Bafta Nominated Documentary

A HARRY Potter stunt double from Leigh who was paralysed while filming the franchise is the subject of a new bafta-nominated documentary.

David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, which was nominated in the Single Documentary category.

The HBO documentary, produced by Daniel Radcliffe, was shown on Sky Documentaries in November.

Daniel Radcliffe and David Holmes formed a friendship during their collaboration on Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck in 2009 when Mr. Holmes suffered a broken neck while rehearsing a stunt for ‘The Deathly Hallows: Part 1’ at Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire.

The injury left him paralyzed from the chest down, and he now relies on a wheelchair.

Mr Holmes said: “My legacy on film is not me hitting that wall 15 years ago – my legacy is now the documentary.”

Reflecting on the nomination, he added: “I now have a responsibility – not just to the friends I made this film with, but also the wider disabled community, to use the platform that I’m gaining and hopefully influence positive change.”

Mr Holmes, a former teenage gymnast, hopes his nomination can start a conversation about changing the lack of category for stunt performers at the Baftas.

“If this gives me the platform to call out that disparity, or just give the Academy a nudge that says stunt performers are artists, we risk our lives and our bodies for the sake of telling stories.”

Director Dan Hartley from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, said: “To get a Bafta nomination is humbling, wonderous and fantastic.”

He added: “it gives a platform to Dave and everything he wants to do going forward”, with “messages in the film that are really positive and really useful.”

The main awards ceremony will take place on May 12.

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