Meet Arthur Conti, the Actor Behind Carrie's Billy Nolan
Arthur Conti plays Billy Nolan in Mike Flanagan's Prime Video adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie. Before that, he appeared in House of the Dragon as the Queen's page and in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as Jeremy Frazier, among other roles. Conti described playing the cruel character as a liberating experience and said he and co-star Alison Thornton are much different from their on-screen counterparts.
Arthur Conti takes on Billy Nolan in Mike Flanagan's Prime Video take on Stephen King's Carrie. The role was previously played by John Travolta in Brian De Palma's 1976 film. Conti's earlier credits include the Queen's page in House of the Dragon, Jeremy Frazier in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Alex in Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, and Emmett Dyer in & Sons. He is the son of Nina Conti and grandson of Tom Conti.
In this adaptation, Billy and Chris Hargensen are given more layered motivations, with insecurity behind their cruelty rather than pure caricature. Conti said he and co-star Alison Thornton are gentle people off-screen, making the vicious dynamic cathartic and enjoyable to explore.
This casting profile may shape how viewers approach Flanagan's Carrie, especially fans comparing it with earlier adaptations. Depictions of teen cruelty and insecurity could spark conversations about bullying, empathy, and adolescent mental health among streaming audiences. It may also raise Conti's profile, potentially opening more prominent roles and increasing attention from genre fans. The impact is likely cultural rather than immediate, but it could influence how young performers and sensitive themes are discussed online.