Was Billy Elliot a true story?
Was the movie Billy Elliot Based on a true story? LONDON (dpa) - Billy Elliot, the hugely successful British film about a young kid from a tough northern England mining town who becomes a ballet dancer, is based on a real person. "Yes, a large part of Billy Elliot's story is also my own story," says Mosley, massaging his right calf.
Was Billy Elliot a real person?
LONDON (dpa) – Billy Elliot, the hugely successful British film about a young kid from a tough northern England mining town who becomes a ballet dancer, is based on a real person.
Who are the characters in Billy Elliot?
- Jamie Bell as Billy Elliot Adam Cooper as Billy aged 25
- Julie Walters as Sandra Wilkinson
- Gary Lewis as Jackie Elliot
- Jamie Draven as Tony Elliot
- Jean Heywood as Grandma
- Stuart Wells as Michael Caffrey Merryn Owen as Michael aged 25
- Nicola Blackwell as Debbie Wilkinson
- Colin Maclachlan as Tom Wilkinson
- Mike Elliott as George Watson
Is Billy Elliot story true?
Is Billy Elliot based on a real story? LONDON (dpa) – Billy Elliot, the hugely successful British film about a young kid from a tough northern England mining town who becomes a ballet dancer, is based on a real person. . « Yes, a large part of Billy Elliot’s story is also my own story, » says Mosley, massaging his right calf.
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Is Billy Elliot based on a real person?
The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, and Jamie Bell, who played Billy, was widely praised for his performance. The character of Billy was actually inspired by a real man who faced similar struggles in his pursuit of becoming an opera singer in the 60s.
Who was the character Billy Elliot based on?
His father objects, based on negative stereotypes of male ballet dancers. The film stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, Gary Lewis as his father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older brother, and Julie Walters as his ballet teacher....Billy ElliotBudget$5 millionBox office$109.3 million14 more rows
Where is the real Billy Elliot?
The performer who inspired the Billy Elliot story is going to be installed as the chancellor of Durham University. The international opera star, Sir Thomas Allen, is to be formally inducted as the university's ceremonial head on Tuesday.
Who is Billy Elliot now?
Andrew James Matfin Bell (born 14 March 1986) is an English actor and dancer. He rose to prominence for his debut role in Billy Elliot (2000), for which he won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, becoming one of the youngest winners of the award....Jamie BellChildren25 more rows
Is Tom Holland Billy Elliot?
Holland is a trained ballet dancer who cut his teeth playing Billy Elliot on the West End stage. Holland made his debut in the show, which follows a young boy from County Durham who has to hide his love for ballet, in 2008 after choreographer, Lynne Page, spotted him performing with his dance school.
How many Billy Elliots have there been?
A total of 83 boys, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film, have now performed the title role around the world, Over the last 10 years, the London cast has pirouetted through almost 3,000 ballet shoes.
What is the story of Billy Elliot?
The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner's son in Northern England, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Before long, he finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class' exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. With a tart tongue and a never-ending stream of cigarettes in her hand, Mrs. Wilkinson's zest for teaching is revived when she sees Billy's potential.Billy Elliot / Film synopsis
What is the message of Billy Elliot?
'Billy Elliot' is a classic story, set in 1984 in Northern England. It is about a boy who discovers a passion for dancing. The film brings out a strong message of being true to yourself and overcoming conflict but ultimately it is also a story of persistence.
How Old Is Billy Elliot?
eleven-year-oldSet against the background of the 1984 Miner's Strike, Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) is an eleven-year-old boy who stumbles out of the boxing ring and onto the ballet floor.
How did Tom Holland become Billy Elliot?
Holland's career began at age nine when he enrolled in a dancing class, where a choreographer noticed him and arranged for him to audition for a role in Billy Elliot the Musical at London's Victoria Palace Theatre.
How long was Tom Holland in Billy Elliot?
Tom Holland's last performance as Billy, in the London production of Billy Elliot the Musical, took place on Saturday, May 29, 2010, just a couple of days shy of his 14th birthday and after 21 months in the role.
Is Billy Elliot Spider-Man?
Bww Flashback: Spidey Can Dance! Watch Tom Holland as Billy Elliot. Tom Holland is the latest actor to play the iconic role of Spider-Man in the new film Spider-Man Homecoming. But did you know he was a child star of Billy Elliot in London's West End Check out these ...
Who are the characters in Billy Elliot?
Mrs. WilkinsonJulie WaltersBilly ElliotJamie Bell, Adam CooperDebbieNicola BlackwellMr. BraithwaiteBilly FaneTony ElliotJamie DravenMichael CaffreyStuart Wells, Merryn OwenBilly Elliot/Characters
What is the message of Billy Elliot?
