‘The days I had casual sex, I thought I was thanking God!’ Jamie Bell on the show Half Man | Television

NMany actresses are comfortable when they want to take pornographic pictures, but that was the case with Jamie Bell on Half Man. His work involved chemsex in saunas, dogs in parking lots and unauthorized cars in libraries. Bell said: “Honestly, I was very happy to shoot that stuff and not have to do a 16-page exercise. “The days when my character was having sex with random people, I thought: ‘Thank God!’ To be honest, it came as a welcome relief.”

Richard Gadd’s first TV movie since Netflix’s Emmy-gobbling international hit Baby Reindeer, Half Man tells the story of a passionate and co-dependent relationship between “two brothers who love each other”. Niall (Bell) is bookish, troubled and withdrawn. Ruben (Gadd) is the violent ex-boyfriend of his mother’s boyfriend. The six-part drama – which reaches its devastating climax next week – charts the pair’s toxic relationship over three decades.

It’s unlimited TV, full of sex, violence and gut-wrenching action. Bell said: “This is a brutal and beastly thing that Richard has created. I’d be lying if I said it was easy or fun to make.”

Niall’s role was written especially for him. Bell said: “I didn’t know that when I first read it. But then, when I met Richard in Los Angeles to talk, he said he wrote with my thoughts.

Gadd didn’t want to play Ruben until Bell convinced him. He said: “When we first met, we didn’t know who was going to play Ruben. I said: ‘Well, why not?’ It seemed obvious to me. For Richard, it meant putting his body through hell, on top of writing and producing. When I told him, I didn’t know what he would need. But I’m thankful that he stopped.”

Was Bell already an admirer of Gadd’s work? “Not at first. My wife (American actress Kate Mara) watches Reindeer Baby, so I saw Richard’s face – it usually accompanies Kate going: ‘Oh my God, this show is wild!’ I went: ‘Excuse me, I think I have a script from this guy. They’re making a new show.’ He was like: ‘Well, you’re an idiot if you don’t do it.’ When I sat down and watched Baby Reindeer, I was shocked. “

He was drawn to his Half Man challenge. “I thought: ‘Wow, this guy is in deep trouble . . .’ He has everything he wanted in life but he still can’t accept who he is.

Bell felt very sorry for the calm Niall who was attracted to the aggressive alpha male. “Ruben is a human tragedy. A cow in a china shop, destroying everything and everyone after him. Why doesn’t Niall leave? A little self-defense. Niall feels vulnerable when Ruben has terrible powers. He can be Niall’s protector. People fear him. Therefore, Niall is working on his plan about 10 to support his life.

“I grew up in a family of women and I used to participate in ballet, so I also liked to hang out with brave and troubled boys.

He also comments on Niall’s self-loathing. He said: “I’ve had this forever. “It’s getting worse as I get older. I love what I do and I’m blessed to still be doing it after all these years but I can’t focus on anything I’m living. I hate how it ends. You leave saying: ‘You shot him. I forget that it’s just a job, not life or death. Some players have told me to turn it off but I don’t know.

Niall struggles with his sexuality until he finds conversion therapy. As a straight man, Bell felt an obligation to show this. He said: “That is the core of character. “The basis of all his stories. I found that very important. Niall’s self-loathing outweighs shame or social pressure. In other words, his sexuality does not fit well with his view of the world. Because of his turmoil, Niall goes to some dark places sexually. “Because of his repression, everything is guarded and hidden. This becomes fun. It’s a habit. He finds sex dangerous.”

With its depiction of male rage and destructive masculinity, Half Man starts a debate about toxic masculinity. Does Bell believe her gender is in trouble? “Look at the many sinners in this world,” he says. “It’s men, on all sides – not only insulting women but conflicts, crime, everything. It’s important to highlight this. The conversation is ongoing.

Bell’s father moved out before he was born, leaving him to be raised by his mother and older sister. What is her relationship with man? “There is a clear theme throughout my work of parental dysfunction,” she says. “I have to explain because these roles come to me. People have to go: ‘Orphans, fathers and children? In All of Us Strangers (Andrew Haigh’s 2023 film), you hear Andrew Scott talking to his father (played by Bell) and it naturally makes you think about your parenting. That was heartbreaking, eye-opening.”

Half Man is full of bone-crushing violence. Gadd changed his body to play Ruben the bruiser. Did Bell have to be trained to fight? “No, thanks,” he says. Most of the time, Niall is the one who listens. I said, ‘Okay! It’s easy.’”

The show’s story contains two important essays that Gadd has described as the best he’s ever written. “That was one of the first comics I read and that got me into acting,” Bell says. “I was like: ‘Yeah, if we were to support a long-running event like that, bring all these men’s history to it and put it all on the table, that would be a great piece of television.’ There’s no cutting, no guns or trickery, just two men looking at each other and being pure.” There is also a memorable scene at the end. “Watching it on the screen is always amazing,” says Bell. “You stuff your mouth with oatmeal, bananas, peas and carrots, and then you spit it out.”

He is currently shooting his lead role in the yet-to-be-announced sequel to Peaky Blinders, which is set to lead the gang in its next chapter. Set in 1950s Birmingham, it sees Bell take on the role of Kingpin Tommy Shelby’s son and heir Duke – played by Barry Keoghan in the film The Immortal Man. Details are a big secret but I can reveal that Bell is rocking a short back and forth haircut and is heading out for a photo shoot after we talk. He said: “I’m happy to be a part of it. “This show has a lot of heritage and a lot of fun. People expect more as they should. We hope to bring something exciting.”

Was she a fan of Peaky before she landed the role? “First of all, I’m a big fan of Steven Knight, who I’ve already produced his films like Dirty Pretty Things and Locke. Steve was surprised when I told him that! What I admire is how he created this whole universe behind him. into it. ” He also likes the signatures of the show. It works best for you. You put on the famous hat and walk away.

Knight is very vocal about representing people working in the arts. Does Bell admit it’s a problem? “I wish it hadn’t,” he says. “I came from a small town in County Durham called Billingham. There weren’t many opportunities but we had the Billingham Forum theatre. My mum took me to see West End shows there and that’s what got me through. Reaching this place opens young people’s eyes and inspires their passions. That’s why it’s so important to fund shows. Exposure.”

Next up is The Uprising, Paul Greengrass’s film about the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt. “Paul has always been one of my favorite filmmakers. I saw Bloody Sunday when I was 16 and it changed my life. A lot of what he shows in his films is undeniable, so it was on the list of things to work with him.” Is there any truth to the whispers of Steven Spielberg’s long-awaited Tintin sequel? “These rumors have been going around for 20 years!” laughed Bell. “But I love Tintin and a brave reporter who has grown up can be interesting.”

For many, Bell will forever be remembered as Billy Elliot, the role that made him famous overnight. At the age of 13, he beat 2,000 other boys to become the winner of the Baftas. He is a child star who needs to achieve a long career. “I’m glad I’m still working, because these stories don’t usually work like that.”

He laughs. “I turned 40 recently, can you believe it? Personally, I’m getting better with age. I just feel bad about telling people. A lot of people still think of me as a kid, so when I say I’m a 40-year-old father of three, they get scared. They go: ‘Wait, no, you’re the guy dancing on top of the toilet bowl! during the box set show. So far, he hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Half Man continues on 26 May at 10.40pm on BBC One and finishes on 29 May on BBC iPlayer.