Jamie Bell should have been nominated for Best Actor at the 2001 Academy Awards

I recently watched it again after having seen it in the theater, I had forgotten how truly wonderful it is...Jamie should have been nominated.

He did win a BAFTA for the role.

Why wasn’t there a nude scene?

it was a pretty strong year with Russell Crowe in Gladiator and Tom Hanks in Cast Away, but Jamie Bell definitely held his own in his role as Billy Elliot. He could have and should have easily won.

For a child actor, Jamie Bell was incredible.

Anyone who has never seen the movie should watch it. BE is an AMAZING film.

The acting, and the message of the movie will never get old.

Totally agree OP. It is in my top three of all time flicks. Amazing.

Jamie also deserved a Supporting Actor nod In Film Stars Don't Die In Liverpool. He was wonderful.

The “electricity” scene gets me. Every time.

And the final 15 seconds with that leap and the dad’s reaction. I try to hold back the tears and I end up coughing or being stupid because it is so beautiful.

I would have given Tom’s nomination to Jamie.

When I watch Jamie's acting in Billy Elliot, I swear that it is on par with any adult actor.

He had such a mature sensibility at that age, and it was truly amazing to watch.

Also, the rest of the cast was unreal too. The ballet teacher. The dad. The brother. The little girl in ballet class sucking on a lollipop and being banal. Every one of them were amazing. Hollywood can suck a dick. That cast was amazing.

Absolutely, R8.

The Swan Lake theme throughout the movie, was so moving.

But the end? Omg... you can't watch the ending and not cry.

To see his working class father and brother, drag themselves to London to watch Billy perform in the ballet, and be so proud.

I'm tearing up, just writing about it.

Jamie Bell should also have been nominated as a supporting actor in Rocketman, as Bernie Taupin.

He is very often the best thing about the movie he is in.

In The Eagle (not an Oscar movie) he acted like he was in a different film from the others. And you really want to see that film.

[quote] Also, the rest of the cast was unreal too. The ballet teacher.

Yes! I just watched the movie earlier today, and I never realized that the ballet teacher was Mrs. Weasley from the Harry Potter movies!

Julie Walters played perfectly, against Jamie Bell.

^r12. Exactly. The power of knowing that the beauty of what his son has done/is doing and the knowledge that this wonderful talent traverses class, time, history, politics everything. It is a universal moment.

Awesome movie.

Jamie for Lead, Gary Lewis for Supporting.

The "Town Called Malice" scene was really exhilarating...

What was special about Jamie Bell was that not only did he have to act in this movie, but he had to dance!

And he did both of those things, exceptionally well.

Jamie Bell should have been nominated for an Emmy in Turn Washington Spies.

Another one I agree with, R19.

He is such an under-rated actor.

How cool is this?

What was amazing about Jamie's performance, is that as good as his acting was, you never got the impression that he was trying to be an adult.

He never left his character as an 11 year old boy.

Now THAT is an amazing feat.

The scene in the kitchen with his mom gets me every time.

The scene where Billy's father crossed the picket line and became a scab worker... all for Billy's sake.

That was fucking heart wrenching.

Beautiful movie, but the "Just because I like ballet doesn't mean I'm a poof" part always bothered me , so I skip it. It just felt unnecessary and was one of my first exposures to the No Homo shtick you often see in media.

One of my all time favorites. Go Billy.

Bell was also very good with Charlie Hunnam in Nicolas Nickleby. Although he was not leading man handsome, I thought him a good actor. What happened to his career?

R6, How the fuck was he supporting in that? He was the male lead and possibly had more screen time than Annette Bening. I agree he’s phenomenal in the movie and he should’ve been nominated, but in Lead.

R12. Thank you. Yet again. I just texted up, tried to hide it with a cough. God damn. So amazing. Thanks. I am going to try to link the electricity scene. It’s so beautiful.

So many Marys.

I full on Mary for this film. Unabashedly.

Jamie Draven (Billy's older brother Tony) is HOT!

Is Merryn Owen the younger Michael, or the older Michael at the end of the movie?

Surprised they didn't try the Tatum O'Neal supporting nominee switcheroo.

Wonder if Jamie kept up with the dancing.

Yes, he did. In a recent interview, he got up and did a tap dance for the audience.

