Ben James-Ellis

Infobox actor


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name = Ben James-Ellis
birthname = Benjamin James Ellis
birthdate = birth date and age|1988|12|22|df=y
birthplace = Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England
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occupation = Actor
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website = http://www.benjamesellis.co.uk/
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awards = Whatsonstage Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
2008 "Hairspray"

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".cite web
title = Ben James-Ellis biography
publisher = Internet Movie Database
url = http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2617494/bio
accessdate = 2008-05-28] He was previously a contestant on the BBC reality talent show "Any Dream Will Do".

Background

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

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.

cite web
title = The Royal Variety Performance 2007
publisher = Internet Movie Database
url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067085
accessdate = 2008-05-28] 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.

Ben is presenting the backstage portions of Hairspray the School Musical for Sky 1, starting August 31st 2008.

tage 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.cite news
title = Winners Get Kisses at WOS Awards Show
publisher = BBC
date =2008-02-25
url =http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821203958244
accessdate =2008-05-28 ]

Recordings

In 2008 James-Ellis recorded a song with the Wicked actress Alexia Khadime for the CD "Act One - Songs From The Musicals Of Alexander S. Bermange", an album of 20 brand new recordings by 26 West End stars, released in October 2008 on Dress Circle Records.

Awards

James-Ellis won the "Best Supporting Actor in a Musical" award at the 8th annual Whatsonstage Theatregoers' Choice Awards on 24 February, 2008.cite news
title = The 2008 Theatregoers' Choice Award winners
publisher = BBC
date =2008-02-25
url =http://awards.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=493
accessdate =2008-05-28 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.benjamesellis.co.uk/ Official Website]
* [http://benellisfansite.com Fansite & Forum]
* [http://www.gavinbarkerassociates.co.uk/actors/ben-james-ellis.htm Agent's Website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/joseph "Any Dream Will Do" Homepage]
* [http://www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk "Hairspray The Musical" Official Site]
*imdb name|id=2617494|name=Ben James-Ellis

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=