This morning, at BAFTA headquarters, Edith Bowman and 2013 EE Rising Star Award winner Juno Temple revealed this year’s coveted list of nominees for the 2018 EE Rising Star award.
Let’s face it, competition has been pretty tough from the numerous outstanding performances delivered in 2017. The judges – which included jury chair Marc Samuelson, actress Georgina Campbell, broadcaster Edith Bowman, BAFTA award-winning director, Philippa Lowthorpe, casting director Lucy Bevan and other leading industry specialists and entertainment journalists. – had an unenviable job whittling down the list of five actors and actresses who have shown exceptional talent on the big screen over the past 12 months and have captured the attention of the public and film industry alike.
The nominations for the 2018 EE Rising Star Award is as follow’s;
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET
Chalamet wowed critics last year in his standout performance in the rustic and beautiful gay love story Call Me By Your Name, where he starred alongside Armie Hammer and had an eye-opening scene with a peach. He also starred in the Greta Gerwig film, Lady Bird which had its premiere in November 2017. Chalamet’s also previously starred in Interstellar and spy thriller TV show Homeland.
Timothée Chalamet, commenting on his nomination, said: “I want to thank BAFTA and the jury for this incredible honour of a nomination for the EE Rising Star Award. I have seen many actors and peers that I admire get nominated for this award in previous years, so I am overjoyed to see my name included in 2018. Call Me By Your Name came out in the UK prior to the states, and British audiences embraced the film in a uniquely strong and passionate way. I feel an enduring sense of gratitude seeing this response echoed around the world, and for being included in this category.”
We spoke to Chalamet on the red carpet for the premiere of Call Me By Your Name at the 2017 London Film Festival.
DANIEL KALUUYA
Although Kaluuya isn’t exactly a new face after previously starring in hit TV shows, Skins, Psychoville and Black Mirror and films such as Sicario, Johnny English Reborn and Kick-Ass 2. Kaluuya finally grabbed the attention of the industry and audiences alike with his brilliant performance in Jordan Peele’s Get Out – which also won the HeyUGuys Online Critics Best Film of 2017 – in which he was nominated for a Golden Globe and won an MTV Movie Award for.
Daniel Kaluuya, commenting on his nomination, said: “I have always admired the work of all the previous nominees of the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award. I’m honoured and grateful to BAFTA and the Jury for the nomination and can’t wait to celebrate it in my home city.”
We spoke with Kaluuya recently at the 2017 BIFA’s in which Get Out won an award for Best International Independent Film.
And going all the way back to 2011 here’s our chat with the REAL star of Johnny English Reborn…
JOSH O’CONNOR
O’Connor played the lead role of Johnny Saxby in the gritty and bold love story God’s Own Country last year which was heralded as one of the most successful British films of last year. Josh made his big-screen debut in The Riot Club alongside Sam Claflin and Max Irons which he followed with roles in The Program and Florence Foster Jenkins. He has also starred in hit period TV dramas Peaky Blinders and Ripper Street and will be returning to TV screens as Lawrence “Larry” Durrell for the third season of The Durrells in April.
Josh O’Connor, commenting on his nomination, said: “I would like to thank BAFTA and the jury for nominating me for the EE Rising Star award. It was such a special experience making God’s Own Country and I don’t think any of us working on the Yorkshire Moors filming this intimate story expected the incredible journey it has been on in the past year. I’m so grateful to everyone who has embraced Johnny’s story and I am truly honoured and touched to be mentioned alongside an array of outstanding talent – thank you.”
We spoke with O’Connor at the time of the theatrical release of God’s Own Country, Watch the full interview below.
FLORENCE PUGH
Pugh put in a stellar performance as Katherine in Lady Macbeth which earned her critical acclaim and in turn, led to her being named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow and a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit last year. Pugh made her film debut in The Falling, which helped garner her widespread attention and for which she received a nomination for Best Newcomer at the BFI London Film Festival Awards. Pugh has recently finished shooting Outlaw King with Chris Pine and Aaron Taylor-Johnson for release on Netflix and will soon commence filming on The Little Drummer Girl for the BBC. She is also set to star on the big screen in horror filmMalevolent, wrestling comedy Fighting With My Family and action thriller The Commuter, all set for release this year.
Florence Pugh, commenting on her nomination, said: “I feel truly honoured to be nominated for an EE Rising Star Award. The journey to get to this rewarding moment has been exhilarating, and so to feel recognition for doing something I love and the hard work many have put in feels very touching. It’s a very proud moment indeed.”
We had a chance to speak to Pugh recently on the red carpet of the 2017 BIFA’s about Lady Macbeth.
TESSA THOMPSON
Thompson’s latest role as Valkyrie in Taiki Watiti’s Thor: Ragnarok earned the actress high praise. Her career took off following the widespread attention she garnered in the critically acclaimed film Dear White People, where her performance landed her a Gotham Award for “Breakthrough Actor”. She then followed up with a memorable role in the film “Selma.” She then went on to star as Bianca in Creed, where she starred opposite Sylvester Stallone. Tessa also stars in the Emmy nominated HBO Series Westworld and will star in sci-fi films, Annihilation this February and Sorry To Bother You out later this year.
Tessa Thompson, commenting on her nomination, said: “I am honoured to be chosen by BAFTA and the jury as a candidate for the EE Rising Star Award. It means so much that my work has been embraced in the UK and that I get to share this recognition with so many wonderfully talented actors. I look forward to learning the names of the other Rising Star honourees that I hope to be partying with the night of the BAFTA’s!”
We spoke to Thompson back in 2016 for the release of Creed, Watch back the full interview below.
2018 celebrates the 13th year of the EE Rising Star Award, the only award at the EE British Academy Film Awards voted for by the British public. Voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA and the winner will be announced at the EE British Academy Film Awards on Sunday 18 February 2018.
