A rising star has been lost too soon.
Sophie Nyweide—who, as a child, acted in movies including Mammoth, Noah and An Invisible Sign alongside actors such as Michelle Williams and Russell Crowe—died on April 14, her loved ones confirmed in an obituary. She was 24.
“Creative, athletic and wise beyond her years, Sophie accomplished so much in the time she danced upon earth,” the online obituary, which did not include a cause of death, read. “Literally – she danced as she moved!”
Her loved onespraised Sophie for her dedication to competitive snowboarding, which she began at the of age of 5, and the ease with which she began acting.
“She seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else,” her obituary read. “It was a safe place for her,” acknowledging the casts and crews “who nourished her talent and her well being.”
Sophie’s loved ones noted her ability to see “the good in everyone,” adding her “‘family’ wasn’t just her immediate family,” but instead included the families of her those closest to her.
And while her obituary didn’t include details around Sophie’s passing, it did acknowledge some of the struggles she’d faced in life.
“Sophie was a kind and trusting girl,” the obituary continued. “Often this left her open to being taken advantage of by others.”
While noting Sophie often drew and wrote about her pain, her loved ones added, “Even with those roadmaps, diagnoses, and her own revelations, those closest to her, plus therapists, law enforcement officers and others who tried to help her are heartbroken their efforts couldn’t save her from her fate.”
Her obituary noted she self medicated and that “it resulted in her death.”
In addition to sharing a link to donations in support of RAINN (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), her loved ones added of her passing, “Sophie. A life ended too soon. May it not be in vain. May we all learn from her brief life on earth and do better. Yes, we must all protect our children and do better.”
Sophie’s mother Shelly Gibson, an actress herself, one shed light on her daughter’s dedication to and fascination with acting during her childhood in Vermont.
As Shelly explained of Sophie in a 2010 interview with The Times Argus, “She grew up in this movie theater and slept in the movie theater and had a little bed in the projection booth and watched many movies.”
And even then, at 9 years old, Sophie had been sure about her calling. “I kept wondering what would it be like if I could see myself on that screen,” she added in the interview alongside her mom. “What would it feel like to be doing this? Would it be hard, would it be easy? I wanted to try it.”
Soon enough, her dream came to fruition. In fact, her performance in 2010’s An Invisible Sign alongside Jessica Alba earned her much praise.
“The film’s best performance comes from a 10-year-old,” film critic Jeannette Catsoulis wrote in 2011. “Playing a near-motherless tyke, little Sophie Nyweide (who looks like a diminutive Emily Watson and already has five films under her belt) should have a glowing future.”
For a closer look at Sophie’s career as a child star, keep reading.
July 2007
Sophie and her costar Eduardo Verástegui reunited at the New York Latino Film Festival premiere of Bella.
September 2007
The young star attended the New York City Serenade world premiere screening during the Toronto International Film Festival.
October 2007
Sophie attended the New York City premiere of Bella, which starred Tammy Blanchard in addition to Eduardo.
November 2008
Sophie and costar Jessica Alba took a breather while filming An Invisible Sign.
February 2009
Sophie and her Mammoth costars—Gael Garcia Bernal, Marife Necesito, Jan Nicdao, Sophie Nyweide, Martin Delos Santos as well as director Lukas Moodysson—posed for photos during the film’s presentation at the 59th Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin.
February 2009
Sophie had her stuffed mammoth by her side at the film’s press conference.
October 2010
Sophie attended the the RoC reception during the 18th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival with director Marilyn Agrelo and actress Emerald Angel Young.
