Jamie Bell - interviewed by James Davies

I understand you didn’t have an easy time at school when your classmates found out you were having dancing lessons?


Yea, well it got out at school that I was having dancing lessons and I got hassle from some of the lads. It wasn't like punching or fighting. It was 'Jamie, why are you doing this, it's not right, it's a girlie thing, you should be doing football'. So, I just didn't tell them where I was going after football practice and went on to my dance lessons.


How did you cope with life after Billy Elliot?


It was interesting. I wanted to go back to school and get that out of the way, so I did that. Then Nicholas Nickleby came along and the great thing with that – and why it was such an important film, even though it didn’t much box-office – was that I played a cripple boy. For me, that was a conscious decision to do because the last time American audiences saw me, I was a boy dancing around and it was all very sweet and cute. But then to come back with this, it was just the complete opposite. It was a conscious decision and for me, that was an important film to make. After that, I just waited for the right scripts to come along.


Do you still dance?


Of course!


What's it like to be out there acting while most people your age are still trying to figure out what to do when they grow up?


Well, when I was 13 I had just finished Billy Elliot and I was thrust back into school again, and that was the hardest thing for me to do. There you are after making a film, and your head and your mentality are as a child's, and you're thinking, I have everything, everything and everybody is at my disposal, and I'm in charge. And instantly you're not. It can really ruin a person because you think you are the biggest thing that this planet has ever seen, because that's what they've built you up to be, and then you're not so hot anymore. Going back into school in Billingham I had to start all over again. But one advantage I had is that all the other kids in my school still had their dreams from when they were 6 years old--"I wanna be a fireman," "I wanna be a police officer", they hadn't really thought of what they wanted to do. But, luckily for me, I had this road already laid out for me, one which I will continue on.


Do you ever think that you have had to grow up rather quickly?


Oh definitely. This industry expects you to. When you go to the awards events you never see any Coca-Cola on the table, it’s always wine because they expect the people attending to be over 21. I think that I suddenly had to grow up at 13 and left my childhood behind me. On the positive side growing up so quickly has meant understanding a lot more. A lot of teenagers are just finding out who they are. I know what I want but a lot of kids my age don’t.


What ideally would you like to do in the long run?


Especially after this year, seeing how independent films are produced, I really want to pursue the more serious, small independent films. I'm working with some of the world's most interesting directors: David Gordon Green, Thomas Vinterberg, Lars von Trier ... And I'm pretty proud of myself for getting to work with Terrence Malick - he produced Undertow.


Do you have anyone who influenced or inspired you to become an actor?

 
Leonardo Di Caprio is a great role model for me because he started so yong and has managed to get through his teens and everything as an actor and keep progressing. He did a great movie when he was 18, ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?’ and has had blockbusters like ‘Titanic’ and ‘Gangs Of New York’.


What’s been your mum’s reaction to your amazing success?


My mother is surprised that I am still me after all I have gone through. But she helps to keep me grounded and travels with me. Any signs of a swollen head and she would bring me back to earth. You need people like that in your life to avoid going down the wrong road.


Are you comfortable with the prospect of fame?


I am. If it comes through doing films like this, then it’s OK. I’m incredibly proud of the films I’m doing at the minute. Mostly because of the people I’ve got to work with. I have so many actor-friends who work out of Los Angeles who are incredibly envious of me working with David, Thomas and now Peter. I step back and think, ‘I have been a lucky bastard’. I’m just incredibly flattered that I’ve had the opportunity to do it.