Sennia Nanua plays Melanie in the 2016 film The Girl with All the Gifts.
Melanie is a highly intelligent infected child held in a military research facility. She is one of a generation affected by a fungal infection that has devastated human civilization. Unlike most infected people, Melanie can think, speak, learn, and form relationships, although she also has powerful predatory instincts.
The film was directed by Colm McCarthy and adapted by Mike Carey from his 2014 novel of the same name. Carey also wrote the screenplay, allowing the movie to retain the book’s central questions about humanity, evolution, and the meaning of survival.
Sennia Nanua’s performance is central because the story is filtered through Melanie’s unusual perspective. Gemma Arterton plays teacher Helen Justineau, while Paddy Considine plays Sergeant Eddie Parks. The title refers to a line from the story describing Melanie’s extraordinary potential.