- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: STARS ATTEND THE PREMIERE OF STEPHEN DALDRY FILM "BILLY ELLIOT"
- Date: 27th September 2000
- Summary: (REUTERS) SMV JAMIE AND STEPHEN TALKING TO REPORTERS SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR STEPHEN DALDRY SAYING HOW SURPRISED HE IS AT HE FILM'S SUCCESS "I think it's still a surprise to be honest, for all of us that the film is going down as well as this. It's a small English film and I think for everybody working on it became very special." SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) JULIE
- Embargoed: 12th October 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA12FSCW40NIYJJD64SBHV8U2M9
- Story Text: He's only 14 and fast becoming Britain's youngest screen talent. Jamie Bell made his film debut in "Billy Elliot" - a moving story about a young boy going against the grain to become a dancer. The film is certificate 15, but at the premiere in London's Leicester Square, Jamie was still allowed in.
Hailed as the British film of the year, "Billy Elliot"
is set to become a major box office hit - and a change in the life of one 14-year-old boy from Billingham in the North East of England.
Jamie Bell is the star of Britain's latest masterpiece.
Like his character Billy Jamie started dancing at an early age and had to hide it from his friends because it wasn't the sort of thing a boy should do.
But he's laughing now - dancing his way into the hearts of everyone who goes to see the film.
Set in 1984 at the height of the miners' strike, "Billy Elliot" tells the story of Jacky Elliot, a miner and unflinching supporter of the strike, and his 11-year-old son, Billy.
Jacky has just learned what his son has been doing with the 50p a week set aside for boxing coaching - taking ballet lessons. Against the grain and with the unrelentless help of his ballet teacher Mrs. Wilkinson, played by Julie Walters, Billy manages to audition for the Royal Ballet School in London.
The film won the Edinburgh Film Festival audience prize, received a standing ovation at the Toronto Festival and has even been tipped for an Oscar by The Los Angeles Times.
It's a story about the human spirit and able to make you laugh and cry at the same time.
As with the case of Sam Mendes and the Oscar-winning American Beauty, once again a theatre director has made the crossover into film and scored with his debut.
This time it's Stephen Daldry, who is well known in theatre circles for his long-running West End play "An Inspector Calls".
Daldry auditioned 2000 boys for the role of Billy, a task that seemed almost impossible. But when it was Jamie's turn, his acting and dancing talents spoke for themselves.
Fellow actress Julie Walters says ""I used to say to Jamie, let's just do the bit where we go...he was so brilliant, he's a lovely boy to act with and be with."
Audiences around the UK and Ireland can see "Billy Elliot" when it hits the screens on September, 29. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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