Bethany Hamilton - from shark attack to riding a wave of surfing success
By Amanda Lulham
The Daily Telegraph
RED-hot one-armed surfer Bethany Hamilton was cooling her heels in Sydney yesterday as she waited to compete in her final tournament before filming starts on her remarkable tale of survival.
The 19-year-old from Hawaii shot to fame as the 13-year-old who managed to make it to shore after a tiger shark tore off her left arm while she was surfing her local break.
Hamilton has revealed that rising Hollywood star Anna Sophia Robb will play her in the film which traces the horrific attack and her brave journey back to the beach.
Speaking yesterday on a lay day at Sydney's North Narrabeen beach - where she is a front-running contender at the Billabong world junior surfing championships - Hamilton said the film would begin production towards the end of January and she would be doing most of the surfing and other stunts in place of Robb.
Titled Soul Surfer the film takes its inspiration from Hamilton's biography of the same name, telling a story more akin to Jaws.
Hamilton was 13 when, while surfing with her best friend Alana Blanchard on October 21, 2003, a 5m tiger shark ripped her left arm off just below her shoulder.
Incredibly, just three weeks later Hamilton was back on her board surfing at her home break at Kauai, Hawaii. Already a pro surfer, with a second place at the Billabong tournament last year, Hamilton is excited about working with a Hollywood star.
"She's super cool. A great girl," Hamilton said of Robb. "We've met in Hawaii and hung out."
For post-attack scenes in which a one-armed stunt woman was needed, Hamilton stepped up.
"They wanted a one-armed person doing it and that's not easy to find," Hamilton said.
"I'm excited about the role. But it will be intense seeing people playing my family and me."
Lorraine Nicholson, the teenage daughter of Jack Nicholson, will play Blanchard in the movie while Sean Brosnan, actor Pierce Brosnan's son, will play brother Noah Hamilton.
Hamilton said she hopes the movie - due out in October - will inspire viewers to overcome hardships encountered in life.
I remember when this brave, then,little girl,was attacked,it was horrific to say the least, she must have tremendous courage, good luck to her I hope she receives all the blessings she deserves.
No comments:
Post a Comment