Fox Jackson-Keen
Encyclopedia
Fox Jackson-Keen is an English
stage and television actor, singer and dancer. He is best known for his shared performances in a two-year run as the star role of 'Billy' in Billy Elliot the Musical
at London's Victoria Palace Theatre
.
His broadcast career began in 2006 with a role in the U.K. television series The Bill
, and in the award-winning film Terry Pratchett's Hogfather.
From June 2008 to March 2010 Jackson-Keen played the role of Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical
in London. When cast at 13-years old, he became the 16th boy to play that role. His June 23, 2008 debut marked the first Londoner to play that role.
On March 8, 2010, Jackson-Keen and three other boys from the cast were invited to 10 Downing Street
, and met with Prime Minister
Gordon Brown
, Alistair Darling
, Peter Mandelson
and Minister for Culture and Tourism Margaret Hodge
.
At 14-years old, and after 201 performances, he retired from the role of Billy on March 27, 2010 as the oldest of the 'Billys'.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
stage and television actor, singer and dancer. He is best known for his shared performances in a two-year run as the star role of 'Billy' in Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
at London's Victoria Palace Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre is a West End theatre in Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, opposite Victoria Station.-Origins:The theatre began life as a small concert room above the stables of the Royal Standard Hotel, a small hotel and tavern built in 1832 at what was then 522 Stockbridge...
.
Background
Jackson-Keen has appeared in a wide range of advertising campaigns and TV shows, and competed four times in the UK National Gymnastics finals. He received the first name of "Fox" because his mother was a fan of the TV's The X Files. His father was a gymnast, and in initially followed in his father's footsteps, Fox entered and won several youth competitions before representing London in a national competition, where he came third. At 9-years-old in 2006, he started break-dancing and hip-hop, and then studied ballet and tap.His broadcast career began in 2006 with a role in the U.K. television series The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
, and in the award-winning film Terry Pratchett's Hogfather.
From June 2008 to March 2010 Jackson-Keen played the role of Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
in London. When cast at 13-years old, he became the 16th boy to play that role. His June 23, 2008 debut marked the first Londoner to play that role.
On March 8, 2010, Jackson-Keen and three other boys from the cast were invited to 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
, and met with Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
, Alistair Darling
Alistair Darling
Alistair Maclean Darling is a Scottish Labour Party politician who has been a Member of Parliament since 1987, currently for Edinburgh South West. He served as the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2007 to 2010...
, Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson
Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, PC is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, served in a number of Cabinet positions under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and was a European Commissioner...
and Minister for Culture and Tourism Margaret Hodge
Margaret Hodge
Margaret Hodge MBE MP, also known as Lady Hodge by virtue of her husband's knighthood, is a British Labour politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Barking since 1994. She was the first Minister for Children in 2003 and was Minister of State for Culture and Tourism at the Department...
.
At 14-years old, and after 201 performances, he retired from the role of Billy on March 27, 2010 as the oldest of the 'Billys'.
Television
- The BillThe BillThe Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
(1 episode, 2006) - Terry Pratchett's Hogfather (2006) (TV)
- This MorningThis Morning (TV series)This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
(1 episode, 2008) - What's on Theatre (1 episode, 2008)
- The Alan Titchmarsh ShowThe Alan Titchmarsh ShowThe Alan Titchmarsh Show is a British daytime TV chat show broadcast between 3 and 4pm weekdays on the ITV Network.-Format:The programme made its debut on ITV in 2007. It focused on the theme of "The Best of British" focusing on food, entertainment and celebrities in a mid-afternoon slot...
(1 episode, 2010)