Jamie Bell

Birthday: 14 March 1986, Billingham, Stockton on Tees, England, UK

Height: 170 cm

Jamie Bell was born in 1986 in Billingham, England, UK, to Eileen (Matfin) and John Bell, a toolmaker. He comes from a family of dancers including his grandmother, mother, aunt, and sister. It was at his sister's dance practices that he would stand outside the door and imitate the movements of the dancers inside. At age six, he was encouraged to step inside the door and, thus, his dance career began. His own story parallels that of Billy Elliot (2000) in that Jamie kept his dancing a secret from his friends at school. His mother had him when she was 16 and, unfortunately, he never knew his father.When he met Stephen Daldry, director of Billy Elliot (2000), Jamie adopted him as his father. Once the word about his dancing got out, he was harassed, but this only made him more determined to prove that dancing wasn't just for girls. He has proven a lot by landing the title role of Billy Elliot (2000), winning the role in an audition that included more than 2,000 boys from the northeast of England. His ensuing performance certainly justified the selection since he has not only won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world, he has also been nominated for and won a number of awards, including a Best Newcomer Award and then a Best Male Performance at the BAFTA awards. Show less «

[assured fans he won't suffer the same fate] "I wouldn't do a Macaulay. I have sensible people aroun...Show more »

[assured fans he won't suffer the same fate] "I wouldn't do a Macaulay. I have sensible people around me. I see this industry as a risky business. The money thing has always been in my control. I have always had people looking after it for me. I do love buying things - stupid gadgets. I'll say, 'I want one of them.' But I do the sensible thing, knuckle down, do some good work and keep a low profile." Show less «

[on filming The Adventures of Tintin (2011): The Secret of the Unicorn] There were times when I didn...Show more »

[on filming The Adventures of Tintin (2011): The Secret of the Unicorn] There were times when I didn't think I could do another take, but it does help to know your way through the pain. I am not an old man by any means, but when you are in a [motion-capture] suit and helmet, it is not the most comfortable environment. Show less «

It's fortunate that I don't have to live with being Ballet Boy any more. After this I'll be called t...Show more »

It's fortunate that I don't have to live with being Ballet Boy any more. After this I'll be called the nipple-circling dress-wearer or Rat Boy. - On his character Hallem Foe. Show less «

I like being able to hide behind the characters I play. I like to be an elusive and anonymous actor.

Ballet is very hard. It takes a lot of practice to get to a certain standard. You have to know a lot...Show more »

Ballet is very hard. It takes a lot of practice to get to a certain standard. You have to know a lot about the steps because when you take examinations they'll ask you all about it. Show less «

(It's true that) most British movies are emotional and I agree that most American actors look manufa...Show more »

(It's true that) most British movies are emotional and I agree that most American actors look manufactured. It's a shame. Show less «

"(Billy Elliot (2000)) got that (R-rating) because of the swearing. But it wouldn't be what it was w...Show more »

"(Billy Elliot (2000)) got that (R-rating) because of the swearing. But it wouldn't be what it was without the swearing, kids need to swear". Show less «

I can appreciate the spotlight and pressure Heath was under. There is a feeling that, however suppor...Show more »

I can appreciate the spotlight and pressure Heath was under. There is a feeling that, however supportive your family is, you are very much on your own in this business. I cannot pretend to know what was going on in his life. I can imagine how he felt. The film business is wonderful and I love it. But the flip side is that the expectations are very big . . . don't get ill and don't get depressed. - On Heath Ledger and the pressures of working too much. Show less «

The young generation of actors are lazy. They don't do any work. They turn up, and say their lines. ...Show more »

The young generation of actors are lazy. They don't do any work. They turn up, and say their lines. I would rather get better at what I do. Show less «

I'm not delusional. I know I'm 5'7" with slightly jug ears.

