It has been over twenty years since that hooked nose and those magical warts first graced our screens. Honestly, the staying power of the Nanny McPhee films is kind of wild. You've probably found yourself flipping through channels, seeing a toothy Emma Thompson or a frazzled Maggie Gyllenhaal, and wondering: Where are they now? The actresses in Nanny McPhee weren't just background players. They were a powerhouse lineup of British (and American) royalty. We aren’t just talking about child stars who disappeared into the void of the early 2000s; we’re talking about Oscar winners, Damehoods, and even some heartbreaking departures.
Emma Thompson: The Mind Behind the Magic
Let’s start with the obvious. Emma Thompson didn't just play the titular character; she literally wrote the thing. She spent years adapting Christianna Brand’s Nurse Matilda books. If you think she’s been quiet lately, you haven't been paying attention.
Aside from becoming a Dame in 2018, Thompson has been busy being one of the most versatile humans in Hollywood. She went from the "ugly" nanny to playing the Baroness in Cruella (2021) and the terrifying Miss Trunchbull in the Matilda musical movie.
Basically, she’s still the boss.
There is even a Nanny McPhee stage musical hitting the West End in 2026. Thompson wrote the book for it herself. It’s funny because people always ask if there will be a third movie—maybe set in space?—but it looks like the stage is where the magic is heading next.
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The Brown Children: Where the Girls Are Now
Everyone remembers Thomas Brodie-Sangster (the eldest boy), but the girls of the Brown household have had some pretty interesting paths.
Eliza Bennett (Tora Brown)
Eliza was the eldest daughter, the one who was always a bit skeptical. She didn't stop acting after the movie. Far from it. You might have seen her in Inkheart alongside Brendan Fraser or, more recently, in the sitcom Plebs. She’s also a musician. If you look at her Instagram, she’s basically a full-blown indie-cool artist now.
Jennifer Rae Daykin (Lily Brown)
Jennifer played the sweet Lily. Unlike some of her co-stars, she chose a more low-key life. She graduated from Loughborough University in 2016 and, from what we can tell, lives a totally normal, non-Hollywood life. It’s sort of refreshing, right? Not every child star needs a comeback tour.
Holly Gibbs (Christianna Brown)
Holly played the mute-by-choice Christianna. She did a bit more acting, including a stint on Tracy Beaker, but eventually traded the camera for a paintbrush. She studied Fine Art at Central St Martins. Honestly, her art is incredible—very high-fashion and edgy.
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The Tragic Loss of Raphael Coleman
While we’re focusing on the actresses, it feels wrong not to mention Raphael Coleman (Eric Brown). He was a huge part of the sibling dynamic. Sadly, Raph passed away in 2020 at the age of 25. He had moved away from acting to become a massive climate activist with Extinction Rebellion, going by the name Iggy Fox. It was a huge shock to the cast and fans alike.
The Supporting Legends: Lansbury, Macdonald, and More
The adult actresses in Nanny McPhee were honestly a fever dream of talent.
- Angela Lansbury (Aunt Adelaide): The late, great Angela Lansbury played the terrifying, nearsighted great-aunt. This was one of her major big-screen returns before she passed in 2022. She brought that "wicked" energy that only a legend can.
- Kelly Macdonald (Evangeline): The scullery maid who became a lady. Kelly has had maybe the most "prestige" career of them all. No Country for Old Men, Boardwalk Empire, Line of Duty—she’s everywhere. She even voiced Merida in Pixar’s Brave.
- Imelda Staunton (Mrs. Blatherwick): Before she was Dolores Umbridge or Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, she was the screaming cook in the Brown kitchen.
- Celia Imrie (Mrs. Selma Quickly): She played the woman with too many hats who tried to marry Mr. Brown. Celia is a British icon who you’ve definitely seen in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel or Better Things.
The Sequel: A New Batch of Powerhouses
When Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang (or Nanny McPhee Returns) came out in 2010, the cast list got even crazier.
Maggie Gyllenhaal stepped in as Isabel Green, the stressed-out farm mom. It was a bit of a departure for her, but she sold that "I'm about to have a breakdown" vibe perfectly. And let's not forget Maggie Smith. She played the elderly Mrs. Docherty, who—spoiler alert—turns out to be baby Aggie from the first movie. Seeing a legend like Maggie Smith play a grown-up version of a baby from the first film was a stroke of genius on Thompson's part.
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The Kids in the Big Bang
Rosie Taylor-Ritson played the bratty Celia Gray, and Lil Woods played Megsie Green. Like many of the girls from the first film, they’ve largely stepped back from the limelight to pursue other interests, which seems to be a recurring theme with this franchise. It feels like Emma Thompson creates such a healthy set environment that these kids don't feel desperate to stay famous.
Why the Cast Still Matters
The reason people still search for the actresses in Nanny McPhee isn't just nostalgia. It’s because the film was a rare example of "family" entertainment that didn't talk down to its audience. It dealt with grief, poverty, and war (in the sequel) with a lot of heart.
The actresses—from the little girls to the Dames—gave these characters dignity. Whether it was Evangeline learning to read or Isabel Green trying to keep her farm during WWII, these weren't just caricatures.
If you're looking to keep up with them today, here is the short version:
- Check out Eliza Bennett’s music if you want something moody and cool.
- Watch Kelly Macdonald in The Radleys (2024) for a very different kind of family drama (vampires!).
- Keep an eye on the London stage in 2026 for the Nanny McPhee musical.
If you want to revisit the magic, both films are usually streaming on platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime, depending on your region. It’s worth a rewatch just to see a pre-fame Thomas Brodie-Sangster and a pre-Umbridge Imelda Staunton sharing a kitchen.
To stay updated on the upcoming West End musical, you should follow the official production announcements from Working Title Films. It's the best way to see how the next generation of actresses will take on these iconic roles.