England Is Mine is a 2017 British biographical drama film, based on the early years of singer Morrissey, before he formed The Smiths in 1982 with Johnny Marr. Originally titled Steven (Morrissey's first name), the title of the film comes from a lyric in the Smiths' song "Still Ill": "England is mine, and it owes me a living." The film is an unauthorised portrayal of Morrissey's pre-success years. It is Mark Gill's feature-length directorial debut, as well as Jodie Comer's first feature film appearance. The film stars Jack Lowden as Morrissey, and was directed and co-written by Mark Gill. It co-stars Jessica Brown Findlay as Linder Sterling and Laurie Kynaston as Johnny Marr. It premiered at the closing gala of the Edinburgh Film Festival on 2 July 2017, and was released in the United Kingdom on 4 August 2017, and in the United States on 25 August 2017. Plot Young, introverted Steven Patrick Morrissey is a sullen, dissatisfied, and shy teen growing up in Manchester in the 1970s. Withdrawn and a loner, he goes out to listen to music at night and then submits letters and reviews to music newspapers. His father wants him to get a job, his mother wants him to follow his passion for writing, and Steven doesn't quite know what he wants to do. His new friend, artist Linder Sterling, inspires him to continue to write lyrics and urges him to start to perform, but she eventually moves to London. Forced to earn a living and fit in with society, Steven's frustrations and setbacks continue to mount. Although he eventually writes some songs with guitarist Billy Duffy and he tries his hand at singing and enjoys it, eventually Duffy breaks it off, and nothing substantially changes in his life, so Steven seems at the end of his tether. At the end of the film, guitarist Johnny Marr (with whom he would go on to form The Smiths) shows up on his doorstep in 1982. Cast Jack Lowden as Steven Morrissey Jessica Brown Findlay as Linder Sterling Laurie Kynaston as Johnny Marr Adam Lawrence as Billy Duffy Jodie Comer as Christine Katherine Pearce as Anji Hardie Peter McDonald as Peter Morrissey Simone Kirby as Elizabeth Morrissey Vivienne Bell as Jacqueline Morrissey Graeme Hawley as Mr Leonard Production Jack Lowden, the star of the film, did not know much about Morrissey when he was cast. Director Mark Gill