County Down teen Sophie Lennon beats 300,000 to land Cheetah Girls role
Sophie Lennon, a 16-year-old from Mayobridge, County Down, will portray Brooklyn in Disney’s new film, The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen. She secured her role from a global casting call that attracted over 300,000 hopefuls. Known for her performances on platforms like Britain’s Got Talent, Lennon has also represented Ireland in the 2022 Junior Eurovision Song Contest. The film, set to be shot in Cape Town, centers on teenagers working at a wildlife sanctuary. Originally meant to have a Northern Irish dialect, Brooklyn's character now requires an Irish-American accent, prompting Lennon to work with a dialect coach.
Key facts
- Sophie Lennon is a 16-year-old from Mayobridge, County Down, Northern Ireland.
- She beat over 300,000 applicants in a global casting search for The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen.
- Lennon previously appeared on Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent.
- She performed on the West End and represented Ireland at the 2022 Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
- Filming takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, over four months.
- The film follows four teenagers who volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary in Africa.
- Lennon's character Brooklyn is Irish-American; she works with a dialect coach.
- She received four record deal offers from major labels.
- The original Cheetah Girls film was released in 2003.
- Lennon signed a non-disclosure agreement and could not tell friends about the role.
Entities
Artists
- Sophie Lennon
- Leah Sava Jeffries
- Carmen Sanchez
- Kaileen Chang
Institutions
- Disney
- Britain's Got Talent
- America's Got Talent
- Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Locations
- Mayobridge
- County Down
- Northern Ireland
- Cape Town
- South Africa
- Ireland
- New York