Tony Bellew opened up on being cast in the Creed series during Thursday’s episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
The boxer, 41, played the antagonist ‘Pretty’ Ricky Conlan in the films Creed and Creed III, which are spin-offs from the Rocky film series.
The character is also a boxer who competes against Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed in the climax of the first Creed film, eventually winning the fight by split decision.
Tony returned to the role in Creed III, where he fights Adonis once again after being released from prison, but is knocked out in the second round.
The films marked Tony’s first ever acting role and he explained how he got his big break in discussion with his campmates, Marvin Humes and Danielle Harold.
Tony Bellew opened up on being cast in the Creed series during Thursday’s episode of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!
The boxer, 41, played the antagonist ‘Pretty’ Ricky Conlan in the films Creed and Creed III, which are spin-offs from the Rocky film series (pictured in Creed)
The character is also a boxer who competes against Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed in the climax of the first Creed film, eventually winning the fight by split decision
He said: ‘[I got] a crazy phone call that I thought was a wind up.
‘I said, “I’ve never acted in my life”. Before I knew it the director flew in. When I met him I thought, “He really wants me to do this. He’s flew all the way from LA.”‘
Speaking in the Bush Telegraph, Tony added: ‘I’m a kid from the streets of Liverpool and I’ve been in a Rocky movie. It’s absolutely insane.’
He then revealed to Marvin and Danielle that he and Michael had exchanged blows, with him admitting he ‘clipped him once’ purposefully.
He said: ‘The fight scenes were brilliant, I was able to have input. Sly had input, I had input, MBJ had input…
‘Three months we were together doing choreography, Mike hit me once, I clipped him once, but I clipped him on purpose as that’s where he supposedly gets knocked out.’
Marvin asked about meeting Rocky star Sylvester, and Tony gushed: ‘Sly was amazing. I met him when I arrived in Philly.
‘He was just sitting there reciting poetry to the screen test. I was about to call him Rock… and said, “Mr Stallone!” He said, “Call me Sly”.’
The films marked Tony’s first ever acting role and he explained how he got his big break in discussion with his campmates, Marvin Humes and Danielle Harold
Speaking in the Bush Telegraph, Tony added: ‘I’m a kid from the streets of Liverpool and I’ve been in a Rocky movie. It’s absolutely insane’
He then revealed to Marvin and Danielle that he and Michael had exchanged blows, with him admitting he ‘clipped him once’ purposefully
Marvin asked about meeting Rocky star Sylvester, and Tony gushed: ‘Sly was amazing. I met him when I arrived in Philly’ (Sylvester Stallone pictured as Rocky)
Danielle also recounted her own story of how she got into acting and ultimately EastEnders.
She said: ‘I didn’t know how to get into it. I used to constantly apply and didn’t get anything.
‘Then I saw an advert for Jamie Oliver’s Dream School. I was like, “What’s that?” One of the things on there was drama.
‘I applied, the phone rang and it was Jamie Oliver ringing my house number.’
Danielle hilariously recalled how she didn’t believe it was Jamie and hung up, causing him to have to call back.
She explained how she was taught by well-known actors at the school, including The Wire’s Dominic West.
She continued: ‘I won a scholarship and with the money I made a showreel. With that I met an agent. She was like… “I can’t take you on my books”.
‘Three days after she called me up and said, “I just so happen to have an audition drop on my table and I’ve got nobody on my books that fits, they want a young blonde girl”.’
Danielle also recounted her own story of how she got into acting and ultimately EastEnders
Danielle hilariously recalled how she didn’t believe it was Jamie and hung up, causing him to have to call back
She explained how she was taught by well-known actors at the school, including The Wire’s Dominic West before being cast as Lola in EastEnders (pictured)
She added: ‘I cannot tell you the mad feeling I felt when she said EastEnders.’
Describing the audition, Danielle said: ‘I absolutely crumbled. Freaked out. I had the script, didn’t know how to learn the script, I just panicked. I cried.
‘She said, “Listen I think you’ve got something. Lose the script, come and do some improvisation”.
‘They said, “Friday by 6pm, if I haven’t called you, you haven’t got it.” It got to 7… 7.30pm. Then my phone rang. She went, “You’ve got the role!” I just could not believe it.’
I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! continues Friday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX