Jordana Beatty Cast for Lead Role of Eloise in Paris

A little-known Australian actress has snagged the starring role in the upcoming Eloise film, beating out more than 4,000 girls who auditioned for the role of the famous children's book heroine.

Producers of Eloise in Paris announced the casting of nine-year-old Jordana Beatty on Wednesday, saying she had been chosen after a search that spanned four continents. Beatty has been a performer since the age of four.

"Jordana is a unique combination of funny, feisty, sweet and soulful," said Charles Shyer, the film's director and co-writer of the script.

"All the qualities that were so much the essence of Kay Thompson's iconic character."

Hollywood star Uma Thurman has also signed on to portray the spunky character's guardian, Nanny, in what is being billed as the first major motion picture about Eloise.

Filming, set to take place in New York and Paris, will begin in August. Planning work for a follow-up (Eloise in Hollywood) is reportedly already underway as well.

U.S. actress, singer, musical arranger and author Thompson introduced her character, who lives in New York's ritzy Plaza Hotel, in the 1957 book Eloise. Subsequent instalments about the precocious six-year-old included Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime and Eloise in Moscow. After Thompson's death, other Eloise books written in the author's style were produced.

The books have also inspired television movies, including two 2003 films that starred Julie Andrews as Nanny, and an animated series.