• Name: Jamie Bell
  • Date of Birth: March 14, 1986
  • Place of Birth: Billingham, England, UK
Mini-bio: A native of Billingham, England, Jamie Bell is an example of endurance and dedication paying off if there ever was one. Though the aspiring young dancer was the object of frequent teasing by school cl... read moreassmates (who dubbed him "Poof" and "Ballerina Boy," among other unsavory monikers), he persevered and ultimately landed the lead in the affecting 2000 drama Billy Elliot. Bell's family has a rich history in the world of dance that dates back to his grandmother. Though at first shy about his ambitions, the boy quietly imitated the moves of his older sister as she practiced in the studio; by the time he was six, others began to recognize his natural talent and encouraged him to practice, though Bell tried to keep his extracurricular activities a secret from his classmates. He later enrolled in the Stagecoach Theater School in hopes of refining his acting skills. Practice in both arenas ultimately paid off when Bell was selected from more than 2,000 young hopefuls to fill the toeshoes of the titular character in Stephen Daldry's Billy Elliot. During the production of the film, the fresh-faced actor and veteran director developed a warm, father/son-like bond that helped Bell gain the confidence he needed to fully explore his talent. An unexpected hit that was embraced by critics and audiences around the world, Billy Elliot earned many prestigious nominations and awards, including BAFTAs for Best British Film and Best Actor for its young star, who was also named Best Newcomer at The British Independent Film Awards. Though he subsequently hung up his ballet shoes in favor of more acting roles, Bell continued to impress in such features as the horror-flavored war film Deathwatch and the Charles Dickens adaptation Nicholas Nickleby (both 2002). The following year, the busy young actor took the lead in no less than three films: Dear Wendy, Undertow and Who Goes There? -- all scheduled for release in 2004.Bell continued to work with the best directors, signing on with Peter Jackson for his remake of King Kong and playing a part for Clint Eastwood in Flags of Our Fathers. In 2008 he appeared in the World War II drama Defiance. Three years later he had an international hit of a sort when he provided the physical basis for the lead character in Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tin Tin, and appeared in the well-reviewed adaptation of Jane Eyre starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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Jamie Bell Wiki Profile

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Jamie Bell mini-bio:

Jamie Bell was born in 1986 in Billingham, England, UK, coming 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.


VITAL STATS

Jamie Bell Information:
Eye color: Blue eyes
Height: 5'8 (173cm)
Nickname(s):
Notable feature(s): Light brown hair
Education:
Family:
Resides in:
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Trivia
Started dancing when he was six. Dancers have been in his family for ages. His sister, his mother, grandmother, and aunt all danced before him.

First decided to act when he was nine.

First acting performance is reported to be part of the London stage production of Bugsy Malone in Christmas 1998.

Was teased by classmates when they found out that Jamie took ballet, and called him "Ballerina Boy".

When he won Best Actor at the 2001 British Academy Awards (BAFTAs), not only did he beat the Best Actor Oscar winner of that year, Russell Crowe, but the other three nominees he beat out - Tom Hanks, Michael Douglas and Geoffrey Rush - had also won the Best Actor Oscar in past years.

Lives in Billingham with his mother Eileen and older sister Cathryn. He has no contact with his father John whom his mother divorced before Jamie was born.

Was chosen out of 2000 boys to play "Billy Elliot" over a series of seven auditions. Criteria that the casting director was looking for were acting ability, dancing ability and the right Northern English accent.

Only the second actor ever to be awarded Outstanding Performance by a Young Actor from the National Board of Review, USA. The first was fellow Brit Christian Bale in 1987 (then titled Outstanding Juvenile Performance) for Empire of the Sun (1987).

Prefers tap dancing over ballet. Has been in many tap-dancing competitions and won many awards.

Was Honorary Jury President of the 2001 Giffoni Film Festival.

A former student at the Stagecoach Theater School.

He became interested in baseball when he visited the United States for the first time, and he began collecting all of the teams jerseys.

Named among Fade In Magazine's "100 People in Hollywood You Need to Know" in 2005.

He was accompanied by his then girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood to the King Kong (2005) premiere in New York.

Met his former girlfriend, Evan Rachel Wood, while filming 'Green Day''s music video for "Wake Me Up When September Ends" where they played an actual couple.

Divides his time between London and New York.

Very good friends with Anne Hathaway, Romola Garai and Charlie Hunnam whom he met while filming Nicholas Nickleby (2002).

Was ranked #19 on Entertainment Weekly's '30 Under 30' the actors list.(2008).

Sister's name is Cathryn.

Mother's name is Eileen.

Father's name is John, but he has never met him.

Arsenal is his favorite British soccer team.


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Jamie Bell Trivia

  • This film features Jamie Bell sucking milk straight from the cow.  Answer »
  • Before Peter Jackson's King Kong in 2005, in which movie do Andy Serkis and Jamie Bell appear together?  Answer »
  • Who plays Billy Elliot?  Answer »
  • What was the name of the actor who played himself in the music video for Green Day "Wake me up when September ends"  Answer »

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