'Billy Elliot' is a classic story, set in 1984 in Northern England. It is about a boy who discovers a passion for dancing. The film brings out a strong message of being true to yourself and overcoming conflict but ultimately it is also a story of persistence.
Who is Mrs Wilkinson Billy Elliot?
Annette McLaughlinWe caught up with Annette McLaughlin who plays Mrs Wilkinson to find out how she connects with her character, Billy's dance teacher, her challenges learning to skip and tap at the same time and what she thinks it takes to play Billy Elliot.
What is the story of Billy Elliot?
The life of 11-year-old Billy Elliot, a coal miner's son in Northern England, is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class during his weekly boxing lesson. Before long, he finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class' exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. With a tart tongue and a never-ending stream of cigarettes in her hand, Mrs. Wilkinson's zest for teaching is revived when she sees Billy's potential.Billy Elliot / Film synopsis
What was Billy Elliot's inspiration?
While the film Billy Elliot was drawing huge crowds at the cinema yesterday, and expected to break first-weekend box office records, the real life inspiration for the heart-warming story was at a Royal Ballet gala - and looking back on his own arabesque from northern backstreets to Covent Garden. In the case of the Royal Ballet star Philip Mosley ...
Who said "We are very proud of Billy Elliot"?
His mother echoed: "We are very proud of him. We're glad he didn't have to go through everything Billy Elliot had to face."
Who was Barnsley in the Royal Ballet?
In the case of the Royal Ballet star Philip Mosley it was Barnsley rather than Billy's north-east, and the thumping rhythm of The Jam's A Town Called Malice had to be in his own small head rather than on Dolby cinema speakers.
Who is Philip in Midsummer Night's Dream?
Philip, now 33, is a first artist with the Royal Ballet and his roles have included Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Who said "Philip had been doing it so long"?
Mrs Mosley, now retired like her husband, said: "Philip had been doing it so long, that no one really gave it a second thought. They'd come round to our house, just a terrace then though we've got three bedrooms now, and say: 'How's the lad doing?' Everyone knew that Albert was always finding time between jobs to run him around to classes or performances, and there were real celebrations when he got in."
Who is Mosley's dad?
Unlike Billy's father in the film, who was initially furious at his youngest son's desire to play "girls'" games, Mosley's dad, Albert , a plumber, was not averse to dance. He and Margaret had seen the South Yorkshire town caught by dance fever at a crucial time in their own lives.
Did Mosley hide his passion?
Mosley never hid his passion. His mother said: "He wasn't even three but he went on at me about going with her. I tells him: 'Lads don't go to dancing class' but he was just a bit persistent. So I asks the teacher, Rosalind Wicks, if she takes lads and she jumped at him.
What is Billy Elliot about?
Set in County Durham in North East England during the 1984–85 miners' strike, the film is about a working-class boy who discovers his passion for ballet, despite his father's objection and the negative stereotype associated ...
How much did Billy Elliot make?
Billy Elliot received positive critical response and commercial success, earning $109.3 million worldwide on a $5 million budget. At the 2001 British Academy Film Awards, the film won three of thirteen award nominations. Jamie Bell became the youngest winner for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
How old was Billy Elliot when he started dancing?
In 1984, Billy Elliot, an 11-year-old from the fictional Everington in County Durham, England, loves to dance and has hopes of becoming a professional ballet dancer.
When was Billy Elliot the Musical first released?
In 2001, the film was adapted as a novel by Melvin Burgess. The story was also adapted for the West End stage as Billy Elliot the Musical, first produced in 2005. It opened in Australia in 2007 and on Broadway in New York City in 2008.
How old was Billy when he performed Swan Lake?
In 1998, 25-year-old Billy takes the stage to perform as the Swan in Matthew Bourne 's Swan Lake, as Jackie, Tony, and Michael watch from the audience. Billy's father is visibly moved by his performance.
How old is Billy from the movie?
The film stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, Gary Lewis as his father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older brother, and Julie Walters as his ballet teacher. Adapted from a play called Dancer by Lee Hall, development on the film began in 1999.
Why does Jackie take Billy to London?
Jackie attempts to cross the picket line to pay for the trip to London, but Tony stops him. Instead, his fellow miners and the neighbourhood raise some money and Jackie pawns Billy's mother's jewellery to cover the cost, and Jackie takes him to London to audition.
What is the real Billy Elliot?
The real Billy Elliot: How one family sacrificed everything to fulfill their son's dancing dream. His story could easily have been the inspiration for the hit film Billy Elliot: Boy from a mining village develops a passion for dance, to the bewilderment of his staunchly working-class family. Dominic Handford's father, Jonathan, is ...
