Facts
Dakota traveled from her home in Brighton to Cambridge for the Lyra auditions under one condition: that she wouldn't be too upset when she was passed over.
Dakota beat out over 10,000 girls who went to the open casting calls in Cambridge, Oxford, Exeter, and Kendal for the role of Lyra.
She had just come home grumpy from a bad day at school when 'The Golden Compass' director Chris Weitz called her. Dakota's mother tried to put him on speaker phone, but accidentally hung up on him. Weitz called back and informed them of the good news.
Once Dakota found out she got the part of Lyra, she "screamed a lot" and "did the Snoopy dance."
Her mother is a social worker.
The makers of The Golden Compass sent Philip Pullman (author of His Dark Materials trilogy) footage of their 40 favored girls who had auditioned for the role of Lyra. He personally endorsed the two that he favored, one of them being Dakota Blue.
Dakota Blue became a fan of His Dark Materials when she was 9 years old, and saw the stage version at the National Theatre a year later.
Dakota's first interview was with Newsweek. Her mother sat beside her, with her publicist nearby. Dakota showed the interviewer the 'Snoopy dance.'
Dakota didn't want to be an actress. She wanted to be Lyra.
Dakota's mother, Michaela (or 'Mickey'), is a single mother. The two share a flat above a disused estate agency.
Dakota lost the part of Mary in her school's Nativity play.
Dakota's mother gave up her job in order to accompany Dakota to the 8 month film shoot for The Golden Compass.
Dakota wants a dog more than anything.
Before filming began, the Golden Compass producers arranged for Dakota to visit the Harry Potter film set and meet the cast.
Dakota kept a swear box on set of The Golden Compass because her co-star Daniel Craig swore so much. He had to put in £1 every time he swore, and by the time filming ended, he owed Dakota £55.
The Golden Compass 
Secret of Moonacre 
