Christmas film role is 'best experience' - boy, 12

Jack Wisniewski, from Mirfield, plays the role of Danny Williams in That Christmas

Winning a starring role in a new Christmas film by Richard Curtis has been "one of the best experiences", a 12-year-old boy from West Yorkshire has said.

Jack Wisniewski, from Mirfield, plays the role of Danny Williams in Curtis's That Christmas, the first animated movie by the filmmaker renowned for bringing the magic of the festive season to the big screen.

Jack was joined in the film by a star-studded cast, including former Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker, from Huddersfield, as well as Bill Nighy and Fiona Shaw, and featuring Brian Cox as Santa Claus.

Jack said: “I’ve always had this passion where I just want to go out and express myself.”

“I’m quite a chatty person but I want to be able to use that to show others that you can do this as well," he explained.

Former Doctor Who actor Jodie Whittaker, from Huddersfield, also stars in the new Christmas film

Speaking of Whittaker, who stars as Danny’s mum, the 12-year-old said: “She was so nice. We took a break during recording, and she said I did amazing.”

Jack said that while preparing for his role in the film, which is based on books written by Richard Curtis, he familiarised himself with another of the filmmaker's famous Christmas creations.

“We watched Love Actually, me and my mum together, " he said.

Curtis told BBC Breakfast that "five years of love" had gone into the making of the animated film which has just been released via Netflix.

He said: "I hope when people watch this, they will hug each other a bit harder at the end."

Jack, pictured with his younger sister and Richard Curtis, says he just wants to "express myself"

Jack's agent, Stacey Burrows, from the Baildon-based Articulate Agency, said: "The team loved Jack’s authentic northern accent.

"It made him a perfect fit to play Jodie Whittaker’s son, Danny."

Ms Burrows added that it was "wonderful seeing local kids on a massive platform".

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