Did Billy Elliot ban ballet dancers?
'People were surprised but never critical. There used to be a stigma about male ballet dancers, but Billy Elliot banished that,' says Adele.
What are some interesting facts about Billy Elliot?
10 Behind The Scenes Facts About Billy Elliot. Billy Elliot is one of the most inspiring movies to come out of the U.K. and is still popular today. Here are some lesser-known facts about the film. Billy Elliot is one of the most critically acclaimed and culturally significant British movies of the past several decades.
How old was Billy Elliot in the movie?
9 Jamie Bell’s Puberty. Billy Elliot is an 11-year-old boy and, as such, the actor portraying Billy had to be suitably aged for the role. As a result, aged 12 at the time, Jamie Bell was cast in the role of Billy Elliot. However, Jamie Bell’s age, while making him ideal for the role, also meant he was in the throes of puberty at the time.
What town was Billy Elliot filmed in?
Easington Colliery , the town that stood in for Everington during the filming of Billy Elliot, was a former coal-mining town with close connections between its inhabitants. In order to reflect this tight-knit community, cinematographer Brian Tufano had the scenes in the mining village feel as claustrophobic as possible.
Why does Tufano open up the scenes in which Billy dances?
However, Tufano would open up the scenes in which Billy dances to highlight how Billy feels free when he dances, allowing him to escape the social pressure of his community.
What is the movie "Billy" about?
The film follows Billy as he learns to gain the support of his family and friends, despite the art of men's ballet being frowned upon by his working-class community. The film famously concludes with a time jump, showing Billy dancing in Swan Lake for his father and brother.
Where did Jamie Bell live?
Additionally, Jamie Bell also comes from the North East of England. The actor lived in nearby Billingham prior to starring in Billy Elliot.
Who studied ballet in 10?
10 Jamie Bell Studied Ballet. The film followed the titular Billy Elliot as he found a love of ballet, showing the boy as he managed to both learn about the art form and also learn how to convince those close to him that ballet is a worthy pursuit. What is interesting is that Jamie Bell, the actor who portrays Billy Elliot, ...
Overview
Billy Elliot is a 2000 British coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Daldry and written by Lee Hall. Set in County Durham in North East England during the 1984–1985 miners' strike, the film is about a working-class boy who discovers a passion for ballet. His father objects, based on negative stereotypes of male ballet dancers. The film stars Jamie Bell as 11-year-old Billy, Gary Lewis as his father, Jamie Draven as Billy's older brother, and Julie Walters as his ballet teacher.
Plot
In 1984, Billy Elliot, an 11-year-old from the fictional Everington in County Durham, England, loves to dance and has hopes of becoming a professional ballet dancer. Billy lives with his widowed father, Jackie, and older brother, Tony, both coal miners out on strike (the latter being the union delegate). His maternal grandmother lives with them; she has Alzheimer's disease and had on…
Cast
• Jamie Bell as Billy Elliot
• Julie Walters as Sandra Wilkinson
• Gary Lewis as Jackie Elliot
• Jamie Draven as Tony Elliot
Production
Lee Hall developed Billy Elliot from his play Dancer, which premiered as a rehearsed reading in 1998 at the Live Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne. He was heavily influenced by photographer Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen's book Step by Step, about a dancing school in nearby North Shields. Writing in 2009, Hall said that "almost every frame of Billy Elliot was influenced by Step by Step [...] as every …
Reception
Billy Elliot premiered on 19 May at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival under the title Dancer. It was later decided to re-title the film Billy Elliot to avoid confusion with Dancer in the Dark, another film at Cannes that year. Billy Elliot was theatrically released on 29 September 2000 in the United Kingdom by Universal Pictures and Focus Features. In the United States, the film was released on 13 Octobe…
Stage musical
After the film's release, English singer-songwriter Elton John collaborated with the film's screenwriter Lee Hall to produce a musical adaptation of the film, which premiered 31 March 2005 at the Victoria Palace Theatre on the West End. Many of the film's crew took part in the stage production, including director Stephen Daldry and choreographer Peter Darling. The musical received positive reviews and ran for over 4,000 performances before closing in April 2016.
See also
• Brassed Off
• The Stars Look Down
• Yeh Ballet
• Hula Girls
• The Full Monty
Further reading
• Jacqueline Jones, "Small Towns and Big Dreams: Meditations on Two Mining-Town Movies" Perspectives on History (Feb 2011) 49#2 pp 30–31, compares film with "How Green Was My Valley".