(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Jamie Bell is wary about young people who find fame too early, as it caused him to lose himself.
The actor starred as a ballet dancer in 2000 movie Billy Elliot, when he was just 14. The film landed director Stephen Daldry a best director Oscar nomination, as well as mentions in two other categories.
Jamies portrayal of the lead character, who was caught between his family and his love of ballet, won him rave reviews. The 25-year-old can now look back on that time fondly, although he admits it did leave him changed forever.
Imagine me at 14. I'd just done the [Golden] Globes and was looking forward to the Oscars and hanging out with all these people and being told I was so great. I didn't go off the rails and start doing a bunch of drugs. But definitely I lost touch with who I was, he explained.
If I'd actually been nominated for an Oscar, my life would have been ruined. Where do you go from there? Down, down, down. When I see these young people getting nominated, it's great, of course. But I hope that they always have that person who goes, 'Check yourself. Be careful.
Jamies family were keen for his life to retain a sense of normality, so he stayed in school. He found returning to class strange because it was as if nothing has changed except the way he was treated by his friends.
The guy next to you in math class has just been to the Academy Awards, and Russell Crowe mentioned him in his [Oscar acceptance] speech [for Gladiator]. That's a bit weird, he told USA Today.
Jamie likes to test himself with his roles, which is why he agreed to appear in The Eagle, which is released in America today. Its about a Roman soldier on a quest to find something belonging to his fathers legion, and also stars Channing Tatum.
The star spent much of his time on set working with horses, which he was incredibly scared of. He is glad he conquered his fear though, as it makes his job seem worthwhile.
I was petrified not of the horses but of what they might do to me their unpredictability. Are they going to throw me off their backs? I actually conquered that fear. I'd never ridden a horse before, but if you just gallop and keep galloping, eventually you forget you're riding a horse unless you fall off, he explained. (C) Cover Media