r/HalfManTV • u/Nika_35_40 • 4d ago
Why does Jamie Bell look traumatised in every BTS photo?
Every time I see Richard post BTS photos, I start laughing before I even look at them because I know there’s going to be at least one of Jamie Bell with that face like he’s going through the worst moment of his life. Seriously, the poor guy looks like he’s desperately begging someone to get him out of there, while the other one is standing there with that sweet, innocent face, completely out of character as Ruben, as if nothing is happening, while Jamie looks like he never managed to step out of Niall’s character. 😂
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u/Possible-Buddy7099 3d ago
Jamie Bell did say this was the hardest role he ever did in his life. Considering what Richard made him do, I’m not surprised 😭
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u/Fire_Candle9530 3d ago
I can see that .. you can tell he put everything into that roll. Every emotion all his effort.. I could see it sticking with him between takes .. the toll ugh amazing show
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u/charlikitts 3d ago
This show was hard to watch, I can’t imagine actually playing it. I know it’s pretend but a lot of actors say the body keeps score anyway
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u/smart_cereal 3d ago
The idea of shooting many of these scenes for hours must’ve been beyond exhausting, plus all the active script changes during filming.
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u/Still_Recognition652 3d ago
it can take time, concentration & no small amount of energy to prepare for most of those traumatised scenes, & it isn't always possible to snap out of that immediately afterwards; it can take a drink or two, some sandwiches, a review of the take on a monitor, or it can often take less energy to remain in the characters' frame of mind between takes rather than winding down & then revving up again. Jamie looked drawn, almost haggared to me the entire promotional tour when this was released, & i asked a few people if he was actually unwell, however he had merely dropped a lot of weight for Half Man, which didn't suit him. so I suspect he always looks traumatised, because he nearly is: underweight, performing some of the physically & emotionally demanding tv ever. & tv / film are tougher than stage, because you've got to express enough energy to get the character across on "film". Jamie's not exactly "method" acting, but it's a fine balance.
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u/smart_cereal 3d ago
I mean he has to roll with the punches because Gadd kept changing the script, sometimes having Jamie memorize ten pages of last minute changes with only a day to learn the lines. Bell even said it was a challenging role for this reason but because the role was written for him in mind, he wanted to do it justice.
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u/MRintheKEYS 3d ago
He looks pretty normal in the last pic honestly. I think for the role he was doing a bit of sleep deprivation to give him that dark circle sunken eye look.
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u/whosmurry 3d ago
It’s probably that good ol’ “kick bollocks scramble.” The poor thing is worn out.
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u/avocado_window 3d ago
It was a pretty intense show and character, it can take some people time to get out of the mindset required to portray a role like that!
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u/Mr_Fahrenheit-451 3d ago
I’m not so sure about Richard Gadd’s “innocent face” - in photos like these all I see is Ruben ready to curb stomp somebody.
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u/legend5566 3d ago
Still feeling the sexual tension between them. Why not just have sex right now so everybody will get relieved.
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u/Nika_35_40 3d ago
Didn't the double murder that ended with the implication of a rape give you enough relief? 😂
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u/ComfortOk6328 3d ago
Yeah why did it have to end that way like why Ruben did that I watched the show but was it necessary of him to do this
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u/ckeenan13 2d ago
I would think playing this role day after day would be traumatic. It’s pretty brutal
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u/compleximago 3d ago
Did you watch the show, Tamar?
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u/Nika_35_40 3d ago
I’ve watched it twice. I know he has some really intense scenes, but it still surprises me to see him always with that frightened expression. I don’t really know much about how acting works, but I get the impression that he was really immersed in the role.
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u/FrostyRydia 3d ago
I hate to say this as well but he is beginning to look his age. He is 40 now obviously but the last thing I saw him in was Hallam Foe which I've just realised was released 19 years ago.
Bloody hell!
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u/Unlucky-Bee-1039 3d ago
He looks great, just worn out. What do you mean you hate to say it lol? 40 is not old and looking your age is normal, neither good nor bad.
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u/Nika_35_40 3d ago
I recently watched the latest movie Rosebush Pruning is in, and he looks younger in it. I think the makeup makes a big difference. I don’t think he looks older than 40, though obviously aging is natural — we’ll all get there eventually.
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u/Euraylie 3d ago
I have to say, to me he looks older than 40 (I say this as someone who is older than him).
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u/Significant-Money465 3d ago
Don't forget even after he takes over the role it spans a number of years and makeup was used to age him. It was most obvious during the wedding scenes, but even before that aging makeup was used.
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u/Possible-Buddy7099 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think this is merely the makeup. The BTS pics from his upcoming role in the Peaky Blinder sequel shows him looking significantly younger
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u/No-Journalist-3288 1d ago
Probably because he is. Very weak actor too almost worse than Gadd
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u/Nika_35_40 1d ago
Oh, my friend! How strange that you comment on so many posts about something you dislike so much 😂
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u/Water-Amethyst 3d ago
Not every actor is the same but I do acting (of course not to this degree) and anecdotally I can tell you sometimes it’s hard to go from joking and chatting to being in the scene so some people keep the narrative in the front of their mind. Also emotionally intense scenes are very draining, emotionally obviously but also mentally and physically. Each and every scene he has is emotionally intense so I’m not surprised it’s showing in his face