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 in that Jamie kept his dancing a secret from his friends at school. His mother had him when she was 16 and, unfortunately, never knew his father.

When he met Stephen Daldry, director of Billy Elliot, 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, winning the role in an audition that included more than 2,000 boys from the northeast of Great Britain. 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. As a star on the rise, we should expect to hear more from Jamie in years to come, but first he needs to finish his homework.


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 acting performance is reported to be part of the London stage production of Bugsy Malone in Christmas 1998. 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. 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. Prefers tap dancing over ballet. Has been in many tap-dancing competitions and won many awards. A former student at the Stagecoach Theater School. Named among Fade In Magazine's "100 People in Hollywood You Need to Know" in 2005. 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. Very good friends with Anne Hathaway, Romola Garai and Charlie Hunnam whom he met while filming Nicholas Nickleby (2002). Sister's name is Cathryn. Father's name is John, but he has never met him. Was in a relationship with Evan Rachel Wood (June 2005-September 2006).