Sheffield school girl Izobella Dawson makes her feature film debut in ‘Wait For Me’ as the lead character’s long lost daughter.
Izobella Dawson, aged 11, has won rave reviews for her role in Wait for Me, playing the character Ruby, the estranged daughter of a woman desperately trying to flee the life of crime into which she has been ensnared. The movie, which follows Ruby’s mother Alison as she attempts to escape the clutches of the small-time gangster for whom she works, and reconnect with Ruby, is due out at cinemas next month, with a special screening followed by a Q&A at Sheffield’s Showcase Cinema on June 7.
Izobella grew up in Chapeltown, Sheffield, and was just a toddler when she was first spotted by a talent scout in her local Asda supermarket there. The youngster, who now lives in Tankersley, Barnsley, was only nine when the film, which had the working title Moment of Grace, was shot in Halifax, Leeds, Hebden Bridge and Cleethorpes. The film has a 15-rating, meaning she will have to wait to watch it, though she has been allowed to view the scenes in which she appears.
“We were casting during Covid and we narrowed it down to six young actors for the role of Ruby, all of whom took part in Zoom auditions,” director Keith Farrell said. “We were blown away by Izzy. There was something about her which really stood out. She’s got great potential. She’s such a hard worker and I’d love to see her go on to study acting because I think she could become one of the great British actors.”
Izzy’s mum Rachel, who recently had another daughter Eadie, aged five months, said she couldn’t be more proud. “She’s so talented and she’s also the best big sister,” she said. “We’re so happy Wait for Me is getting a cinematic release, even if Izzy’s too young to watch it, and we’d love everyone in Sheffield to go and support the film.”