Cast of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe now from career in politics to big regret
This year marks the 75th anniversary of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first book in C.S. Lewis's beloved Chronicles of Narnia series.
Since its publication in 1950, the saga has enchanted generations of readers with its mix of fantasy, wartime resilience, and spiritual allegory, and the 2005-2010 film trilogy brought that world to life for a new audience, blending groundbreaking visual effects with heartwarming performances from a cast of then mostly-unknown actors.
Many of the stars have gone on to carve diverse careers in and beyond the screen - some into Hollywood, others into politics and academia. Here's what became of the stars who made Narnia feel so real:
Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie
At her debut acting role, Georgie played Lucy, the youngest of the four siblings and the one who starts their entire journey after having stumbled upon the world of Narnia through the wardrobe.
She played Lucy from ages 10 to 15, a role for which she earned acting accolades and critical acclaim. At the same time, she had a minor role as the title character's younger version in BBC's Jane Eyre.
Following Narnia success, Henley played lead roles in Perfect Sisters (2014) - a crime drama about two Canadian girls who get murdered by their mother - and The Sisterhood of Night (2015) - a teenage mystery thriller.
She became an English student at the University of Cambridge, where she participated in several plays, and tried her hand at directing a short film. Since 2018, Georgie has had on-and-off roles on TV and documentary films. She now resides in London and identifies as queer.
Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie
The most controversial of the four siblings - who accepted trading his family's loyalty for some Turkish delight - hasn't shown much interest in keeping his acting career active since the end of the series, even after numerous awards nominations and media praise. Instead, his academic curriculum is more than impressive.
His lineage already hinted at such ambitions: he's the great-great-great-grandson of Charles Darwin, the great-nephew of economist John Maynard Keynes, and part of a family tree filled with Cambridge professors and Middle Eastern historians. On his mother's side, he is of Lebanese descent and the grandson of writer and diplomat Cecil Hourani.
He earned a Double First in Middle Eastern Studies at Pembroke College, Cambridge, focusing on Arabic and Persian. His dissertation compared how history is taught in Iran and Saudi Arabia, and he spent a year living in Beirut perfecting his colloquial Arabic. From 2015 to 2018, he worked as a parliamentary adviser in the UK House of Commons, accompanying MPs on diplomatic visits across the Middle East and North Africa.
Today, he works as a political consultant, and remains deeply involved in Middle Eastern policy. In his free time, Keynes plays the guitar, flute and cornet, participates in running marathons, practices extreme sports, and supports conservation projects around the world.
Anna Popplewell as Susan Pevensie
Anna Popplewell portrayed Susan Pevensie, the second-eldest sibling known for her sense of logic and maturity - traits that often clashed with the magic and wonder of Narnia. Her performance across three films earned her a solid fan base and a nomination for a Young Artist Award.
At the time of her Narnia casting, Popplewell already had experience in period dramas, including Girl with a Pearl Earring and Love in a Cold Climate.
After her Narnia journey, Popplewell appeared in the war romance Me and Orson Welles (2008) and starred as Lady Lola in the CW's Reign from 2013 to 2016 - a role that saw her transition into more mature, politically driven storylines. She has also voiced characters in video games and audio dramas, most recently appearing in The Left Right Game and Amazon's The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne.
Outside of acting, Anna studied English Literature at Oxford's Magdalen College and has spoken publicly about the challenge of balancing academic life with a childhood spent on film sets. Though more selective with her on-screen roles these days, she continues to act on stage and in independent productions.
William Moseley as Peter Pevensie
Since starring as the Pevensie siblings' eldest, Peter, Moseley has enjoyed a successful career in film and television.
During his Narnia days, he earned acting awards both in the UK and internationally for the role of Peter, but that wasn't his only job. Moseley had also been cast in action thriller film Run (2013), adventure drama The Silent Mountain (2014) - during which filming he was struck by lightning, now sporting a scar in his arm - and Hindi-language coming of age flick Margarita with a Straw (2015).
His second breakout role came with E! Original series The Royals as Prince Liam, which he described as 'like (if) Prince Harry was thrown into being the next King of England. He basically is sort of a rebel…'. He then went on to star in horror thriller film Friend Request (2016), the haunting My Sweet Audrina (2016), post-apocalyptic movie The Veil (2017) and more similarly successful projects.
On the side, Moseley was the main actor in a music video: The Living Tombstone's 'Long Time Friends', and dated co-star Kelsey Asbille, who he met while filming Run, from 2012 to 2018. His most recent role was in Home Sweet Home Rebirth (2025), a supernatural horror film, based on the 2017 Thai video game of the same name.
James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus
In the role that introduced him to a generation of younger viewers, James McAvoy played the faun Mr. Tumnus - Lucy Pevensie's first friend in Narnia. Though already known in the UK for TV roles in Shameless and State of Play, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) became McAvoy's first major Hollywood appearance.
Just two years later, he broke into international stardom with his BAFTA-nominated performance in Atonement (2007), followed by action-thriller Wanted (2008) and the iconic role of young Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men prequels, which he played from 2011 to 2019.
Across film and theatre, McAvoy has continued to choose unpredictable and challenging roles - like his acclaimed one-man stage performance in Cyrano de Bergerac (2019–2022) or his chilling dual turn in M. Night Shyamalan's Split (2016) and Glass (2019). He has been nominated for multiple BAFTAs and Olivier Awards, and is widely considered one of the UK's most respected actors.
Off-screen, McAvoy has quietly supported children's charities in both Scotland and Africa and now lives in London with his wife, production assistant Lisa Liberati.
Tilda Swinton as the White Witch
Already one of the most enigmatic actresses in British cinema, Tilda Swinton brought icy menace to the role of villain Jadis, the White Witch of Narnia. Swinton's career began in experimental films and collaborations with Derek Jarman, before she earned global acclaim for roles in Orlando (1992), The Deep End (2001), and The Chronicles of Narnia.
In 2008, she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Michael Clayton, and has since built a reputation for choosing ambitious, art-house projects like We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011), Only Lovers Left Alive (2013), and numerous collaborations with Wes Anderson.
A master of transformation, Swinton has played characters of various ages, genders and species, often blurring the lines between performance and performance art.
She's also remained vocal about her Scottish heritage, her nonconformist approach to gender, and her dedication to experimental cinema. She now lives in the Highlands of Scotland and works globally on films that range from indie projects to Marvel blockbusters like Doctor Strange (2016).
Liam Neeson as Aslan (voice)
Tasked with voicing one of the most iconic characters in children's literature, Liam Neeson had the role of Aslan, the noble lion and spiritual leader of Narnia. Before Narnia, Neeson had already become a household name thanks to Oscar-nominated roles in Schindler's List (1993), Michael Collins (1996), and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999).
Post-Aslan, he experienced a surprising second act as an action star with the Taken trilogy (2008–2014), which redefined his career and image. He went on to star in numerous thrillers, from The Grey (2011) to Non-Stop (2014), while still taking on character-driven dramas and voice work in animated films like The Lego Movie.
Born in Northern Ireland, he has spoken publicly about his Catholic upbringing, the loss of his wife Natasha Richardson in 2009, and his continued passion for human rights.
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