2 comments!

Jamie Bell Bio

Dec 18, 2011

Actor Jamie Bell first grabbed viewers' attention with his star turn in the film Billy Elliot, about a young boy in a poor English village who wanted to dance. This holiday season the 25-year-old actor stars in The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn. Find out more in his Kidzworld Bio!

Tin Tin is animated but based on real actors, it's out on December 23rd (just in time for Christmas!)

Jamie first broke on to the acting scene with his performance in Billy Elliot, a feel good movie about a boy who can dance

Dancing runs in Jamie's family, and lead to his career as an actor

British Boy

Andrew James Matfin (now known as Jamie Bell) grew up in Billingham, England, with his Mother Eileen and sister Kathryn. Although he takes his stage name from his father John Bell, his father did not stay with his family. Jamie first became interested in dance when he would accompany his younger sister to ballet lessons, and later went to a performing arts school and became a member of the National Youth Music Theater. In fact, dancing runs in his family, his grandparents and parents danced too!

The Big Break and Billy Elliot

Over 2,000 boys auditioned for the role of Billy Elliot, but it was Jamie who landed the role. The film centers around an 11-year-old boy in a small depressed English mining village who discovers that while he hates boxing, he has a great talent in dance. But because of the attitudes in his town he’s afraid to share his gift with his closest family. Billy Elliot had widespread success commercially and with critics. It launched Jamie’s film career and he was nominated for tons of awards that year based on his outstanding performance. He won Best Newcomer and Best Male Performer at the BAFTA awards (the British Oscars). After that Jamie went on to star in more films and guest star on British television, but it wasn’t long until he was performing for American audiences again.

King Kong to Tin Tin

Jamie nabbed a role in the 2005 blockbuster remake of King Kong as young Jimmy, as well as the sci-fi thriller Jumper. After getting a taste of the big screen he went on to star in the World War II drama Defiance, and classic book-to-movie Jane Eyre alongside Mia Wasikowska. His latest and greatest project is the The Adventures of Tin Tin: The Secret of the Unicorn, out in North America soon!