Who Plays Astrid In How To Train Your Dragon's Live-Action Remake?

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The success of the live-action version of "How to Train Your Dragon" has brought a lot of attention to the film's young stars. While some of them are relative newbies, Astrid actress Nico Parker is no stranger to Hollywood, having already worked with a handful of A-listers. The Brit, who was 20 years old when "How to Train Your Dragon" hit cineplexes in June 2025, has already shown us what she can do in a handful of high profile television and film projects, so she may look familiar to you.

You'll be seeing Parker as Astrid (who was voiced by America Ferrera in the animated film) again in the not so distant future as a live-action version of "How to Train Your Dragon 2" is in the pipeline. However, the first film could well prove to be a springboard to even bigger things for the London native, potentially opening up doors to juicy new roles. Now is a great time to read up on this up-and-coming actress, who actually has a pair of famous parents. Here's everything you need to know about the new Astrid actress Nico Parker.

Nico Parker's very first acting job was in a major movie. She debuted with what should have been quite a splash, but the film ended up being a big flop. Disney's live-action version of "Dumbo" features Parker in a large supporting role as little Milly Farrier, daughter of equestrian performer Holt (Colin Farrell). Milly is scientifically minded and the one who gifts Dumbo with his signature feather. She becomes his friend, helping him find his place alongside her brother Joe (Finley Hobbins). Unfortunately, the Tim Burton-directed film didn't fly with moviegoers and is usually ranked among the worst Disney live-action remakes.

Parker was quick to shake it off, snagging a role in Max's "Reminiscence," a tech noir thriller film anchored by Hugh Jackman. While that movie didn't do particularly well with critics, her next project was warmly received: The Hulu exclusive film "Suncoast." Parker stars as Doris, who is tasked with bringing her brother to a hospice as he copes with brain cancer. There, she meets with an activist named Paul Warren (Woody Harrelson), who promptly changes her life. The film, which is loosely based on the real life of writer-director Laura Chinn, won Parker some solid praise. Her most recent film role prior to Astrid is that of the unflappable Chloe, who babysits the children of Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) in "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy." 

Nico Parker made her television debut in the HBO/Sky Atlantic production "The Third Day," in which she plays a teenager named Ellie. At the center of this Jude Law-led series is a mysterious island off the coast of Britain from which no one can successfully escape. Broadcast in different parts, the show follows the separate journeys of a couple of people who end up on the island at different times. The series did well with critics, but not as well as Parker's next HBO series: Nico Parker played a key role in "The Last of Us," featuring as the tragically-slain Sarah Miller, daughter of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal).

Parker is in two episodes of Season 1, helping the audience to get a firm understanding of who Joel is as a person and a protagonist. She first appears when Joel thinks back to the last day of his life in a pre-cordyceps world and recalls that she gave him a watch as a gift before they had to flee Texas. Then he recalls her tragic, accidental death — she's shot by a soldier by mistake while they're trying to flee the city. This explains everything you need to know about Joel going forward, and Parker's performances in these two episodes make his journey all the more impactful.

A number of articles have referred to Nico Parker as a "nepo baby," and that's because her parents are both famous in the industry. Parker's mother is actor Thandiwe Newton, best known for her work in HBO's dystopian sci-fi Western series "Westworld" and the Oscar-winning film "Crash." More recent film credits include Val Beckett in "Solo: A Star Wars Story," Emily Sanders in "Reminiscence" (in which she appears alongside her daughter), and Celia Harrison-Favreau in the Amazon spy thriller "All the Old Knives."

Nico Parker's father is Ol Parker, who has made his name as both a writer and director. He's helmed the likes of "Imagine Me and You," "Ticket to Paradise," and "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," all of which he also wrote. His other screenplays include "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," and "A Boy Called Christmas," a sweeping festive epic featuring such names as Sally Hawkins, Kristen Wiig, Stephen Merchant, Jim Broadbent, and the late Maggie Smith.

Parker is very much aware of the advantage she has in the industry as a so-called nepo baby. "I never want to discredit myself and what I've done, but I also want to give full credit to my parents. They've both had brilliant careers and I am really fortunate because I get to reap the benefits," she told The Times. "Especially very early in my career, I think you walk into rooms in a different way because people know who your parents are. You do need to acknowledge it — if you don't, where does that leave you? I totally get why it's annoying." She's Newton and Parker's middle child; her older sister Ripley is a screenwriter, and her younger brother is only 11 at the time of this writing in 2025.

Because Astrid has blonde hair and blue eyes in the animated version of "How to Train Your Dragon," some people were annoyed that the casting directors of the live-action adaptation didn't opt for someone with a similar look. Speaking to Variety about the live-action movie, director Dean DeBlois (who was also the mastermind behind the animated films) admitted that he was annoyed by the backlash. "It bothered me in the beginning," he said, adding that the argument against Parker's casting is not valid given what's been added to the live-action version. "She was cast because she was the best that came in, and within the context of this movie, and sort of the expanded mythology of the tribe, the whole idea that Astrid has to be white and blue-eyed and blonde goes away."

For her part, Parker took the backlash in her stride. Speaking to The Times, the Astrid actress gave a very mature take on the whole situation. "There's some people that really love the animated movies and really want to see an exact play-by-play of that film, and I hope that you can watch [the live-action version] and find something that you love about it, regardless," she said. "But for the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change — when it comes to that side of things, I just don't care. If I wouldn't value your opinion on most things in life, I can't value your opinion on my hair. If I did, I would go mad." In the same interview, Parker noted that there's "still a long way to go" when it comes to representation in Hollywood, but she's proud to have played her part with her turn as Astrid.