A BRIGHT young spark who was born to perform has taken a starring role in a supermarket’s blockbuster Christmas TV advert.
Scene-stealer Harrison Willmott, 10, gives an electric performance as The Plug in Sainsbury’s seasonal commercial, The Big Night – directed by the director of The Greatest Showman, Michael Gracey.
The ad follows a young girl dressed as a star stunning an audience with a rendition of the New Radicals’ 90s song You Get What You Give, supported by a cast of children playing Christmas characters – including a set of fairy lights, complete with plug.
Sainsbury’s seasonal commercial, The Big Night, follows a cast of children playing Christmas characters in a school show.Harrison said he was thrilled when he found out he had got the part.
“I was really excited,” said the switched-on youngster. “My Mum told me when I came out of school one day.
“During the filming I was so happy and excited. I loved making so many new friends, the other kids were all great!
“I think the best thing was working with a real film crew, especially Michael Gracey and Ashley the choreographer.”
And what was it like to see himself on screen? “It feels cool and a bit unreal,” he said. “Like – that is really me on TV!”
His friends at school agreed. “They love it!” he said. “My teacher Mr Sood even let us watch the ad and the backstage interviews in class. Everyone laughed.”
Harrison decided he wanted to act after seeing a production of Matilda in London when he was six – and after attending acting classes for just a year, he won his age category at the Nuneaton Festival of Arts.
He has since appeared in shows with performance group Not Your Average Young Performers, and last year was in a production of Gypsy at the Concordia Theatre in Hinckley.
And Harrison’s proud parents Jo and Mikal say he loved to perform when he was as young as two.
They said: “He would ‘do shows’ at any opportunity and for any guests that came to visit. He would do them anywhere too – at pre-school, in the park and even on the trampoline. Sometimes he even used his ‘shows’ to try to buy him extra time before bed time!”
They said it feels surreal but exciting to see their son on the telly.
“We are delighted with people’s response to the ad, and especially to our ‘Plug’! Everyone has been so lovely – and it keeps on getting better.”
Harrison added: “I have always liked performing. I think it’s really fun and I just like doing what I do and putting a smile on peoples’ faces.”
Having just last week landed a role in the Concordia’s Great Musical Extravaganza, which takes to the stage in March, Harrison’s future on stage looks bright.
He said: “I definitely want to be an actor when I grow up. I love musical theatre, so I’d like to play roles like Bruce Bogtrotter from Matilda or Gavrosche from Les Misérables. I love Harry Potter so I’d love to do something magical like that.”
Search YouTube for ‘Sainsbury’s The Big Night’ to watch the advert and accompanying backstage interviews.
