HERO BELL RINGS TRUE; Billy Elliot Star Jamie Got to Keep His Native North-East Accent after Talking Round the Director of New Superhero Movie Jumper

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Byline: By Siobhan Synnot

HE won our hearts as a schoolboy when he pirouetted his way out of a tough mining town. Now Billy Elliot actor Jamie Bell has a new set of high kicks - as an action star.

The 21-year-old is on the verge of cult status for his role as a comic book hero in new sci-fi movie Jumper - but he is still well in touch with his north-east roots.

Jamie - who headlines alongside Star Wars actors Samuel L. Jackson and Hayden Christensen - even persuaded the director to let him use his own accent.

He recalled: "I said to the director, 'Why do all the comic book characters have to be America?' because it's very rare you see one from somewhere else.

"So I asked if I could do it in my own accent and they said, 'Well, if they can understand you, that would be good.'

"I don't think we've ever had a character from Billingham, …