Jamie Bell, an "unbelievably versatile" actor, was born in 1986 in Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England, UK, to Eileen (Matfin) and John Bell, a toolmaker.
Born into a family of dancers, his grandmother, mother, aunt, and sister all shared a passion for dance, which would later influence his own career. As a young boy, Jamie would stand outside his sister's dance practices, imitating the movements of the dancers inside. At the age of six, he was encouraged to join in, and thus began his dance career.
Jamie's story parallels that of Billy Elliot (2000),as he kept his dancing a secret from his friends at school. His mother had him at the age of 16, and unfortunately, he never knew his father.
When Jamie met Stephen Daldry, director of Billy Elliot (2000),he adopted him as his father figure. Once his dancing abilities became public, he was harassed, but this only fueled his determination to prove that dancing wasn't just for girls.
Jamie's hard work paid off when he landed the title role of Billy Elliot (2000),winning the role in an audition that included over 2,000 boys from the northeast of England. His performance in the film justified his selection, winning the hearts of moviegoers worldwide and earning him numerous awards, including a Best Newcomer Award and a Best Male Performance at the BAFTA awards.
