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Dakota Blue Richards (born 11 April 1994) is an English actress. Her debut was in the film The Golden Compass, as the lead character Lyra Belacqua. She was also cast as the lead of another two films, Dustbin Baby and The Secret of Moonacre, the latter of which was released February 2009. She also played the character Franky Fitzgerald in the third generation of the BAFTA winning, E4 television series Skins. Dakota Blue Richards was born in South Kensington, London, the daughter of Ruby Richards, a social worker. She was named Dakota Blue because her mother wanted a combination of a... MORE

Dakota Blue Richards (born 11 April 1994) is an English actress. Her debut was in the film The Golden Compass, as the lead character Lyra Belacqua. She was also cast as the lead of another two films, Dustbin Baby and The Secret of Moonacre, the latter of which was released February 2009. She also played the character Franky Fitzgerald in the third generation of the BAFTA winning, E4 television series Skins. Dakota Blue Richards was born in South Kensington, London, the daughter of Ruby Richards, a social worker. She was named Dakota Blue because her mother wanted a combination of a place-name and a colour. Dakota was inspired by the Sioux tribe, members of whom her mother had become friends with during a year in America; her mother also liked the fact that it was unusual as a name. Blue was Dakota's father's nickname, and her mother thought it went well with Dakota. The family moved to Brighton shortly after Dakota was born, where she attended St. Peter's Infant School, St. Paul's CofE Primary School, and later Blatchington Mill School. On school days she took drama classes and often missed school to go to auditions. She was not an active participant in class assemblies and school LESS