Sophie Nyweide’s mother Shelly Gibson spoke out about the former child star’s tragic death at age 21, just over a week after her daughter’s body was found on a riverbank in Vermont.
Shelly Gibson is mourning the death of her daughter.
Hours after news broke that former actress Sophie Nyweide died April 14 at 24, her mother detailed the family’s grief amid the tragedy.
“We are very distraught and mourning,” Shelly, who is an actor herself, told TMZ. “All I can say is her time acting was brief but very happy. She wasn’t a child star in the least and wasn’t subjected to anything hurtful on those films. She was always safe on those sets. Please let her rest in peace now.”
On April 14, Sophie’s body was found on a riverbank in Bennington, Vermont, near a lean-to, which is a structure made by leaning branches on an angle, Bennington Police told TMZ. While she did not live in the makeshift shelter, authorities said she was hanging around the area alongside a few other individuals—none of which have been deemed a person of interest.
“My knowledge is she was using drugs and was a tiny young woman,” Shelly continued. “She was with other people when she died. I didn’t know them.”
“There is an investigation ongoing,” Shelly added in her statement. “They said it would take 6-8 weeks. So I can’t say definitively.”
As a child, Sophie acted in movies like Mammoth, Noah and An Invisible Sign alongside actors such as Michelle Williams and Russel Crowe.
“Creative, athletic and wise beyond her years, Sophie accomplished so much in the time she danced upon earth,” the late actress’ obituary read. “Literally—she danced as she moved!”
“She dreamed (more like demanded!) to be an actor,” the obituary continued, “without ever knowing her mother was an actor, so she did that too with an ease we all marveled about.”
But outside of the movie sets, where her family said she “seemed happiest” and had the freedom of “becoming someone else,” Sophie also faced her fair share of “struggles and traumas.”
“Sophie was a kind and trusting girl,” the tribute read. “Often this left her open to being taken advantage of by others. She wrote and drew voraciously and much of this art depicts the depth she had and it also represents the pain she suffered. Many of her writings and artwork are roadmaps of her struggles and traumas.”
To look back at Sophie’s career, keep reading.
July 2007
Sophie and her costar Eduardo Verástegui reunited at the New York Latino Film Festival premiere of Bella.
September 2007
The young star attended the New York City Serenade world premiere screening during the Toronto International Film Festival.
October 2007
Sophie attended the New York City premiere of Bella, which starred Tammy Blanchard in addition to Eduardo.
November 2008
Sophie and costar Jessica Alba took a breather while filming An Invisible Sign.
February 2009
Sophie and her Mammoth costars—Gael Garcia Bernal, Marife Necesito, Jan Nicdao, Sophie Nyweide, Martin Delos Santos as well as director Lukas Moodysson—posed for photos during the film’s presentation at the 59th Berlinale Film Festival in Berlin.
February 2009
Sophie had her stuffed mammoth by her side at the film’s press conference.
October 2010
Sophie attended the the RoC reception during the 18th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival with director Marilyn Agrelo and actress Emerald Angel Young.
Source: www.eonline.com