Skip to content

Boy meets Robbie Williams after starring in biopic

PA Media Robbie Williams at the European premiere of his new film Better Man, Carter J. Murphy and Jonno Davies attending the European premiere for Better Man at Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square, London.PA Media
The young actor met the former Take That singer at the film's European premiere

A 10-year-old boy who has made his screen debut as a young version of Robbie Williams has said meeting the singer on the red carpet was "amazing".

Carter-J Murphy from Failsworth in Oldham, plays the former Take That star in the newly-released biopic Better Man, directed by The Greatest Showman filmmaker, Michael Gracey.

The young actor also joined the cast of Coronation Street earlier this year in the role of Harry Platt, the son of Sarah Platt and Callum Logan.

His mother Abbie said her son's rise to fame in the last year had been "mental" and she was "really, really proud of him".

Carter-J, a 10-year-old boy with brown hair cut into a long fringe, smiles wearing a green shirt and purple visitor's lanyard in front of a purple advertising board for BBC Radio Manchester.
Carter-J starred in the recent biopic and has also joined the cast of Coronation Street

The young actor met Williams on the red carpet during the film's European premiere in London, and said he was "really nice" and supportive.

Carter-J told BBC Radio Manchester he had started his acting career through a dance school at the age of three, before deciding he "might as well just carry on with this as a career" after falling in love with the craft.

"I then just started getting auditions after auditions," he said.

'Just crazy'

Carter-J said he was shocked to be offered the part of Harry Plat in Coronation Street earlier this year, and said people around his hometown had started recognising him in the street.

His mother Abbie said: "Being from Manchester anyway, you grow up watching Coronation Street, so when your child gets cast as one of the Platts, it's just crazy.

"I am really, really proud of him."

Carter-J said he enjoyed playing the younger Williams as "I am more like him", adding the experience of attending the premiere was great as there was "loads and loads of famous people".

When it comes to acting, he said he aimed to "just think what I would feel if I was Robbie, what would he feel like, will he feel this way in this situation."

The 10-year-old said he now had two weeks off filming Coronation Street for Christmas, and was looking forward to enjoying some downtime after a busy year.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected] and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

More on this story