Manchester animation and video production company BWS has unveiled its latest original short, The Man Behind the Monkey, starring acclaimed British actor Jonno Davies – fresh from his internationally lauded role as Robbie Williams in the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man.
Davies’ performance in Better Man has already broken new ground: He was awarded Best Lead Actor in Film at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards, making him the first actor in the award’s 67-year history to win for a motion-capture role.
Inspired by the emotional depth of that performance, BWS founder Ben Wild approached Davies to create a more intimate, narrative-led film exploring the craft and vulnerability of the actor himself. The result is The Man Behind the Monkey, a stripped-back, character-focused short offering a glimpse beyond the spotlight into the personal process of transformation.
BWS founder Wild said: “Jonno’s performance in ‘Better Man’ is nothing short of mesmerising. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to collaborate. ‘The Man Behind the Monkey’ strips away the gloss and invites audiences to meet the artist — raw, honest, and real.”
Reflecting on the collaboration, Davies said: “When Ben contacted me, I was instantly drawn to the idea. It wasn’t about flashy sets — it was about storytelling at its most human. I was really impressed with BWS’s visual storytelling — they’re always finding fresh ways to bring ideas to life. This project gave me space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with why I love acting.”
Best known for standout roles in Kingsman: The Secret Service, Hunters (Amazon Prime), and his breakout performance as Alex Delarge in A Clockwork Orange on stage, Davies is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most exciting acting talents, with a growing international following.
BWS has built an impressive portfolio, producing creative work for brands including the Premier League, CBBC, New Balance, and Amazon Prime. With The Man Behind the Monkey, the studio adds to its growing slate of original content that blends craft, emotion, and visual innovation.
The Man Behind the Monkey is available to watch now exclusively via BWS YouTube Channel. Better Man is also available to watch now on Amazon Prime, and speaking as someone that isn’t a massive fan of boy bands but did used to be a film critic, it’s actually rather good.
