The BFG: Steven Spielberg casts unknown schoolgirl in Roald Dahl film lead

Ruby Barnhill will play Sophie in the film adaptation of the children's classic

Newcomer Ruby Barnhill will play Sophie in Steven Spielberg's The BFG (DreamWorks)

Steven Spielberg has cast an unknown 10-year-old schoolgirl in his movie adaptation of Roald Dahl classic The BFG.

Ruby Barnhill from Cheshire, England, will play “brave and curious” Sophie in the DreamWorks film alongside Mark Rylance in the title role.

Barnhill started acting two years ago and featured in BBC children’s show Four O’Clock, but has never starred in a movie before.

Dahl’s 1982 book follows a young girl’s friendship with the only friendly giant in the world. The pair embark on an adventure, helped by the Queen of England, to capture the man-eating giants of have been terrorising humans.

“I feel Roald Dahl would have found Ruby every bit as marvellous as we do,” the Oscar-winning director said in a statement.

Barnhill added that she feels “incredibly lucky” to have been cast as Sophie. “She gets to go on this wonderful adventure and I’m so excited that I get to play her,” she said.

The BFG has been adapted by E.T scriptwriter Melissa Mathison, with Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden and Michael Siegel executive producing.

Spielberg hopes to begin shooting in early 2015 before the film reaches UK cinemas on 22 July 2016.