If you were a kid in the mid-2000s, there is a very high chance Eliza Bennett was part of your childhood. Maybe she was the bossy eldest sister Tora in Nanny McPhee, or perhaps you remember her as Meggie in Inkheart, standing next to Brendan Fraser while things literally flew off the pages of books.
But here’s the thing. Most people sort of "lost" her after that. They assume she was just another child star who did the rounds in British period dramas and then vanished into the ether of "where are they now" listicles.
That couldn't be further from the truth.
Honestly, Eliza Bennett has had one of the most interesting "pivot" careers of any British actress her age. She didn't burn out. She didn't do the predictable thing. Instead, she went from playing princesses and Victorian children to being a vigilante on MTV and a sharp-tongued lawyer in the Carrington dynasty.
The Breakout Years: Nanny McPhee and Inkheart
Let's look at the early stuff first because it's where the foundation was laid. She was only about 12 when Nanny McPhee came out in 2005. Working with Emma Thompson and Colin Firth is a hell of a way to start a career. She played Tora Brown, the "responsible" one of the seven siblings. It was a massive hit, and it’s still the thing she gets recognized for most, which is kinda funny considering she’s in her 30s now.
Then came Inkheart in 2008. This was supposed to be the "next big thing" in the YA fantasy wave. It had a massive budget and Helen Mirren and Paul Bettany. Eliza played Meggie Folchart. While the movie didn't exactly set the box office on fire the way Harry Potter did, it became a cult classic for book nerds.
Expert Note: A lot of people don't realize Eliza is also a singer. She actually recorded the song "My Declaration" for the Inkheart soundtrack.
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She was the "go-to" girl for fantasy and family adventures for a while. She played Princess Arabella in The Prince & Me and appeared in Julian Fellowes’ From Time to Time. But then, things changed.
The Sweet/Vicious Era: A Career-Defining Shift
If you haven't seen Sweet/Vicious, stop reading this and go find it. It’s arguably the most important project she’s ever done.
In 2016, Eliza moved to the US and landed the role of Jules Thomas in this MTV series. It was a dark comedy-drama about two college girls who become secret vigilantes, hunting down sexual assailants on their campus. It was bold, it was messy, and it was years ahead of its time.
She played Jules as someone who was deeply traumatized but also incredibly fierce. It was a massive departure from the "sweet English girl" image she’d had for a decade. Critics loved it. The show only lasted one season, which remains one of TV's biggest tragedies, but it proved she had serious dramatic range. She wasn't just a child star anymore; she was a powerhouse lead.
Joining the Dynasty
Fast forward a bit, and she pops up in Dynasty. Not the 80s one, obviously, but the CW reboot.
She joined in Season 4 as Amanda Carrington, the long-lost daughter of Alexis. If you know Dynasty, you know that entering that show is like jumping into a shark tank of high-fashion and campy drama. She played Amanda as a savvy, European-raised lawyer.
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It was a brilliant bit of casting. She brought a certain groundedness to a show that is usually operating at 100% chaos. She stayed through the final season in 2022, cementing her place in the US television landscape.
The Versatility: From Horror to Musicals
You’ve probably seen her in more places than you realize. She has this way of blending into different genres without it feeling forced.
- Broadchurch: She was in Series 2 as Lisa Newbery. Short role, but high impact in one of the best British crime shows ever made.
- The Conners: She had a recurring gig as Odessa.
- Sexy Beast: Most recently (late 2023/early 2024), she appeared in the prequel series to the famous cult film, playing Marjorie.
- Do Revenge: A quick but fun appearance in the Netflix teen hit as Jessica.
She also does a lot of theater. She was the lead in the West End musical Loserville, which earned her a bunch of award nominations. Most people who know her from Nanny McPhee would be shocked to hear her belt out pop-rock numbers on a London stage.
Eliza Bennett Movies and TV Shows: A Selected Filmography
To keep track of where she’s been, here’s a look at the key projects that actually define her career path, rather than just every single credit.
The Early Fantasy/Family Phase
- The Prince & Me (2004) - Her film debut as Princess Arabella.
- Nanny McPhee (2005) - The big break as Tora Brown.
- Inkheart (2008) - Leading as Meggie Folchart.
- From Time to Time (2009) - A ghost story directed by Julian Fellowes.
The Gritty & Experimental Phase
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- F (also known as The Expelled) (2010) - A very dark British slasher film.
- Confine (2013) - She played a psychopathic character named Kayleigh. This is where she started shedding the "good girl" image.
- Strike Back (2015) - Chloe Foster in the high-octane action series.
The US TV & Mainstream Phase
- Sweet/Vicious (2016) - The iconic role of Jules Thomas.
- This Is Us (2019) - Guest appearance as Miss Cunningham.
- Dynasty (2021–2022) - Amanda Carrington.
- An American in Austen (2024) - A recent Hallmark-style lead role playing Harriet.
Why She Still Matters in 2026
The reason Eliza Bennett is still working—and working at a high level—is that she never let herself be "the girl from that one movie."
She’s part of a generation of British actors who successfully navigated the transition from child fame to adult credibility. Think of her in the same vein as someone like Thomas Brodie-Sangster (her Nanny McPhee co-star). They both just... kept working.
She also doesn't shy away from smaller, weirder projects. She’ll do a massive CW soap like Dynasty, but then she’ll go and do a gritty British crime drama or a musical. That's the secret sauce.
What to Watch Next
If you're looking to dive back into her work, don't just go for the nostalgia of the Brown family children.
- Watch Sweet/Vicious first. It’s her best performance to date. It’s hard to find on some streaming services, but it’s worth the hunt.
- Check out Sexy Beast (2024). It shows her modern, more mature side and her ability to handle "prestige" TV style.
- Go back to Confine. If you want to see her play someone genuinely unsettling, this is the one.
Eliza Bennett is one of those actors who is always "around," and that’s a testament to her talent. She isn't chasing the A-list blockbuster life as much as she’s chasing interesting, varied characters. In an industry that loves to pigeonhole people, she’s managed to stay remarkably un-pigeonholed.
Keep an eye out for her in upcoming British co-productions; she’s lately been leaning back into her UK roots while keeping a foot in the LA door.