'I should probably be in rehab': Billy Elliot star Jamie Bell admits he's been lucky to evade the pitfalls of some child actors
He shot to fame when he was just 14 years old with his Bafta-winning role in Stephen Daldry's comedy drama Billy Elliot.
And Bell, now 29, has revealed that while he could have been destined for rehab like so many other child actors, he managed to avoid the pitfalls of fame by being persistent and staying true to himself.
Speaking to his fellow actor and friend Robert Pattinson for Interview magazine, Bell says he's constantly quizzed on how he stayed so grounded.
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Honest account: Former child star Jamie Bell, 29, has revealed that he managed to avoid a stint in rehab because he stayed true to himself, when interviewed by fellow star Robert Pattinson
'I probably should be [in rehab]. The pitfalls of child actors ... It was drilled into me when I was a kid: "You have to be you, and you must be the best version of yourself."'
Robert, 29, goes on to say that Bell is an 'unusual' actor because he is humble and has a lot of humility, finally asking why the star from the north-east town of Billingham is not full-blown 'crazy'.
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'I don't know,' replies Bell, who has a two-year-old son from his former marriage to American actress Evan Rachel Wood.
Bell says, 'I'm always impressed with people. I'm always impressed that other people are not as crazy as I would expect them to be, or more grounded, or more human than I anticipated'
'I'm always impressed with people. I'm always impressed that other people are not as crazy as I would expect them to be, or more grounded, or more human than I anticipated.
'When you see people who could so easily be a d**k or full of themselves or not giving of their time or their attention or whatever, I'm always reminded to be humble and have humility.
'Because it's a great trait. It reminds me that I need to do the same,' he continued.
In happier times: Bell has a two-year-old son from his former marriage to American actress Evan Rachel Wood - pictured together in 2012
Since Billy Elliot's release in 2000 Jamie went on to land lead roles in King Kong, Jumper, The Adventures of Tintin and, most recently, the part of The Thing in Fantastic Four.
Alongside his movie career Bell had been juggling an on-again-off-again relationship with Wood.
The couple are now separated and share custody of their son as Bell splits his time between London and New York.
Humble: Quizzed on the best advice he has ever been given, Jamie said the words 'always be yourself' have stuck with him
Quizzed on the best advice he has ever been given, Jamie said the words 'always be yourself' have stuck with him.
'I am quite unashamedly Jamie all the time. I think that definitely helped even in terms of sanity—not in terms of career, just in terms of keeping your head, especially when you start so young.'
Bell began dating American Wood in 2005 after they met on the set of Green Day's music video for Wake Me Up When September Ends.
They split in 2006 but rekindled their relationship five years later in the summer of 2011. The couple married in a small ceremony in October 2012 and their son was born in July 2013.
The couple announced that they had separated in May last year. She is now dating US musician Andy Tongren.
To see R-Patz's full interview with Jamie, visit InterviewMagazine.com
Good friends: R-Patz, 29, says Bell is 'unusual' for an actor because he is humble and has a lot of humility
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