To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
As Richard Gadd’s new BBC show, Half Man, arrives, many are pointing out Jamie Bell’s long-overdue recognition for his outstanding role.
The new series from the creator of Baby Reindeer follows the tumultuous, decades-long relationship between two ‘brothers’ Ruben (Richard) and Niall (Jamie), spanning from the 1980s to the present day in Glasgow.
A visceral, violent and heartwrenching odyssey about estrangement, love, loss and sacrifice, across six episodes, viewers are plunged into a world of toxic masculinity, trauma and the growing pains of adolescence and adulthood.
Ahead of its release, the show is already raking in critical acclaim, especially for its other leading man, Jamie.
The British actor, 40, made history in 2001 after becoming the youngest winner of the best actor Bafta for his breakout role as titular dancer Billy Elliot.
Since then, he has enjoyed a steady, if not under-the-radar, career appearing in movies like Fantastic Four (where he met his wife Kate Mara), All of Us Strangers, and he is set to star as the lead of the new Peaky Blinders spin-off series.
But before he dons the newsboy cap, however, fans will catch him in Half Man as Niall – Ruben’s family friend turned step-brother, whom he is equal parts obsessed with and terrified by.
And if early reviews are anything to go by, it could be his most acclaimed role since his Billy Elliot days – with many hoping it will be.
‘Jamie Bell gives THE television performance of the year in Half Man,’ Awards Watch’s Erik Anderson wrote.
‘Half Man is seriously brutal to watch at times, but Jamie Bell and Richard Gadd are outstanding in this new series that grapples with shame and the collateral damage of toxic masculinity,’ Decider shared.
The Cut singled out Jamie’s portrayal among a cast of ‘unreal performances’, adding: ‘I’ve determined [he] deserves an Emmy win for embodying how tortured Niall is in his 20s and 30s’ and even The Independent’s two-star review acknowledges Bell ‘acts his socks off’.
Metro’s review of Half Man
Reporter Milo Pope shares his four-star review of Richard Gadd’s new series…
But what unfolds over the course of the next five hours of television can all rather simply be described as just pure and utter drama – in the plainest and best sense.
Ruben and Niall’s fascinating dynamic, which is in equal parts hate, adoration and jealousy, is constantly shifting and changing as twists and turns come heavy and fast.
Exploring themes of toxic masculinity, trauma and brotherhood, I genuinely found myself switching sides between the pair of them a dozen times – going from hating them at one point to sympathising the next.
The Guardian declared Jamie ‘is on career-best form and then some here’ and The Hollywood Reporter intriguingly noted the actor offers ‘the character grace notes of humour that don’t always seem to fit the story.
Adding: ‘I laughed out loud several times at acting choices Bell made, the rare release valve within a show that could badly use more.’
Meanwhile, Collider shared: ‘ Niall’s characterisation sometimes lacks nuance, even bordering on stereotype at some points, but Bell’s magnetic portrayal of a deeply flawed man keeps it centered.’
Over on X, many fans were sharing just how overlooked he is ahead of this buzzy new role.
‘Jamie Bell should have had at least 3 Oscar nominations now. An underrated generational talent,’ Amelia Nancy Harvey shared.
‘Haven’t seen Half Man yet but I will be leading the Jamie Bell Emmy campaign,’ Project Hail Meera echoed.
‘I’m totally on board with him on everything [and] I know it’s gonna be one of the most beautiful things I’ll see this year,’ ytalo reflected.
It’s no surprise that Bell has so seamlessly stepped into this role when it was created especially for him.
In an interview with the BBC, Richard shared that, like most, he was blown away by Jamie’s performance as Billy at the tender age of 13, calling him an ‘instinctively an incredible actor.’
Unable to shake Jamie from his mind as he wrote Ruben, he continued: ‘When I heard [Jamie] was interested [in the role], I flew out to LA, and we had a long chat. Jamie said he’d love to do it if I played Ruben.
‘Before that moment, I had never thought about it and didn’t see myself being in the series.
‘We shot our final scene together at 3 in the morning, and it was a really emotional one. In that moment, I knew how much I would miss acting alongside him and I feel really grateful to have had that opportunity.’
All in all, if Half Man follows in the footsteps of Richard’s debut series Baby Reindeer, which swept up six major Emmy awards, then Jamie may well see a new statuette on his shelf soon.
Half Man lands on BBC iPlayer on Friday, April 24.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.