Jamie Bell was born in 1986 in Billingham, England, UK, to Eileen (Matfin) and John Bell, a toolmaker. He comes 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 (2000) in that Jamie kept his dancing a secret from his friends at school. His mother had him when she was 16 and, unfortunately, he never knew his father.

When he met Stephen Daldry, director of Billy Elliot (2000), 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 (2000), winning the role in an audition that included more than 2,000 boys from the northeast of England. 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.

Kate Mara (15 July 2017 - present)

Trivia

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 decided to act when he was nine.
First acting performance is reported to be part of the London stage production of Bugsy Malone in Christmas 1998.
Was teased by classmates when they found out that Jamie took ballet, and called him "Ballerina Boy".
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.
Lives in Billingham with his mother Eileen and older sister Cathryn. He has no contact with his father John whom his mother divorced before Jamie was born.
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.
Only the second actor ever to be awarded Outstanding Performance by a Young Actor from the National Board of Review, USA. The first was fellow Brit Christian Bale in 1987 (then titled Outstanding Juvenile Performance) for Empire of the Sun (1987).
Prefers tap dancing over ballet. Has been in many tap-dancing competitions and won many awards.
Was Honorary Jury President of the 2001 Giffoni Film Festival.
A former student at the Stagecoach Theater School.
He became interested in baseball when he visited the United States for the first time, and he began collecting all of the teams' jerseys.
Named among Fade In Magazine's "100 People in Hollywood You Need to Know" in 2005.
He was accompanied by his then girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood to the King Kong (2005) premiere in New York.
Met his wife, Evan Rachel Wood, while filming Green Day's music video for "Wake Me Up When September Ends", where they played an actual couple.
Divides his time between London and New York.
Very good friends with Anne Hathaway, Romola Garai and Charlie Hunnam whom he met while filming Nicholas Nickleby (2002).

Personal Quotes 

[on why he continued pursuing ballet despite the mockery] - "The other boys called me 'poof', 'ballerina boy', "Get on your tutu, Jamie." It gave me more determination to prove it wasn't just for girls. It was for boys as well."
[on winning awards, after he won the British Academy award] "It's just an award although it is a big one. It is no good getting too big-headed. I've been very busy and I'm very tired. I've been given advice, you know on speech-making and things like that. It's kind of weird that the other guys didn't win because they're such big guys."
(It's true that) most British movies are emotional and I agree that most American actors look manufactured. It's a shame.
Ballet is very hard. It takes a lot of practice to get to a certain standard. You have to know a lot about the steps because when you take examinations they'll ask you all about it.
"(Billy Elliot (2000)) got that (R-rating) because of the swearing. But it wouldn't be what it was without the swearing, kids need to swear".
I'm a hard-mouthed north-eastern lad. That's me - the Eminem of Northeast England.
You probably won't see me dance in the movies again unless there's a 'Moulin Rouge 2' or 'Chicago Returns'.
I hate maths. I can't stand it. Circumferences of circles and stuff - it's horrible.
[assured fans he won't suffer the same fate] "I wouldn't do a Macaulay. I have sensible people around me. I see this industry as a risky business. The money thing has always been in my control. I have always had people looking after it for me. I do love buying things - stupid gadgets. I'll say, 'I want one of them.' But I do the sensible thing, knuckle down, do some good work and keep a low profile."