AnnaSophia Robb leads the enduring sports drama, which turns 15 this year.

Is Soul Surfer based on a true story? All about Bethany Hamilton’s shark attack and life today

AnnaSophia Robb leads the enduring sports drama, which turns 15 this year.

By Brianna Zigler

August 5, 2026 2:28 p.m. ET

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AnnaSophia Robb in ‘Soul Surfer’. Credit:

Mario Perez/FilmDistrict/Tristar

- *Soul Surfer *is now streaming on Netflix.

- The 2011 film tells the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost her arm as a teenager to a shark attack.

- Today, Hamilton balances surfing with parenting, podcasting, and charity work.

As it celebrates its 15th anniversary, the powerful sports drama *Soul Surfer* is now streaming on Netflix.

Sean McNamara’s 2011 film tells the story of Bethany Hamilton, a competitive surfer who opts out of a church mission in order to train for a surfing contest. While riding the waves with her best friend, Bethany is attacked by a tiger shark that takes her left arm just below the shoulder. *Soul Surfer* explores Bethany’s recovery from the devastating attack and her determination to relearn how to surf with one arm.

*Soul Surfer* sounds like a story too incredible to be true, and yet it is. Below, we break down the film and the real-life athlete who inspired it.

*Soul Surfer* sounds like a story too incredible to be true, and yet it is. Below, we break down the film and the real-life athlete who inspired it.

What is Soul Surfer about?

Lorraine Nicholson and AnnaSophia Robb in ‘Soul Surfer’.

*Soul Surfer* centers on Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb), a 13-year-old living in Hawaii in 2003. Bethany, who comes from a family of surfers, is *incredibly* passionate about the sport and has competed for years alongside her best friend, Alana Blanchard (Lorraine Nicholson). Though both are committed to their Christian faith, they end up dropping out of a church mission to Mexico in order to train for a competition. Their recent placement at a previous contest secured both girls a sponsorship.

On Halloween, Bethany goes surfing alongside Alana and Alana’s father (Kevin Sorbo) and brother (Jeremy Sumpter). While her left arm dangles in the water, it is bitten off by a tiger shark. Bethany is rushed to the hospital, where her survival is considered a miracle after she loses more than 60 percent of the blood in her body.

The remainder of the film focuses on Bethany’s recovery and fierce commitment to learning how to surf with just one arm. As Bethany and her family struggle with the tabloid attention generated by the incident, she draws on her faith and eventually discovers a renewed sense of purpose that helps her persevere.

Is Soul Surfer based on a true story?

Dennis Quaid, AnnaSophia Robb, and Helen Hunt in ‘Soul Surfer’.

Mario Perez/FilmDistrict/Tristar

Yes, the movie is based on Hamilton’s 2004 memoir, *Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board. *The book details the shark attack and how her inner strength and Christian faith helped her get back on the board.

Hamilton was bitten by a 14-foot tiger shark that was later identified, caught near the attack site, and killed. Following the attack, Hamilton went into hypovolemic shock after losing more than 60% of her blood. As depicted in the film, Hamilton’s father, Tom (portrayed by Dennis Quaid), was at the hospital that day for scheduled knee surgery, but Hamilton took his place in the operating room and was treated by the same surgeon. Roughly one month later, Hamilton returned to surfing.

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Who plays Bethany Hamilton in Soul Surfer?

AnnaSophia Robb in ‘Soul Surfer’.

Mario Perez/FilmDistrict/Tristar

Hamilton is played by AnnaSophia Robb, whom *Sex and the City* fans may recognize as the young Carrie Bradshaw on The CW’s *The Carrie Diaries**. *Robb was a recognizable child actor during the 2000s, appearing in titles like *Because of Winn-Dixie *(2005)*, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory *(2005), *Bridge to Terabithia *(2007)*, *and *Race to Witch Mountain *(2009)*.*

Robb, 32, continues to act. In 2021, she appeared on *Dr. Death*, and a few years later, she starred on the NBC series *Grosse Pointe Garden Society. *She also had a supporting role in Jeremy Saulnier’s acclaimed 2024 thriller *Rebel Ridge*, and will soon portray Sylvester Stallone’s first wife, Sasha Czack, in the upcoming biopic *I Play Rocky**. *

Where is Bethany Hamilton now?

Bethany Hamilton during her first heat at Flynns Beach, Phillip Island on Jan. 22, 2007.

ANDREW DE LA RUE/Fairfax Media via Getty

Since the 2003 incident, Hamilton has become a surfing celebrity. These days, however, she balances her career with raising four children alongside her husband, Adam Dirks, whom she married in 2013.

Hamilton has written numerous books and competed in surfing events as recently as 2022. In 2018, she was featured in a documentary about her story, *Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, *which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival before receiving a theatrical release in 2019.

She is also a motivational speaker and founder of the Beautifully Flawed Foundation, which, among its many efforts, works to support young amputees. She also hosts the *All Things Possible* podcast, which features “real conversations about faith, courage, and living unstoppable.”

In 2024, Hamilton appeared as Macaron in season 12 of *The Masked Singer.*

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Where can I watch Soul Surfer?

*Soul Surfer* is currently available to stream on Netflix.

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Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Sports”