(why he picks roles based on directors) "I love looking down my résumé and seeing all those great ...Show more »

(why he picks roles based on directors) "I love looking down my résumé and seeing all those great people on it like David Gordon Green, and of course Peter Jackson and Stephen Daldry. When I look at it, I feel very proud for myself and the people around me who have managed to get me these roles." Show less «

[on why he continued pursuing ballet despite the mockery] - "The other boys called me 'poof', 'balle...Show more »

[on why he continued pursuing ballet despite the mockery] - "The other boys called me 'poof', 'ballerina boy', "Get on your tutu, Jamie." It gave me more determination to prove it wasn't just for girls. It was for boys as well." Show less «

It makes no real difference because he was never there. Never having it (support from father), you d...Show more »

It makes no real difference because he was never there. Never having it (support from father), you don't really miss it. (My mother) raised me and my sister herself. That was incredibly difficult. Show less «

I can understand why everyone sees me as Billy Elliot; it was the first thing I did, so I was determ...Show more »

I can understand why everyone sees me as Billy Elliot; it was the first thing I did, so I was determined to take the most diverse route possible. It wasn't to annoy people, but it seems to have upset so many people. Show less «

(on Hollywood) "I go because that's where the work is, but I like, use and abuse. I fly in for the m...Show more »

(on Hollywood) "I go because that's where the work is, but I like, use and abuse. I fly in for the meetings, then fly out. That community is really small, so everybody knows each other. I kind of don't like that. It's not really a community I feel very welcome in." Show less «

I have grown in confidence. And I do like to think I know the difference between confidence and arro...Show more »

I have grown in confidence. And I do like to think I know the difference between confidence and arrogance. Show less «

I hate maths. I can't stand it. Circumferences of circles and stuff - it's horrible.

I think I became my own person dealing with my mother and sister. I never had a father figure so I n...Show more »

I think I became my own person dealing with my mother and sister. I never had a father figure so I never missed it. In fact, I thought it would be just another person to discipline me. Show less «

I know people think that if you've had success young, you're going to blow it, but did you see "Batm...Show more »

I know people think that if you've had success young, you're going to blow it, but did you see "Batman" (The Dark Knight (2008)), did you see Christian Bale? He's so on top of his game. I've worked with a Culkin - Rory Culkin, he's a totally centered guy and he's something ridiculous, like 15. Whatever happened with Macaulay Culkin I don't know. The kid isn't messed up. Something happens to the kid to make them messed up. People are not born messed up. Things happen. People should be more sensitive. Show less «

My biggest fear was that I would not be able to take the step from a child actor to an adult.I think...Show more »

My biggest fear was that I would not be able to take the step from a child actor to an adult.I think it happened when I was able to play a soldier in Deathwatch (2002), set in the trenches of the first world war. The film didn't quite work out - it was a very good movie, almost - but I think that got me up and running as a grown-up actor. Show less «

I think it would have ruined my life. Can you imagine going back to school on Tuesday after winning ...Show more »

I think it would have ruined my life. Can you imagine going back to school on Tuesday after winning an Oscar? You'd be nuts. It's unsafe in this industry for a young person. You need to be protected and to keep good people around you - On missing out an Academy Award nomination for Billy Elliot (2000). Show less «

Inner demons? Got none of them. I had teen angst for a while, but I think every teenager has the ang...Show more »

Inner demons? Got none of them. I had teen angst for a while, but I think every teenager has the angst. Show less «

You probably won't see me dance in the movies again unless there's a 'Moulin Rouge 2' or 'Chicago Re...Show more »

You probably won't see me dance in the movies again unless there's a 'Moulin Rouge 2' or 'Chicago Returns'. Show less «

[on winning awards, after he won the British Academy award] "It's just an award although it is a big...Show more »

[on winning awards, after he won the British Academy award] "It's just an award although it is a big one. It is no good getting too big-headed. I've been very busy and I'm very tired. I've been given advice, you know on speech-making and things like that. It's kind of weird that the other guys didn't win because they're such big guys." Show less «

I'm a hard-mouthed north-eastern lad. That's me - the Eminem of Northeast England.

Learning my skill was more important than getting a big pay cheque or running away from big robots.

Jamie Bell

Jamie Bell's FILMOGRAPHY

Jamie Bell'S roles

Feedback about this page?