Shy 11-Year-Old Steals Spotlight with Latin Lines in Oscar-Buzzed Hamnet

James Lintern is an 11-year-old boy from Gloucester who used to be very shy. His parents wanted to help him become more confident, so they enrolled him in drama classes at Stagecoach Performing Arts. James worked hard in his classes, and his teachers noticed his progress. One day, the staff at Stagecoach suggested that James' parents send some photos of him to the casting team for a new film called Hamnet. This movie is based on Maggie O'Farrell's novel, which imagines the life of William Shakespeare, his wife Agnes, and how the death of their son Hamnet affected them.

To James' surprise, he was chosen for a small role in the film. He played the son of Joan, who is a friend of Agnes and one of Shakespeare's students. Even though James only had two lines in the movie, both were in Latin, which made the experience even more special. James said it was 'really cool' to see how a film set works and to act alongside famous actors like Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, and Emily Watson. He felt proud to be part of such a big project and enjoyed making new friends during filming.

James' father, Nathan, explained that they never expected anything like this to happen when they first signed James up for drama classes. Their main goal was to help him become less shy and more confident. However, about six months after joining Stagecoach, they received a phone call asking for a photo of James. Soon after, they were invited to Elstree Studios in London for the film. James even attended the movie's premiere in Leicester Square, wearing a smart blue jacket and navy trousers. He said he is still a bit shy, but not as much as before. He enjoyed the wrap party, where he reunited with his friends and watched the funny scenes from the film. Now, Hamnet is showing in cinemas, and James is excited about what the future holds.

This story is a great example of how trying new things can lead to unexpected and wonderful opportunities. James' journey from being a shy boy to acting in a major film is inspiring for other young people who might be nervous about trying something new. His parents are proud of his achievements, and James is glad he took the chance to join drama classes. If you have an interesting story to share, you can contact BBC Gloucestershire and let them know about it.