There's something special about coming-of-age films and TV shows. They are a great way of introducing new actors to the public. Let's talk about Boy Swallows Universe's Eli Bell in this article.
Who is Boy Swallows Universe Actor Eli Bell?
The role of Eli Bell in the coming-of-age series, Boy Swallows Universe, is portrayed by 14-year-old actor Felix Cameron.
Cameron is an emerging Australian actor who rose to fame for his roles in the 2020 movie, Penguin Bloom. His role in the Netflix series is his first lead role where he plays the young version of Eli Bell.
As a young boy, Cameron is interested in sports, particularly cricket, basketball, and AFL football. This explains his athletic physique.
He is represented by Kubler Auckland Management.
Boy Swallows Universe: Eli Bell Character Explained
So let's talk about Felix Cameron's character in Boy Swallows Universe, Eli Bell.
Boy Swallows Universe is a show set in Brisbane in the 1980s. Eli is a 12-year-old boy who has to face adult-like problems at his age.
Throughout the Netflix series, we get to know the young character as he discovers his dreams. Despite the problems he faces, Eli remains an optimistic boy.
The series is adapted from a novel of the same name. Throughout the novel, Eli grows from a 12 to a 19-year-old character. When the series starts, Eli is a happy-go-lucky kid who lives with his mom, older brother, and Lyle, his mother's boyfriend.
He also has a babysitter called Slim, who taught him how to have a sharp memory. With his interest in mystery, Eli hopes to become a crime journalist for The Courier-Mail.
Since his mom and her boyfriend sell drugs, it lands their family in all sorts of problems. For starters, Lyle disappears out of nowhere and his mom lands in prison. A couple of bad guys also cut off his finger.
With all of these things that have happened, Eli is forced to move in with his father and seek counseling from his guidance counselor as he has to let go of his childhood trauma.
Is Eli Bell a Real Person?
In an interview with The Cinemaholic, Trent Dalton (the author of the novel) revealed that Eli Bell's character is loosely based on himself. Dalton shared that the novel is "50/50 fact and fiction."
While he projects his identity on Eli, he shares that the character is an exaggeration of himself who lives an alternate reality of his mundane life.
Although the series of events in the book is fictional, the author revealed that he shares some similarities with Eli. Among these include growing up in a housing commission property with his mom and stepfather, who were also involved with drugs.
Dalton's mom also went to prison for a couple of years. His biological father was also an alcoholic who loved to read books. While Dalton has three brothers in real life, he brought all of them together to represent Gus in the book.
Follow Eli's journey in Boy Swallows Universe on Netflix.
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