Sophie Nyweide, former child actress on "Mammoth" and "Noah," died pregnant at age 24 in Vermont
Former actress Sophie Nyweide was found dead in a wooded area in Vermont on April 14. A death certificate confirmed she was pregnant at the time of her death. The cause of death is still under investigation.
Sophie Nyweide, known for her roles in the films Mammoth (2009) and Noah (2014), died on April 14 at the age of 24. The young woman was found in a wooded area in Bennington, Vermont, about 40 kilometers from her home in Manchester Center.
According to the death certificate issued by the Vermont Department of Health, Nyweide was pregnant at the time of her death. Authorities are still investigating the cause of death. The news has shocked those who knew her during her short but distinguished film career.
Artistic career and personal life
Born in Burlington, Vermont, in 2000, Sophie Nyweide showed an interest in art from a very young age. At the age of five, she was already a competitive snowboarder, but it was in acting that she found her true passion. She achieved international notoriety after her role in Mammoth, directed by Lukas Moodysson, and later in Noah, where she shared the screen with figures such as Russell Crowe and Emma Watson.
After leaving the film industry, Nyweide kept a low profile. According to an obituary published on April 17, but later deleted, she faced emotional and personal difficulties. Those close to her described her love of travel, learning languages, and her fondness for recording her life in diaries and drawings, which today serve as a testament to her artistic sensibility.
Sophie Wilde, as a child, acted in well-known films such as "Mammoth" and "Noah." Photo: The Hollywood Reporter
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Circumstances of death and impact on her community
The obituary indicated that Nyweide struggled with unspecified trauma, which led her to self-medicate, a factor that may have contributed to her death. Although she had received support from family, therapists, and authorities, she reportedly refused professional treatment. "She kept saying she would handle this on her own," the message read, underscoring the lingering grief among those who tried to help her.
The community around her remembered Nyweide as a highly talented and sensitive person whose life ended prematurely. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to pay tribute were asked to make donations to RAINN, a national organization against sexual assault. Her case has reopened conversations about mental health, emotional support, and the protection of young people in the arts.