(Michael] Hurst's bold casting of teenagers in the title roles flies in the face of tradition . . . [Hawthorne's] impeccable delivery and winsome charm pay due tribute to her deeply visceral understanding of the part and her sure-footed control of its demands. An NZ Herald reviewer on Sophia Hawthorne's performance as Juliet in play Romeo and Juliet, 1993