Two decades have passed since Nanny McPhee graced our screens, and whilst lead star Emma Thompson remains at the top of her game, what became of the famously troublesome children?

Following its worldwide release in January 2006, exactly 20 years ago, after debuting earlier in the UK, the film quickly became a beloved childhood favourite.

Set in Victorian England, it tells the tale of a nanny who arrives to look after seven unruly children following their mother’s death.

Audiences were captivated by the heartwarming connection that develops between them.

The Brown children comprised youngsters of varying ages – Simon, Tora, Lily, Eric, Sebastian, Chrissie, and baby Agatha.

Twenty years later, those young faces are now adults, and some have pursued remarkably different paths than one might imagine.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster – Simon Brown

Perhaps the most recognisable of the Nanny McPhee child actors is Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who portrayed the eldest of the seven siblings. During his early years, he took on numerous child roles, including Sam in Love Actually, which also featured Emma Thompson.

Now 35, Thomas became known for his youthful appearance, enabling him to portray teenagers well into his adult years, with credits in some of cinema’s biggest franchises. As a grown-up, he has featured in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Game of Thrones, and even secured one of the lead roles in The Maze Runner series.

In recent years, the British film star wed his wife, fellow actor Talulah Riley, on 22 June 2024. The pair first crossed paths in March 2021 whilst filming the FX miniseries Pistol. Talulah was previously married to tech mogul Elon Musk.

Eliza Bennett – Tora Brown

Following her breakthrough role, Bennett continued working in the industry, securing various acting parts. These included portraying a psychopathic character in the thriller Confine, as well as Kate Anderson in Johannes Roberts’ film F.

More recently, in 2021, she portrayed Amanda Carrington across two seasons of the beloved TV show Dynasty’s reboot, which concluded in 2022. Now 33, her most recent appearance was in the CBS legal drama Matlock last year.

Jennifer Rae Daykin – Lily Brown

The beloved Lily Brown was brought to life by Jennifer Rae Daykin, who informed Nanny McPhee her name was Knickers O’Muffin and whose defining characteristic was her passion for reading. However, the actress, now 31, has retreated from the spotlight.

Sources indicate she currently works as an operations manager at a VR firm and pursues various interests during her leisure time. Her Instagram reveals her enthusiasm for Dungeons and Dragons and attending music festivals.

Raphaël Coleman – Eric Brown

Shortly after his childhood acting career, Coleman departed from cinema and pursued zoology studies. He became a dedicated climate campaigner and an active member of Extinction Rebellion.

In a tragic turn of events, he passed away at the tender age of 25 in 2020 due to heart failure while out jogging. Reports suggest he was training to combat animal poaching.

Samuel Honywood – Sebastian Brown

Sebastian, Chrissy’s twin brother, is barely recognisable as an adult. The former child star had a few minor roles in TV and film before leaving the acting world behind.

He reportedly now works as a surveyor, overseeing workspaces across the UK and Germany. Now 29, the ex-actor studied real estate management at Oxford Brookes University, dabbled in DJing and embarked on travels post-graduation.

Holly Gibbs – Christianna Brown

The adorable Chrissy in Nanny McPhee was portrayed by Holly Gibbs, who later appeared in Tracy Beaker as creepy Milly. Now 25, Holly frequently updates her thousands of social media followers and serves as an art director at a global creative content firm.

She also pursued art studies at Central Saint Martins in London, specialising in sculpture, before shifting her focus to writing and other creative endeavours. She has humorously acknowledged her fleeting acting career on TikTok.

Hebe and Zinnia Barnes – Baby Agatha

Baby Aggy, often stealing the show in Nanny McPhee with her amusing one-liners, was actually played by two actresses. Sisters Zinnia and Hebe Barnes shared the role and are now in their early twenties.

The duo have kept a low profile since their youthful acting days. However, Hebe is active on TikTok, frequently showcasing her vibrant and ever-changing hair colours.