JAMIE BELL - BELL SLAMS GAY RUMOURS

BILLY ELLIOTT star JAMIE BELL has slammed "absurd" reports he is homosexual.

Bell's sexuality was called into question when he moved into Billy Elliott director STEPHEN DALDRY's home as a teenager and kissed the film-maker after winning a Best Actor BAFTA award for the 2000 movie.

But the English actor, 19, says, "Me, gay? That's absurd.

"People can think what they want. But I do find all these rumours about whether I'm gay weird. And on a personal level, it's a bit odd to be talking about it.

"He's a friend and mentor. He got me where I am today. I don't think our relationship's weird and I wasn't expecting to get so much attention from it.

"He's a great person to learn from."

Daldry wed dancer LUCY SEXTON in October 2001 and they have a two-year-old daughter, ANNABEL CLARE.