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IN IT
FOR THE LONG SCHOOLBOY STARS IN IDRIS E So, who’s this then? This is Mattie Boys, an AAH delivery boy from Storrington. However, he appears in our One to Watch feature because of his acting talent. Star of the school play, was he? He did appear in the Steyning Grammar School production of Billy Elliott, playing the title character’s best friend, Michael. But since then, he’s appeared in Sky’s comedy, In the Long Run. The first six-part series was aired in the spring.
Sorry, not heard of it! It’s a well-received tale about an immigrant family making its way in Hackney in the 1980s. It is based on the childhood experiences of the show’s creator, Idris Elba. As in… The star of Luther and The Wire, as well as numerous films including Pacific Rim and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. The comedy also stars comedian Bill Bailey, who plays Mattie’s dad.
What role does Mattie play? Mattie is Dean, a 12-year-old boy who is best friends with Kobna, the son of central character Walter, played by Idris Elba. Walter becomes good friends with Bagpipes, played by Bill Bailey. Mattie said: “Idris wrote the comedy and it’s based on his childhood, with him playing his own father. A lot of the filming took place in south London and I needed to have a cheeky London accent.” Must have been great fun! Mattie has fond memories of
filming as there was a friendly, down-to-Earth atmosphere among the cast and crew. He also enjoyed wearing clothes from a different era. “Dean wears a shell suit and after filming, I was sent a shell suit of my own as well as headbands, retro candy and other 1980s memorabilia as a memento.” So, how did Mattie become an actor? It’s been an interest of his for a while. At the age of four, he attended Star Academy drama club in West Chiltington, before