Layton Williams

Layton Williams (born 13 September 1994) is an English actor, singer, and dancer, best known for playing the role of Stephen in the television series Bad Education. His first job was at the age of twelve playing the title role in Billy Elliot on London's West End. During his childhood he also played young Michael in Thriller the musical, Kylie in the BBC series Beautiful People and featured in the CBBC Documentary School for Stars, which documented life at the acting school Italia Conti. From late 2016, he began playing Angel in the 20th anniversary tour of Rent around the UK. The production, particularly his performance, received rave reviews.[1] Since January 2019 he is playing the title character of Jamie New in Everybody's Talking About Jamie and is currently taking the role on tour around the UK.

Layton Williams
Born (1994-09-13) 13 September 1994
Bury, England, United Kingdom
OccupationActor, singer and dancer
Years active2007–present

Early life and training

Williams was born in Bury, England to a white mother and a father of Jamaican descent. After several months of training at the Billy Elliot Academy in Leeds, Williams debuted in Billy Elliot the Musical on 26 February 2007.[2] His training was documented on The Paul O'Grady Show in which he appeared in on 25 May 2007 and then in several morning TV shows, TV interviews, and short clips related to the musical. He is the second non-Caucasian boy, the other being Matthew Koon, and the first mixed race youth to star in the show. He gave his finale performance in the musical on 29 November 2008; Williams is still the second-longest running performer as 'Billy' in the show's history.[3] On 31 January 2009, 2 months after his final performance, Layton appeared on the programme Feelgood Factor on ITV, where he and two other 'Billy' actors, Tanner Pflueger and Tom Holland, performed a specially choreographed version of Angry Dance from Billy Elliot the Musical.

Williams has studied street dance and drama at Carol Godby's Theatre workshop in Bury, Greater Manchester. He also studied ballet at Centre Pointe, Manchester. Williams was awarded a scholarship to Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone, London and stayed there until 2008. He attended Broad Oak High School in Bury, his home town, but once his natural talent for the performing arts became clear he began to attend the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts. During his time at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts Williams was featured in a children's documentary 'School for Stars' which was broadcast on the children's television channel CBBC.

Career

He was offered the part as young Michael Jackson in the West End Musical Thriller Live where he did a few performances before he outgrew the role. Williams became well known to a TV audience as the character Kylie – acting, dancing and singing in the 2008-2009 BBC Two comedy Beautiful People, series 1 and 2.[4][5][6] From 2012, he played Stephen Carmichael in the BBC Comedy Bad Education.

Williams went on tour with Matthew Bourne's show The Car Man. Following that he performed the part of Duane in Hairspray the Musical 2015 – 2016 tour. He announced that he would also be in the new 20th anniversary cast of Rent which began touring in October 2016.[7] Layton landed the lead role in the hit musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie in the Apollo Theatre in London's west end, where he would play the role of Jamie for 11 months. In August 2019, it was announced Williams would be joining the tour cast of the musical, which is currently playing until August 2020 (postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the tour is due to resume in 2021)

Layton is a strong supporter of the charities Stonewall and Ditch the Label.[7] Williams is the director of 'Pros From The Shows', which holds dance, singing and acting workshops across the UK. Pros From The Shows has also released a successful clothing line.

Personal life

Williams is openly gay.[8][9][10] Layton has several siblings and half siblings who are not in the public eye. His family are from Manchester though he moved away to London when he was 11 to pursue his acting career. He attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London.[9] His grandparents are from Jamaica, but his father was born in the UK.[9]

Career overview

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2008–2009Beautiful PeopleKylie Parkinson
2011PostcodeRussell
2012–2014Bad EducationStephen Carmichael3 series
2015The Bad Education MovieStephen Carmichael
2020The Magic of Movie MusicalsHimself

Theatrical work

References
  1. "Cast". Robert Mackintosh and Idili Theatricals Ltd for RENT 20th Anniversary Production Ltd. 2017. Archived from the original on 10 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  2. "Photo Flash: Layton Williams Debuts as Billy Elliot". Broadwayworld.com. 26 February 2007.
  3. "Billy Elliot Description – Roles in Billy Elliot (contracts of the cast)". Londonmusicals Online. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  4. "Press Office – Beautiful People Press Pack". BBC. 2 October 2008. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  5. Teeman, Tim (3 October 2008). "Beautiful People; Ian Hislop Goes Off the Rails; Natural Born Sellers". The Times. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  6. Eyre, Hermione (8 October 2008). "Jamie's Ministry of Food, Channel 4; Beautiful People, BBC2; Ian Hislop Goes Off The Rails, BBC4". The Independent. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  7. "Interview with Layton Williams". London Theatre 1. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  8. "Education for All Conference 2013: Youth Programme". Stonewall. 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 16 August 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  9. Bond, Nick (12 July 2015). "Bad Education star Layton Williams on coming out and playing gay". Attitude. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  10. Layton Williams gives a keynote address at Stonewall's 2013 Education for All conference. Stonewall. 25 July 2013 – via YouTube.
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