It was the role that brought Elizabeth Taylor to the attention of Hollywood. Now it is being recreated by a 10-year-old girl whose only experience is a small part in a school play - and who is afraid of her co-star.
Hester Odgers, who lives in Hammersmith, beat hundreds of aspiring young actresses to secure a leading part in a remake of the classic film Lassie Come Home.
Taylor played the part in 1943 and her performance was so impressive that a year later she was cast in National Velvet and a star was born.
Hester, however, does not hope to follow in her predecessor's footsteps. She would rather work in a zoo. And although she enjoyed working with costars Peter O'Toole and Samantha Morton, she was less enthusiastic about the film's key character.
She said: "At the recall audition I asked my Dad if there would be a dog there. I didn't think they would bite me but I was scared of them jumping up.
"When I arrived to do the film, the first thing I saw was this big collie. I was backing away but Mum walked me towards the dog. She told me to stroke him and walk with him - I did it at arm's length.
"By the end of the day I could kneel down with him and after a few days I let him lick my hand."
Hester, whose mother Romayne is a part-time civil servant and father John a lawyer, said: "I just did the audition for fun. I love doing drama at school, especially comic acting but I would not want to be famous.
"I would like to do another film - if they did a sequel I'd like to do that. But when I grow up I really want to be a zoo owner."
Hester, who has a brother James, seven, and sister Rosie, five, is given no special treatment at home or from her classmates at the Barnes private school she attends. She said: "The first day I told my friends I had the part, one boy said, 'Am I supposed to care?' But now they're all excited for me and are coming to a screening." The cast also includes Robert Hardy, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Kelly Macdonald and Jemma Redgrave.
The film is released on Friday.
