When Billy

met Stephen

Stephen Gately, star of the soundtrack, is hanging out with Jamie Bell, star of the new movie, Billy Elliot. And Smash Hits is there to eavesdrop.

STAR MEETS STAR

Stephen: I loved Billy Elliot and I thought you were great in it. So, did you always want to be an actor?

Jamie: Not really. I wanted to be a dancer 'til I was eight and I started doing pantomimes. Suddenly, I realised that people weren't the same people on stage as they were ten minutes ago in the dressing room. I wanted to be someone else and feel the emotions they were feeling.

Stephen: I did dance for years and I used to teach it, but initially I wanted to be an actor. Do you remember the first show you ever did?

Jamie: (Laughs) Yeah, it was a pantomime called Sleeping Beauty. I was eight.

Stephen: Mikey Boyzone used to do pantomimes. I actually went for the lead role in The Snow Queen in Dublin just before I joined Boyzone. Luckily, I didn't get it otherwise I wouldn't be in the band now! It's funny how things turn out. What's your earliest memory of fame?

Jamie: Getting into the National Youth Music Theatre when I was ten. I did three years with them and we went all over the place. I went to the Edinburgh Festival in 1997.

Stephen: (Looks impressed) Wow, that's cool. I find I get really nervous in front of a small audience. Do you prefer performing in front of a smaller or a bigger audience?

Jamie: I get nervous when there's a smaller audience and they just don't do anything. It's quieter and just not nice.

IN THE MOVIES

Stephen: Were there any scenes in Billy Elliot you found particularly difficult to film?

Jamie: The hardest thing for me was doing the emotional scenes, especially when you have to cry.

Stephen: I can cry just like that (clicks his fingers). I just keep my eyes wide open for a while. . . (opens his eyes).

Jamie: So, you don't actually think about anything?

Stephen: No, it just happens (eyes start to look glassy).

Jamie: I have to think of something really sad.

Stephen: See (Stephen's eyes are full of tears).

Jamie: Wow. . .

Stephen: Then I just add a bit of a sniffle (laughs).

Jamie: In the movie, when Billy freaks out at Mrs Williamson, I was thinking about my sister 'cos I don't like her. I get my anger from there. In the crying scenes, I think about what the character is going through.

Stephen: What's the best thing about acting?

Jamie: Travelling and meeting great people.

Stephen: Travel really opens your mind. I think I learned more by travelling around in the past seven years than I could have ever learned at school. Your mates at school must be beside themselves with everything you're doing!

Jamie: They don't really know. They don't understand what goes on, so when I talk about it they lose interest.

Stephen: It's going to be a big shock to them. I went through a really similar thing to your character in the movie- I came from a poor background and I was always dancing. My parents would say, "Go to school and do this and do that," but I was always determined to be successful in the entertainment business. I could really relate to the movie. Has it changed your life at all?

Jamie: I'm wearing different clothes and I've started buying lots of labels, but I guess that's about it.

Stephen: Have you signed any autographs?

Jamie: Lots, yeah! I did a press conference in Cannes and all these people slammed their press packs down on the table and went, "Sign!" It was quite harsh.

Stephen: That's one thing I can't stand, the rudeness of some people! It doesn't cost anything to have manners.

DREAM ON!

Stephen: Have you met any famous people yet?

Jamie: I met Elton John in Cannes.

Stephen: He's a nice guy, yeah?

Jamie: He is. He said the film touched him. I'm going to America in two weeks, so that should be pretty big.

Stephen: Is there anyone famous you want to meet?

Jamie: Not really, no.

Stephen: Britney Spears?

Jamie: (Eyes light up) Oh yeah, just to rub it in to all the boys at school.

Stephen: One person I always wanted to meet was Michael Jackson and I met him three years ago in Dublin. I had my photo taken with him and had a quick chat. It was great. Who would be your dream co-star?

Jamie: Johnny Lee Miller. He's a young British actor who does loads with Jude Law. Would you like to be in a film?

Stephen: I'd love to do the X-Men sequel, like a superhero role. Or a comedy, or even a horror. Who would you like to do a kissing scene with? Julia Roberts?

Jamie: Nah.

Stephen: Britney Spears? (Jamie's eyes light up again) Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson. . .

Jamie: Mmm, probably Britney. No, I know, Liv Tyler.

Stephen: Do you have a message for your fans?

Jamie: I've got something to say to my school actually- thanks for everything that you've done for me. They let me have loads of time off which has been really helpful and they've always given me a lot of support.

Stephen: And I'd like to say thanks to all the fans for supporting me with my album. God bless.