Girl sought to play Darwin's daughter

A young girl is being sought for the chance of stardom in a new British film on the life of the naturalist Charles Darwin.

Producers are holding an open audition on Monday to find a 10 to 12-year-old to play a pivotal role in the movie that begins shooting in London at the end of September.

She will play Annie, who was the favourite daughter of the Origins of Species author but died tragically at the age of 10.

Jon Amiel, whose work includes films such as Sommserby and television drama like The Singing Detective, said whoever won the part could have their career made.

"What makes it very exciting is the hope that we'll find a new Anna Paquin [made famous in The Piano], Haley Joel Osment [from The Sixth Sense] or Freddie Highmore [Finding Neverland]," he said.

"The potential for the kid to make a huge impact is quite enormous. The little girl's role is central to the film. She serves as Darwin's conscience."

The candidate would preferably have dark hair, although that is not essential, and should be no taller than 5ft 2ins tall.

"Most of all she doesn't need to be classically beautiful because the real Annie wasn't. She was described as having a wonderful forthright nature, open, inquisitive and funny, endearing and very bright."

Amiel added: "There's nothing dry or academic about our film. It very much focuses on Darwin's family life in the year running up to writing Origin of Species. You would best describe it as Finding Neverland meets A Beautiful Mind."

Negotiations are in the final stages for an A-list British star to play the part of Darwin. An international cast will appear in the production described as a "high-end independent British film". The budget is likely to be in the region of £8 million.

Some filming is expected to take place around Down House in Kent where Darwin worked on his revolutionary scientific theories as well as elsewhere around London.

The film, provisionally called Nature, is being produced by Jeremy Thomas whose long list of credits include The Last Emperor, Sexy Beast, Young Adam and Fast Food Nation.

The aim is for release next summer - the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and 150th anniversary of On the Origin of Species.

The open audition takes place on Monday [18 august] between 11am and 3pm at Pineapple Dance Studios, 7 Langley Street, WC2.