Not exactly a Hard Knock Life! Quvenzhané Wallis jokes around with the crew and works on her dance moves on Annie set

PUBLISHED: 15:16 EST, 28 September 2013 | UPDATED: 15:16 EST, 28 September 2013

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Playing the titular character in a movie can be exhausting but Quvenzhané Wallis showed no sign of fatigue on the set of Annie on Saturday.

The 10-year-old actress was in high spirits as she joked around with the crew before working on her dance moves with her body double.

Wallis could be forgiven for being tired as playing the main character she’ll be in most of the scenes but she was raring to go on the movie’s New York set.

Not exactly a Hard Knock Life: Although she's hard at work playing the titular character in Annie, Quvenzhané Wallis seemed to be enjoying herself on set in New York

Quvenzhané was dressed in the same ruffled denim skirt, grey tights and pink hooded sweatshirt she has been spotted filming in earlier this week.

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She joked around with the boom operator and even had a go at holding the microphone while some scenes were being filmed.

Helping out: Quvenzhané even helped the boom operator out by holding the microphone while scenes for the movie were being filmed in New York

She also perfected her dancing with the help of her older stunt double, who was dressed in identical clothing.

The modern day take on the iconic musical is being produced by Will Smith and Jay-Z and along with Wallis will feature Jamie Foxx.

Me and my shadow: Quvenzhané wore a pretty denim skirt as she tried out some dance moves with her body double on the set of Annie

Foxx plays wealthy politician Benjamin Stacks in the film - based on the character of Oliver 'Daddy' Warbucks - who opens his home and then subsequently his heart to Annie.

Cameron Diaz will also appear as the evil Miss Hannigan, who runs the New York orphanage where we first meet Annie.

Thinking pink: Quvenzhané's double looked substantially older than the blossoming ten-year-old actress

Directed by Will Gluck and based on a screenplay by Emma Thompson, the film was originally set to star Willow Smith as the famous orphan.

However, her father Will said she changed her mind after deciding she wanted to spend time with her friends and be an ordinary girl.

Is this right? Quvenzhane sought advice from her body double on how to proceed

'Willow had such a difficult time on tour with Whip my Hair and she said, "You know Daddy, I don't think so,'" Will Smith explained earlier this year.

'I said, "Baby, hold up! Listen, you'll be in New York with all of your friends and Beyonce will be there. You will be singing and dancing."

Precocious: The talented 10-year-old actress joked around with a crew member on set

‘And she looked at me and said, "Daddy, I have a better idea, how about I just be 12."'

It is thought that Jay-Z - a fan of the musical - will be providing some original music for the film.

'When the TV version [of Annie] came on, I was drawn to it,' he once revealed. 'It was the struggle of this poor kid in this environment and how her life changed... It immediately resonated.'

Perfect: The Oscar nominated starlet is perfect for the modern version of the beloved musical which is being created by Will Smith and Jay Z

On yer bike: Annie uses one of New York's Citi Bikes to make her way around the Big Apple in the movie

The rapper famously sampled the song Hard Knock Life in his 1998 hit Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) after hearing a DJ play an instrumental version of it.

'It immediately brought me back to my childhood and that feeling,’ he explained. ‘I knew right then and there that I had to make that record, and people would relate to the struggle and the aspiration in it as well.’