LITTLE WONDER
Scot, 13, is a hit as younger version of superhero... and she does all her own stunts
SHE is half the size of the wellsculpted adults she takes on in the ‘Amazon Olympics’.
But as she hurtles into the lead on a perilous obstacle course, it is clear this is no ordinary child athlete.
She is, in fact, the young Wonder Woman – played by 13-year-old Scottish actress Lilly Aspell.
Having first won accolades for the screen role in the 2017 release of the superhero film, Lilly is doing so again in
‘She’s the real deal’
Wonder Woman 1984, which opened yesterday with actress Gal Gadot, 35, as the grown-up version of the heroine.
From firing arrows from horseback and hurling javelins, to leaping off a high board into the ocean, Lilly takes on all her own stunts.
‘She’s the real deal,’ said Miss Gadot, a former soldier. ‘Other than the fact that she is a girl that works hard and is super talented, the stunt co-ordinator came to us and said, “You know, she can stunt herself – we can’t find anyone better to stunt her”.
‘So everything in the movie that the young Diana is doing is actually Lilly. She’s amazing.’
The f i l m’s director Patty Jenkins described Lilly as being a ‘ powerhouse of soul, spirit and talent’.
Lilly has been sharing pictures from the set on her Instagram account. Shots show her in action in a gold jumpsuit, gladiator sandals and metal arm cuffs as she takes her place alongside grown-up stunt women.
Her daredevil attitude is not surprising considering she is an accomplished junior equestrian. Originally from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, her parents are professional jockeys Donna and Paddy Aspell. Her uncle, meanwhile, i s two ti me Grand Nati o n a l - wi n n i n g jockey Leighton Aspell.
The 4ft tall actress frequently shares photos of herself on horseback at showjumping competitions as well as videos as she trains her horses.
Her mother shared a picture of her, aged six, as she took on a jump during a competition, telling Horse and Hound magazine: ‘It’s her dream to represent Team GB one day.’
Lilly, whose acting credits i nclude t he 2018 comedy Holmes And Watson with Will Ferrell and John C Reilly, and sci- f i drama Extinction, is building up a fanbase of famous faces. Among her 8,000 followers on Instagram are comedian David Wall i a ms, actress Sheridan Smith and Downton Abbey’s Lily James.
She will star alongside Miss James as her character’s younger self in upcoming BBC drama The Pursuit Of Love.