Billy Elliot's tutu good

Films tend not to get standing ovations, and certainly not the kind of thunderous reception that reverberated around the Empire, Leicester Square, for the new British film Billy Elliott. The loudest cheers were reserved for 14-year-old Jamie Bell in the title role of the boy from County Durham who takes up ballet to the horror of his father and brother, who are bitterly embroiled in the 1984 Miners' Strike.

The audience had already burst into spontaneous applause in the middle of the film, another rare occurrence in a cinema, for the irresistible street dance sequence in which Billy exorcises his anger and frustration.

"We always get a good reception," said the very grounded Jamie, who has now seen the film seven times and last night was led on stage by director Stephen Daldry to acknowledge the applause. Daldry, making his film debut, picked him after auditioning 2,000 boys. "It was a tall order to find a child who could dance as well as act, who came from the North East and was also the right age.

"Jamie also had that elusive thing that allows you to fall in love with a child and be terribly concerned about what happens to him." Like his character Jamie ran into opposition when he took dancing classes.

"There was hassle from the lads at school," he said. "They kept saying: 'you shouldn't be doing that , it's not for boys, it's for girls.'" It was a problem that Julie Walters, who plays Billy's dancing teacher, could empathise with. "My mother wanted me to be a nurse. 'Acting!' she'd say, What kind of job is that?"

Funny and passionate, Billy Elliott was a hit at the last Cannes Film Festival under its previous title, Dancer. It is already being hailed by some critics as one of the best films of the year and is being tipped for the Oscars.

Is Stephen Daldry surprised at the degree of the film's success? "Of course I am," he said. "It's a small British film." The film's appeal, which has audiences tearfully on the edge of their emotional seats throughout, was confirmed at last night's British charity premiere in aid of the Royal Court and Comic Relief.

Praise was universal from an audience that included many celebrities. "F****** brilliant," said Hugh Grant. "It was wonderful," said Sir John Mortimer.

"Sorry to gush," said Patrick Marber, "but I thought it was perfect." "Every frame is so beautifully shot and the story is so strong with so many contrary and unexpected twists," said Richard Curtis.

"It was really brilliant," declared Frank Skinner, who could not recall being in an audience that applauded in the middle of a movie since he saw the shark meet its end in Jaws in West Bromwich. "That central dance sequence is the best sequence I have ever seen in any film."