A Petersfield student is making himself known in the film industry after featuring in one of the latest Disney movies.

Leo Cropley, 16, plays Village Child 1 in the live-action Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot.

Joining other cast members, Leo sings Good Things Grow (Villagers' Reprise), and is listed on the official soundtrack.

Speaking to the Petersfield Post, Leo described how he and the other children had to wait for a long time for the movie to be released, after filming wrapped in 2022.

Leo at the cast and crew screening of the film at Leicester Square in London.
Leo at the cast and crew screening of the film at Leicester Square in London (Kate Cropley)

He said: “We have all changed and grown up a lot since filming and recording.

“I have never been on such a big set, there were hundreds of people each with their specific job. From camera operators behind giant moving cameras, to people riding horses and other supporting actors as the villagers.

“I got my own trailer to hang out in which is where my dressers came to get me into costume. The hair and make-up van next door was fun and I got to chat to other actors including Emilia Faucher who plays the young Snow White.

“We had to have moulds taken of our ears so they could make earpieces for us to wear when we filmed the songs.

“I had the most amazing time and made friends for life with my fellow village children!”

Listen to Leo lend his voice to one of the new songs in the live action

Outside of work, Leo is like any other teenager, he attends school at Churcher’s College and is preparing for GCSEs. He trains and performs with Petersfield Youth Theatre, and recently performed in his school’s adaptation of West Side Story.

“I’m really proud of him,” said his mother Kate Cropley.

“He is a top student and plays at Petersfield Hockey Club and I'm really proud of how he juggles all of it. Leo is also in the Royal Navy and the Combined Cadet Force at school, and he doesn't drop his other commitments.

“He loves the community that comes from doing these films, the friends he makes and he loves the acting.”

Kate expressed how Leo’s story can show other kids that there are opportunities out there, and just because they might not live in London, doesn’t mean that they can’t go for them.

Leo with his fellow village children cast members (then and now)
Leo with his fellow village children cast members (then and now) (Kate Cropley)

She added: “There is so much going on in Petersfield, we’re really into the arts and it’s really nice when you see a product of that coming out.”

After sending the initial audition tape at the start of 2022, Leo and his family didn’t think much of it afterward, not expecting to hear back. But a surprise phone call in the middle of April that same year changed everything for the then 13-year-old Leo.

Looking toward the future, he said: “I would love to have the opportunity to do more films in the future. I am in another film which is in post-production and is hopefully coming out soon.”

His next film is called Stargazers, where two best friends explore the mystery of strange signals coming from their town and the stakes are high if they don’t figure it out.