A superb actor, I think. Totally arresting in every role I've seen him in, and one who holds back from showy and overblown things; his face does so much of the work, and so well.

And great in the sack too!

[quote] The "Town Called Malice" scene was really exhilarating...

Indeed it was, but can someone tell me where the parka he wore at the end of it came from?

Moncler.

My father was miner in Scotland. This movie is my life. Favorite movie ever. Leaves me a wreck every time though. So grateful that I’ve had the life I’ve had despite the hardships of growing up.

The father was so fucking hot.

....

Here's a thought...Jamie Bell in "La La Land".

R43, great idea. Somebody cast him in a musical, please.

Watching the movie, I never realized how much Tom Holland looks like Jamie Bell.

young Jamie

I always thought he had BDF. R46 proves it.

He's the best thing in FILM STARS DON'T DIE... - not taking anything away from Bening, but Bell's character was the real heart and soul of the film.

I don't think I've seen him give a bad, or even mediocre performance.

He's shorter than Taron Egerton which means he's practically Danny Devito height.

2001? I don't even remember who won last year.

This is one of those movies I watch every few years, and every time I get goosebumps.

The entire cast is excellent, but the majority was on Jamie's little shoulders. He's not precious or precocious.

What a gem! Indeed, Oscar worthy.

And the dad is hot.

Can you imagine Hollywood making such a movie?

British cinema at its finest.

r45, Tom Holland was four years old when Billy Elliott was released (2000). Why would you have thought of him?

Because they both played Billy Elliot, R55.

Baby Tom

Bell was brilliant. The entire cast was amazing. And his friend Michael was breathtakingly pretty.

So has anyone figured out if Billy Elliot was supposed to be gay?

I'm actually glad that the movie kept his sexuality ambiguous, but still... what do we think?

I'm thinking that Billy was gay.

When Debbie offered to show Billy her "bum," he turned her down.

On the other hand, he seemed to have a crush on Michael, and even kissed him goodbye.

Of course he could be bisexual, but I lean more towards thinking that he's gay.

Debbie actually propositioned Billy twice.

Once when she offered to show him her "fanny," and the other time in her bedroom. Both times he declined.

But every time Michael made advances towards Billy, he never rejected them.

I think that answers the question.

Love this movie.

Was the guy who played Billy's dad, in Braveheart?

Jamie was amazing in Skin. I saw the premiere at TIFF and thought for sure he would be nominated; he wasn’t. He didn’t even appear at the premiere because he was filming. But I suspect he is not into all the pomp and ceremony.

Teenage Jamie Bell sneaking up on Joaquin Phoenix on the red carpet and planting a kiss on him at the 2001 Oscars.

R63, that was cute.

Jamie Bell can't act his way out of a leotard.

I disagree, R65. He is often the best element of the films he is a part of.

Absolutely baffling that he was looked over, and I usually dislike nominating children for Oscars.

Great film. All the actors were very good. I get very emotional watching it. In a good way.

R67 If he had been female, he probably would've gotten a nod. Best Actor/Supporting Actor tend to be highly competitive and stacked. Plus, the Academy rarely nominates twentysomething actors, never mind teens/children.

On the other hand, actresses often get awarded early on. Think of the twentyomethings who won Best Actress last decade (Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lawrence, Brie Larson, Emma Stone), not to mention nominees Lawrence (twice more), Saoirse Ronan (thrice), Yalitza Aparicio, Margot Robbie, and Keshia Castle-Hughes (age 13) and Quvenzhané Wallis (age 9).

Only one twentysomething has won Best Actor (Adrien Brody at age 29 in 2003). The first/last time a child was nominated in this category was Jackie Cooper (age 9) in 1931. The first/last time a teen was nominated was Mickey Rooney (age 19) in 1940. After them, Timothee Chalamet is the next youngest (age 22) for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME just recently. Last decade (2010-2020) only Jesse Eisenberg (age 27) and Daniel Kaluuya (age 29) were nominated for Best Actor almost a decade apart.

It's a similar story in Supporting Actor albeig there are several winners.

[quote]Jamie Bell can't act his way out of a leotard.

I could not agree less, but I'd sure love to watch him try.

I would have had his name on my Best Supporting list for "Rocketman" if I were in the Academy.

I agree, R71.