Sophie Nyweide, a former child actor known for her roles in notable films, passed away on April 14 at the age of 24. She had been pregnant at the time of her death. Law enforcement found her body in a rural area of woods and fields outside Bennington, Vermont – nearly 25 miles south of her residence in Manchester Center. Her untimely death has opened a conversation not just on mental health, but the demons she fought in her life.
Born in Burlington, Vermont, in 2000, Nyweide found work as an actress and singer early in life. She received critical acclaim for her brilliant acting in the 2009 romance drama “Mammoth.” In this film, she starred alongside internationally celebrated actors Gael García Bernal and Michelle Williams. Her last acting credit is the 2014 film “Noah” that starred Russell Crowe and Emma Watson. Though she got off to a historic start, Nyweide’s triumphs would soon be overshadowed by challenges that persisted as the pandemic developed.
Nyweide divided her time between Vermont and New York City. There, she blazed a trail for her acting career and for her new love of competitive snowboarding, a passion that she took up at the age of five. Besides her artistic skills, she was passionate about collecting the world’s languages and cultures. Her life fell victim to the same shortcomings that fueled her activism, and her death—murdered by gun violence—came far too soon.
Obituaries from the National Endowment for the Arts and others have shared that Nyweide struggled with trauma and shame all her life. Friends and family agreed that she would sometimes self-medicate instead of getting help.
“She self medicated to deal with all the trauma and shame she held inside, and it resulted in her death,” – obituary on legacy.com.
Despite all of this support, Nyweide fought treatment choices that may have been able to save her life.
“She repeatedly said she would ‘handle it’ on her own and was compelled to reject the treatment that might possibly have saved her life,” – obituary on legacy.com.
The anguish of everyone who attempted to help her is evident.
“Even with those roadmaps, diagnoses and her own revelations, those closest to her, plus therapists, law enforcement officers and others who tried to help her are heartbroken their efforts couldn’t save her from her fate,” – obituary on legacy.com.
Nyweide’s love of acting was what gave her an outlet and her comfort, she shared.
“She seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else. It was a safe place for her … the casts and crews who nourished her talent and her well being,” – obituary on legacy.com.