Josh performing in film alongside Downton Abbey star

Josh performing in film alongside Downton Abbey star

4 November 2015

A YOUNG Crossgar actor is hitting the red carpet tonight at the premiere of a new star-studded film.

Josh Smyth (13) will be at the cinema at the SSE Arena, Belfast, for the launch of A Christmas Star — a film in which big names such Liam Neeson, Pierce Brosnam, Suranne Jones and even Kylie Minogue make an appearance — ahead of the London, LA and New York premieres.

A Cinemagic production, this heart-warming Christmas tale was filmed on locations across Northern Ireland.

It tells the story of Noelle, who, born under the Christmas Star, believes she has the gift to perform miracles. So when conniving developer McKerrod threatens her peaceful life — and a factory producing snow globes — she and her friends determine to use this gift to thwart his plans and save their village. 

It all hinges on a final showdown at Stormont as Noelle implores politicians, her friends and the watching world to believe in the true meaning of Christmas

Josh plays Dicey, one of Noelle’s gang of friends. He was one of 11 young cast members cast out of 5,000 hopefuls who auditioned.

The life-changing opportunity has seen Josh mentored by Oscar and BAFTA  winners throughout the process with industry professionals including Academy Award winning producer Gareth Ellis Unwin (The King’s Speech).

Locations included Rockport School in County Down, Stormont and Carnlough and Glenarm, which provided the beautiful landscape for the fictional Potter’s Glen.

Josh, a pupil at Lagan Integrated College, was talent-spotted at the age of nine when he enjoyed a dance workshop with family friend Mikey Heath, also from Crossgar, who became famous after securing second place with his dance troupe on Britain’s Got Talent.

After the workshop, Mikey reported back to Josh’s parents that their then nine year-old showed great flair.

Keen to nurture his ability, Josh’s parents put him forward for an audition for the innovative performing arts project The Rainbow Factory and now the teenager “can’t wait” for his first premiere.

“Dicey is one of the main character’s friends,” said Josh. “I tried to put my own personality into it. He’s a bubbly kind of person.”

Josh said he enjoyed meeting the likes of Bronagh Waugh (The Fall), Suranne Jones and Rob James-Collier — better known as Downton Abbey’s canniving underbutler — who also happens to play the nasty developer in this story.

“They were very, very professional,” he said. “They are also very funny people. They were comedians who were really nice to meet. Everyone followed their actions. Everyone was inspired.

“I would like to do something like this again. It was fun. A lot of people underestimate what you have to do for acting. It can be hard at times with some of the emotions.”

Josh, soon to be 14, is continuing his work with The Rainbow Factory School of Performing Arts in Belfast, where he is playing the prince in the upcoming pantomime Snow White and the Black Forest Gateaux.

“It is quite hard to combine acting with being school and there’s a lot of catching up to do,” said Josh. “In the movie when you weren’t being used you had to do work with a tutor.”

Currently enjoying every moment, keen dancer Josh added: “I would like to be an actor full-time and if that didn’t work out I would like to be a fitness trainer.”

A Christmas Star marks the beginning of a year of 25th anniversary celebrations for Cinemagic International Film and Television Festival for Young People.

The film goes on general released on November 13 and will be available on DVD and Blu-ray by November 23. A TV screening is also planned.