Robbie Kay
Encyclopedia
Robbie Kay is a British
actor
, best known for his roles in the films Fugitive Pieces
(2007) and Pinocchio (2008).
, Hampshire
, England and moved to Brussels
, Belgium
at a young age His mother Stephanie is from Newcastle upon Tyne
while his father Ivan is from Peterborough
. Kay's grandfather Alex Key was of Czech
/Bulgaria
n descent. In 2006 Kay and his family moved to Prague
in the Czech Republic
. He now lives in Houston, Texas
after having previously lived in Sussex
, England.
where he saw a note for English-speaking children to be extras in a film on a school noticeboard. Despite a lack of previous acting experience, this led to him getting a speaking part in The Illusionist, but his scenes were eventually cut from the film. After small roles in Hannibal Rising and My Boy Jack
, a Canadian
production company asked him to play the part of Young Jakob which involved a 9 week shooting schedule, three of which on Greek
islands. The people who made Fugitive Pieces
had auditioned over 150 boys before finding the then 10-year-old Robbie Kay who had been living in Prague for two years.
He spent a year studying, acting, singing and dancing at one of England's Stagecoach
theatre schools.
Recently, he was in a miniseries
adaptation of Pinocchio
, playing the puppet boy himself.
After finishing Pinocchio he went on to play Sam in Ways To Live Forever
screening in late 2010-2011 time (TBC). He appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
, playing Cabin boy.
wrote: "Robbie Kay, who plays the young Jakob, gives a remarkable performance with little words and a lot of emotion. When he smiles (which isn't often) you can't help but be affected." Moira Macdonald of the Seattle Times describes Kay as having "a heartbreaking way of looking utterly lost" and Peter Howell of the Toronto Star
, who was critical about the film, wrote "the performances are above reproach, especially Robbie Kay as young Jakob" and "The grandest laurels must be reserved for Robbie Kay ... Relatively new to acting, he invests the role with an intensity of purpose not often seen in an actor of so few years."
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for his roles in the films Fugitive Pieces
Fugitive Pieces (film)
Fugitive Pieces is a 2007 drama film directed by Jeremy Podeswa, who also adapted the film from the award-winning novel of the same name written by Anne Michaels. The film tells the story of Jakob Beer, who is orphaned in Poland during World War II and is saved by a Greek archeologist...
(2007) and Pinocchio (2008).
Personal life
Kay was born in LymingtonLymington
Lymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England and moved to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
at a young age His mother Stephanie is from Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
while his father Ivan is from Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
. Kay's grandfather Alex Key was of Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
/Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n descent. In 2006 Kay and his family moved to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. He now lives in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
after having previously lived in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, England.
Career
Kay's family moved to the Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
where he saw a note for English-speaking children to be extras in a film on a school noticeboard. Despite a lack of previous acting experience, this led to him getting a speaking part in The Illusionist, but his scenes were eventually cut from the film. After small roles in Hannibal Rising and My Boy Jack
My Boy Jack (film)
My Boy Jack is a 2007 television drama based on David Haig's 1997 play of the same name. It was filmed in August 2007, with Haig as Rudyard Kipling and Daniel Radcliffe as John Kipling. It does not include act three of the play, which extended to the 1920s and 1930s. Instead it ends with Kipling...
, a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
production company asked him to play the part of Young Jakob which involved a 9 week shooting schedule, three of which on Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
islands. The people who made Fugitive Pieces
Fugitive Pieces (film)
Fugitive Pieces is a 2007 drama film directed by Jeremy Podeswa, who also adapted the film from the award-winning novel of the same name written by Anne Michaels. The film tells the story of Jakob Beer, who is orphaned in Poland during World War II and is saved by a Greek archeologist...
had auditioned over 150 boys before finding the then 10-year-old Robbie Kay who had been living in Prague for two years.
He spent a year studying, acting, singing and dancing at one of England's Stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
theatre schools.
Recently, he was in a miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
adaptation of Pinocchio
Pinocchio
The Adventures of Pinocchio is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi, written in Florence. The first half was originally a serial between 1881 and 1883, and then later completed as a book for children in February 1883. It is about the mischievous adventures of Pinocchio , an...
, playing the puppet boy himself.
After finishing Pinocchio he went on to play Sam in Ways To Live Forever
Ways to Live Forever (film)
Ways to Live Forever is a drama film by director Gustavo Ron based on the award winning novel of the same name written by Sally Nicholls. The film stars Robbie Kay, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox and Greta Scacchi. The film is produced by Life&Soul Productions, El Capitan Pictures and Formato...
screening in late 2010-2011 time (TBC). He appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a 2011 adventure fantasy film and the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series...
, playing Cabin boy.
Reception
Kay's work has been generally well-received by the critics. Alicia Cox of ChatelaineChatelaine
Châtelaine has the following meanings:*Châtelaine, a woman who owns or controls a large house ....
wrote: "Robbie Kay, who plays the young Jakob, gives a remarkable performance with little words and a lot of emotion. When he smiles (which isn't often) you can't help but be affected." Moira Macdonald of the Seattle Times describes Kay as having "a heartbreaking way of looking utterly lost" and Peter Howell of the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, who was critical about the film, wrote "the performances are above reproach, especially Robbie Kay as young Jakob" and "The grandest laurels must be reserved for Robbie Kay ... Relatively new to acting, he invests the role with an intensity of purpose not often seen in an actor of so few years."
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Illusionist | ? | scenes cut from final film |
| 2007 | Hannibal Rising | Kolnas's Son | credited as Robert Kay |
| My Boy Jack My Boy Jack (film) My Boy Jack is a 2007 television drama based on David Haig's 1997 play of the same name. It was filmed in August 2007, with Haig as Rudyard Kipling and Daniel Radcliffe as John Kipling. It does not include act three of the play, which extended to the 1920s and 1930s. Instead it ends with Kipling... |
Arthur Relp | ||
| Fugitive Pieces Fugitive Pieces (film) Fugitive Pieces is a 2007 drama film directed by Jeremy Podeswa, who also adapted the film from the award-winning novel of the same name written by Anne Michaels. The film tells the story of Jakob Beer, who is orphaned in Poland during World War II and is saved by a Greek archeologist... |
Young Jakob | ||
| 2008 | Pinocchio | Pinocchio | |
| Bathory | Pals | voice | |
| In Bruges | Young Harry | scenes cut from final film | |
| 2010 | Made in Dagenham Made in Dagenham Made in Dagenham is a 2010 British film directed by Nigel Cole. The film stars Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson, Rosamund Pike and Jaime Winstone. It dramatises the Ford sewing machinists strike of 1968 that aimed for equal pay for women... |
Graham | |
| Ways to Live Forever Ways to Live Forever (film) Ways to Live Forever is a drama film by director Gustavo Ron based on the award winning novel of the same name written by Sally Nicholls. The film stars Robbie Kay, Alex Etel, Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox and Greta Scacchi. The film is produced by Life&Soul Productions, El Capitan Pictures and Formato... |
Sam McQueen | ||
| 2011 | Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a 2011 adventure fantasy film and the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series... |
Cabin-boy | |
Awards
2009 Young Artist Award- Best Performance in an International Feature Film - Leading Young Performers for Fugitive Pieces — Nominated
- Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Leading Young Actor for Pinocchio — Nominated
External links
- Robbie Kay на сайте "Дети в кино"
- Robbie Kay at FlixsterFlixsterFlixster is a social movie site allowing users to share movie ratings, discover new movies, learn about movies, and meet others with similar taste in movies. The site allows users to view movie trailers as well as learn about the new and upcoming movies in the box office. The site is based in San...
- Ways to live forever- The movie