'A beautifully understated, heart-melting performance': Tividale child actor hitting the big screen in Ray and Liz

Joshua Millard-Lloyd, of Tividale, has acted with Danny Dyer and Jo Brand, appeared on an Olly Murs music video, made two films and twice toured the UK in a musical.

And his latest work, as the child lead in the film Ray and Liz, due to be released next month has already got him noticed by the critics.

The autobiographical film, marking acclaimed photographer and artist Richard Billingham's directing debut, tells the story of his upbringing in the Black Country with his hard-drinking dad Ray and hard-smoking mum Liz. It is described as stark, bleak and uncompromising.

Joshua spent five weeks on set at locations around Cradley Heath and Old Hill for his role as Richard's younger brother Jason.

Mum Adele said: "He was very shocked by the content but he knew, although it's based on a true story, that it was just acting. There's a lot of bad language in it but we spoke to him about it and he coped really well, especially considering he was only eight at the time of filming."

The youngster earned a glowing review in Screen Daily, which said: "A beautifully understated, heart-melting performance from Joshua Millard-Lloyd is a stand out."

The Grace Mary Primary pupil has been learning his craft in Saturday morning sessions at The Theatre Workshop in Birmingham for the last five years. Stage school manager Suzy Bleasdale told his parents he showed potential and suggested he should audition for professional roles.

Since then he has performed in the 2017 and 2018 UK tours of Nativity The Musical and in last year's Nativity Rocks feature film.

He has also done a voiceover for a TV butter ad, appeared in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Lutterworth and worked with Olly Murs on his Grow Up music video.

Joshua clearly got an early taste for showbusiness from his parents. Mum Adele and dad Steve are both entertainers, performing in clubs, hotels and private functions – and when he's not away working himself, Joshua plays drums for them.

Adele said: "He's had an absolute ball but he knows he's very fortunate to get the roles he has. Kids his age don't normally get these opportunities and he feels very honoured to have done what he has."

He will see himself in the film for the first time tomorrow when it is shown at a private screening at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham .