Billy Elliot star joins the Army

A star from the smash hit film Billy Elliot is turning his back on Hollywood - to enlist in the army.

Stuart Wells, who played Billy's best friend Michael in the movie, will be joining the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

Wells, 19, was finally persuaded by his brother John, 17, who is already serving with the Fusiliers in Germany.

He is currently starring in ITV's hit drama Peak Practice and recently returned from three months on location in Spain with Willem Dafoe and Brian Cox filming The Reckoning, which is released this month.

Wells, from Wallsend, North Tyneside, said: "I'd always wanted to join the army, but got sidetracked from this goal when Billy Elliot became a big hit.

"While I really enjoy acting itself, there's an awful lot of hard graft and boring meetings which no-one sees and which I don't enjoy at all, so I've decided to move on from professional acting and finally fulfil my army ambition.

"I'm really looking forward to getting into army life and to accessing all the training, travel and sporting opportunities that my brother has already enjoyed."

Major Brian Young, senior recruiter for the Newcastle region, said: "It might seem strange that someone would to join the army rather than follow the acting profession, but Stuart will now be able to build himself the kind of active, enjoyable and rewarding career that he's always wanted."