JIMMY’S CLAUSE FOR CELEBRATION
Ballymena actor honoured to star in a festive flick based in Belfast
JAMES Nesbitt says he never thought he would be playing Father Christmas in a film set in Belfast, but he’s glad that he did.
The Ballymena born actor plays one of two Santa characters alongside Harry Potter actor Timothy Spall in the upcoming Sky festive flick The Heist Before Christmas.
Alongside the two seasoned actors are two exciting young acting talents from Northern Ireland, Bamber Todd and Joshua Mclees.
Speaking to Belfast Live ahead of the film’s premiere on Christmas Eve, James said it was a ‘treat and a privilege’ to work alongside the young actors, who have a big future ahead of them.
Bamber plays 12-yearold Mikey Collins, while Joshua plays his younger brother Sean.
“This film is carried by two young actors, it was a treat and a privilege,” Nesbitt said.
“I’ve worked for a very long time and I still unquestionably have inside me the boyish enthusiasm about acting that these two had.
“It was so great, they sort of recovered bits of that excitement about acting for me.
“The Christmas message is important, Christmas films are important and it was just a joy to work with them.”
The older of the two budding actors said the Bloodlands and Cold Feet star provided a ‘phenomenal example’ for the pair to follow during the flick’s filming.
“Such a phenomenal example for us to follow and I just want to keep saying that, he was just so good throughout the whole thing to us,” Bamber says.
“I can’t reiterate enough how good it was to be there with him on set and just the example that he set for us and showed us what to do.
“Especially at the beginning, when you almost felt like why am I here. The whole crew, especially Jimmy and Tim were just so welcoming.
“No matter how many more jobs I may or may not get, I just feel like this experience will never leave me throughout my whole life.”
Joshua added: “It was six weeks of filming with big experienced actors who really know their stuff.
“You can’t really describe it, it’s eye opening. It’s an experience that only some people get to do and I’m one of those lucky people.”
The Heist Before Christmas is set in Northern Ireland and features Nesbitt and Spall playing two Santa Clauses with two very different agendas.
It was filmed at various locations and is supported by Northern Ireland Screen.
The movie revolves around a young boy called Mikey Collins who comes across the two Santas in the woods.
One is a cunning bank robber in disguise, while the other claims to have fallen out of his sleigh.
As 12-year-old Mikey, who is poor and hates the festive season, attempts to seize the robber’s cash, he soon embarks on an adventure that captures the true essence of the Christmas spirit.
Nesbitt explained: “It’s kind of a battle between right and wrong, good and evil, it has a Christmas message which opens a window into the difficulty that people are facing.”
Christmas films are important and it was just a joy to work with them