text: The baby who died in Poldark's emotional season finale last night is a true survivor in real-life, having beaten the odds to live after she was born prematurely. Little Matilda Fitt - who played baby Julia Poldark in the BBC drama  - was born to 34-year-old Hannah Fitt nine weeks early in their home town of Barry, South Wales, weighing just 2lb 12oz. Matilda, now 21 months old, won the part to make her small screen debut only weeks after leaving the hospital, where she was treated for pneumonia. Scroll down for video . Little Matilda Fitt (left) - who played baby Julia Poldark in the BBC drama (right) - was born nine weeks early in Barry, South Wales, weighing just 2lb 12oz . Matilda was chosen to play to Julie, who in the TV show died from putrid throat, because of her small size. Now Mrs Fitt has revealed how watching the scene brought tears to her eyes. 'It was very emotional seeing it because of what we’ve been through,' she said. 'Matilda was in and out of hospital for check-ups and tests since birth. She had a lot of breathing difficulties and pneumonia. 'But last September she was finally discharged from hospital consultant care and a few weeks later she won the part of Julia.' Mrs Fitt took Matilda  for the filming in Cornwall last year to meet stars Aiden Turner and Eleanor Tomlison. Matilda was chosen to play to Julie, who in the TV show died from putrid throat, because of her small size . Matilda, now 21 months old, lives with her mother Hannah, 34, (left) and dad Matthew, 33, (right) 'The cast were all great with her and Aiden Turner is as lovely as everyone says,' she said. 'All the cast were - especially Eleanor. She’s a very special person, extremely down to earth and just lovely - she was great with Matilda. 'Some scenes were tricky to nail because baby Julia is supposed to be really poorly and we knew Matilda did have to die on camera. 'As you can imagine, getting a 15-month-old to play dead was no easy feat but she coped really well. 'In one scene she is lying on a bed fully made-up and the doctor is mopping her brow. But I was there with sweets to make sure she was happy.' Matilda was on set for five days and even had her own trailer . 'As you can imagine, getting a 15-month-old to play dead was no easy feat but she coped really well,' said Mrs Fitt, pictured on set with Matilda . Millions tuned in to watch the series finale yesterday evening, and were shocked by the death of Ross and Demalza’s baby daughter. Julia caught putrid throat from her mother, who contracted it after the disease broke out among the people of Trenwith. Matilda, who lives with her mum and dad Matthew Fitt, 33, was cast as the older of two young children who played Julia. Matilda, pictured, won the part to make her small screen debut only weeks after leaving the hospital, where she was treated for pneumonia . Matilda was in and out of hospital for check-ups and tests for months after her birth, and her mother said watching the Poldark death scene brought tears to her eyes . 'We want everyone to know that in real life Julie - or Matilda - is very well and doing fine,' her mother said, describing her daughter as 'a little star' Mrs Fitt, who works for the SAFE Foundation helping disadvantaged people, said: 'It was only a few weeks after she was released from hospital care that my sister-in-law saw the casting call for a baby girl. 'We decided to put her forward. Soon after that she was accepted and we were told only minimal information. All I knew is that it was filming for a BBC production. 'We spent five days filming. Matilda was a bit of a diva occasionally but she always came around with some bribery of toys and books. 'She even had her own trailer and a rider of green grapes. But we want everyone to know that in real life Julie - or Matilda - is very well and doing fine. She is a little star.'
target: Matilda Fitt, now 21 months old, played baby Julia Poldark in BBC show .
  The real-life infant was born nine weeks early, and battled pneumonia .
  Matilda was chosen to play Julia because of her small size .
  Unlike her character, who died of putrid throat, Matilda is now doing well .