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Anna Popplewell

Anna Popplewell answered your questions as our featured celebrity.

Ask A Celebrity: Anna Popplewell

Questions & Answers:
Anna Popplewell

1. While filming Prince Caspian, did you have that sense of returning "home" much like your character does in the story?
—Le-Ann, 17

Anna Popplewell: I think a movie set is a bit too crazy to feel like home. It's a bit more like a traveling circus! It was lovely, though, to be back with lots of good friends and to see lots of familiar faces. All the good memories of making the first movie sort of carried over into this one when we started shooting.

2. Which movie was more fun to film: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or Prince Caspian?
—Regan, 10

Anna Popplewell: They were very different. I think Caspian was more difficult - I was working adult hours and I had to take some public exams right in the middle of it. There are more action scenes so it was more physically challenging too. I don't think I enjoyed it less though—it was an incredibly dynamic set to be on. There was always something going on. They were both great, but I liked the new challenges of Caspian.

3. What is your favorite creature in The Chronicles of Narnia?
—Shawna, 13

Anna Popplewell: I used to think boggles were absolutely terrifying and compelling. I'm excited to see Puddleglum the marshwiggle, although he doesn't feature in Caspian. Centaurs are always good—yeah, I'll go with centaurs.

4. Do you have any advice for someone who wants to become an actress?
—Carly, 14

Anna Popplewell: I'm not sure if I'm the best person to give advice since I sort of fell into acting by a happy accident. I think the most important thing is probably not to take it too personally when people say 'no'. If you go for auditions then you've just got to accept that you may not be right for the part and that not every casting agent is going to want you. You just have to keep trying.

5. Are you anything like your character in Narnia?
—Samantha, 9

Anna Popplewell: She has a lot more common sense than I do and she's a bit handier with a bow and arrow. We're both big sisters though: I have one younger brother and one younger sister so we match in those terms.

6. What is it like working with the other actors on set?
—Sikedra, 11

Anna Popplewell: It's wonderful. It was great to be back with Will [Moseley], Skandar [Keynes], and Georgie [Henley] because we all knew each other so well already. They know how to make me laugh and how to put up with me if I'm tired and grumpy! It was great to have a few more adult actors around this time actually. Peter Dinklage is a legend and he's completely hilarious, and Sergio [Castellitto] and Pierfrancesco [Favino] were fantastic as well. I was quite nervous about whether Ben [Barnes] would fit in with our little Pevensie clan but he is lovely and has a wicked sense of humor so that was lucky!

7. What are planning to do after The Chronicles of Narnia?
—Amanda, 14

Anna Popplewell: I'm at university at the moment. I'm studying English literature at Oxford University. It's hard work (I am typing this from my student digs when I should be scribbling away!) but good fun, and the people are brilliant. I'm doing lots and lots of student drama whilst I'm here and hoping to fit a few projects into the holidays. I'd love to act, but going to university was always something I wanted to do, and now seems like a good time for it.

8. I was wondering, how do you stay fit?
—Elizabeth,19

Anna Popplewell: I'm not very sporty really. I go running a few times a week and sometimes use the gym. I'd love to exercise more but there never seems to be much time in my life! I'll work on it.

9. How do you stay so poised and such a good role model when many other stars are going crazy?
—Heather, 19

Anna Popplewell: That's very nice of you to say. I'm not sure if I've ever been called 'poised' before. I have a very supportive family who make sure my feet are firmly on the ground. My brother and sister keep me in check! To be honest, because I've always been at school or uni or whatever, I've always wanted to get along with the people I'm there with and I don't think 'going crazy' would be the best way to do that.

10. What is your worst fear?
—Nicole,12

Anna Popplewell: Mice. Undoubtedly.

11. What is your favorite book of all time?
— Jade, 15

Anna Popplewell: That's very tough. It's always changing. Alice in Exile by Piers Paul Read is a beautiful novel but I love Wuthering Heights too.