• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Will Poulter says he wasn’t a happy kid at school as he admits being ‘conflicted’ on first film role

Home> Entertainment

Published 17:31 6 Sep 2022 GMT+1

Will Poulter says he wasn’t a happy kid at school as he admits being ‘conflicted’ on first film role

Will Poulter, who starred as Lee Carter in 2007 comedy Son of Rambow, spoke about his childhood on The One Show

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Actor Will Poulter has admitted he felt ‘conflicted’ about his first film role, which he found 'ironic' as he hadn't been a happy kid at school. Watch him talk about the experience here:

London-born Poulter, 29, got his first big break as Lee Carter in 2007 comedy Son of Rambow, which follows two schoolboys as they set about making an amateur film based on First Blood. 

Lee, known for his bad behaviour at school, befriends the shy Will Proudfoot (Bill Milner) and manipulates him into helping with the movie project - their slightly forced alliance eventually blossoming into an unlikely friendship.

Advert

Speaking to The One Show about Anti-Bullying Pro, a new anti-bullying campaign he is part of, Poulter revealed he ‘experienced a fair amount of bullying’ when he was younger. 

He added that he was ‘relatively lucky’ in the context of ‘how prevalent bullying is’, saying he also witnessed a ‘good amount’ of such behaviour. 

Presenter Alex Jones noted how, ‘ironically’, he had played a ‘bully character’ in his first-ever film at the age of just 12.

Will Poulter and Bill Milner in Son of Rambow.
Optimum Releasing

Poulter replied: “It was kind of ironic because I sort of wasn’t a particularly happy kid at school, and I think, to be honest – less so because I was experiencing bullying, I think that was part of it – but just because I hadn’t really found my way, you know? And I didn’t really feel like I was good at anything. 

Advert

“And then I got really, really lucky with this opportunity to be in a film. The only caveat was that I play a bully and I felt a bit conflicted about that. 

“But it did help me empathise with how even kids who engage in bullying behaviour are often going through something, and it’s important to understand that as well.” 

Poulter said he wasn't a very happy kid at school.
BBC

Speaking about Anti-Bullying Pro Poulter explained how he has been involved in the campaign since 2010.

“October 3rd is the Anti Bullying Assembly," he said.

Advert

"It’s the third of its kind… and kids are going back to school, so it’s kind of about setting the tone around anti-bullying and putting people at ease around the subject matter."

Later in the interview, Poulter even had a surprise video call from his old maths teacher, who told her emotional former student: "I just want you to know how unbelievably proud I was of you then and continue to be today. You are a true inspiration and you will always have my ample support."

Featured Image Credit: BBC/Paramount Pictures

Topics: Celebrity, TV and Film

Jess Hardiman
Jess Hardiman

Jess is Entertainment Desk Lead at LADbible Group. She graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

X

@Jess_Hardiman

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Willy Wonka's Charlie actor lives very different life now after revealing how much he still makes from the film
  • John Cena speaks out on major effect Amy Schumer role where he was ‘inside her’ had on his career
  • Netflix has a new ‘Ozark-like’ series viewers call the best of 2025 after being gripped by very first episode
  • E.T. child actor reveals shocking amount he made from film as it is added to Netflix

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
5 hours ago
21 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Oasis fans in debate after seeing what crowd member did during one of the 'greatest songs ever'

    Not the best thing to do at a gig

    Entertainment
  • 3 hours ago

    People already think something is wrong with Oasis gigs after seeing other side of 'photo of the decade'

    The Gallaghers' first reunion gig at Cardiff's Principality Stadium was hailed as 'the best Oasis have been since 96'

    Entertainment
  • 5 hours ago

    Oasis praised after 'class' tribute to Diogo Jota during first gig since reunion

    There was plenty good to say about the Oasis reunion, and their tribute to Diogo Jota was particularly classy

    Entertainment
  • 21 hours ago

    Netflix users demand two key features are removed as cancellation threats continue

    Netflix users have called for two key features to be taken off

    Entertainment