For breakthrough “Belfast” star Jude Hill, the power of his Oscar-nominated drama is more than black and white.
The 11-year-old actor, who won best young actor at the Critics Choice Awards this month, says the entire cast and crew realized they were telling a special story as they worked on Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical movie about a boy growing up in Northern Ireland during the social unrest of the late 1960s.
Hill, who plays the central child, Buddy, believes anyone can relate to something or someone in the heartfelt coming-of-age story.
“Maybe they moved away from home at a very young age,” Hill told the Daily News. “Maybe they saw themselves with the character Buddy. Maybe they saw themselves with Pop, Ma, Pa. I think everyone sort of sees themselves in it a little bit.”
The black-and-white film, which Branagh wrote and directed, is nominated for seven Oscars at Sunday’s Academy Awards, including best picture and best original screenplay.
Hill, who is from Northern Ireland, says the recognition “means the world” to the movie’s makers.
“We are all are so close and we all worked hard as a team to produce this beautiful story of Ken’s,” Hill said. “We all hope and think we have done him proud. We would love for Ken to get the recognition he deserves.”
The movie is set toward the beginning of the Troubles, a decadeslong conflict often characterized by turmoil between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland.
Hill hadn’t learned about the Troubles in school yet when he began working on the film, but says his co-stars and parents, as well as documentaries and informational videos, helped him “get into the head of someone” who lived through the era.
He also said Branagh helped him find his way into his character.
“I remember during rehearsals, he would just tell me stories of him as a child,” Hill said. “Maybe him getting in trouble with school teachers or ... about football games. Really just anything he remembered from his childhood. I’ve got to say, it helped so much.”
Hill stars in the film with Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe, who play Buddy’s parents, as well as Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds, who are nominated for supporting acting Oscars for their portrayals of his grandparents.
Hill said he quickly connected with his character through a shared love of movies, family and soccer.
“In the film, Buddy is a Tottenham Hotspurs fan, and even though I’m a Liverpool fan, we’re both die-hard football fans,” Hill said.
It’s been an eventful awards season for Hill, who says he’s loved meeting celebrities at the different ceremonies while dressed up in his junior-size tuxedo.
He was recently invited by Jared Leto to attend the premiere of the actor’s new Marvel movie, “Morbius,” and even ran into one of his idols, Andrew Garfield.
“Andrew Garfield was super, super nice, and he seemed to have enjoyed the film a lot, and he seemed to have enjoyed me a lot, which is something that I never would’ve thought would happen,” Hill gushed.
“Belfast” marks the first feature film for Hill. He said Dench and Hinds were constantly joking and reminded him of his own grandparents.
“I will never forget being on set with Ken everyday and I will take all his advice with me along the way,” Hill said. “How lucky was I?”
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