Ben James-Ellis

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Ben James-Ellis

Born Benjamin James Ellis
22 December 1988 (1988-12-22) (age 19)
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England
Occupation Actor
Official website

Benjamin James Ellis (born 22 December 1988 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire) is an English stage actor currently starring in the role of Link Larkin in the West End production of the musical Hairspray.[1] He was previously a contestant on the BBC reality talent show Any Dream Will Do.

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[edit] Background

James-Ellis was a student at the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts. He used to perform at the Scarborough YMCA Theatre.

[edit] Television career

James-Ellis was one of the finalists on Any Dream Will Do a 2007 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom and broadcast on BBC One. The show searched for a new, unknown lead to play Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He was in the bottom two in the first live show on 14 April alongside Chris Crosby, with Crosby having received the lowest number of viewers votes. In the sing-off, they sang "Bridge over Troubled Water". Andrew Lloyd Webber chose to save Ellis and eliminate Crosby. He was again in the sing-off in Week three on 28 April alongside Seamus Cullen with Cullen having received the lowest number of viewers votes. In the sing-off, they sang "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". Lloyd Webber chose to save Ellis and eliminate Cullen.

He was in the bottom two for a third time in week seven on 26 May alongside Craig Chalmers with Ellis having received the lowest number of viewers votes. In the sing-off, they sang "I Made It Through The Rain". Lloyd Webber for a third time chose to save Ellis, this time eliminating Chalmers. The following week he was again in the bottom two, this time alongside Lewis Bradley with Ellis having received the lowest number of viewers votes. In the sing-off, they sang "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical Les Misérables. This time though Lloyd Webber chose to save Bradley and Ellis was finally eliminated from the show at the semi-final stage, finishing the series in fourth place.

On 15 June 2007, he appeared as the "Coat of Cash Wearing Celebrity" on The Friday Night Project on Channel 4. He also appeared on The Paul O'Grady Show in 2007. On 3 December he performed at the Royal Variety Performance, held at Liverpool Empire Theatre, Liverpool, in front of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The show was screened on ITV, on 9 December.[2] On 19 February 2008 he was a Ready Steady Cook contestant on BBC Two alongside his Hairspray co-star Leanne Jones. He won the show and donated the £100 prize to St Catherine's Hospice in his home town of Scarborough.

[edit] Stage career

On 28 June 2007, he began performing in the West End production of The Music of Dirty Dancing. He is currently playing the role of Link Larkin in the West End production of Hairspray. Previews for Hairspray began on 11 October 2007, with the press night on 30 October.

Alongside his Hairspray co-star Leanne Jones, James-Ellis performed at the 2008 Whatsonstage.com Year on Year Concert & Awards Show on 24 February 2008, at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue in London.[3]

[edit] Awards

James-Ellis won the "Best Supporting Actor in a Musical" award at the 8th annual Whatsonstage Theatregoers' Choice Awards on 24 February, 2008.[4]

[edit] Personal life

He is currently in a relationship with 20-year-old actress Maude Hirst.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ben James-Ellis biography. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  2. ^ The Royal Variety Performance 2007. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  3. ^ "Winners Get Kisses at WOS Awards Show", BBC, 2008-02-25. Retrieved on 2008-05-28. 
  4. ^ "The 2008 Theatregoers' Choice Award winners", BBC, 2008-02-25. Retrieved on 2008-05-28. 

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME James-Ellis, Ben
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ellis, Benjamin James
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actor
DATE OF BIRTH 22 December 1988
PLACE OF BIRTH Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH