BAFTA, today announced the five nominees for the EE Rising Star Award, now in its 16th year, as part of a virtual event live-streamed from the elegant setting of The Savoy, London.
Hosted by BAFTA Chief-Executive Amanda Berry OBE and film broadcaster Edith Bowman, 2014 EE Rising Star nominee George MacKay (1917) announced the highly anticipated nominee shortlist for 2021.
The British line-up of five nominees included;
Bukky Bakray, who made her debut lead performance in breakout hit ‘Rocks’, directed by Sarah Gavron. Bakray has also received nominations from the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and London Critics Circle and has been longlisted in BAFTA’s ‘Leading Actress’ category for 2021.
Conrad Khan, who is best known for his highly acclaimed role as Tyler, in Henry Blake’s 2020 feature film, ‘County Lines’. A performance that has earnt him a BIFA nomination for ‘Most Promising Newcomer.’ Khan has most recently been cast as a lead in the final series of the BAFTA award-winning ‘Peaky Blinders’, opposite Cillian Murphy and Paul Anderson.
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Kingsley Ben-Adir, the breakout star of Regina’s King’s directorial debut film ‘One Night in Miami’ and has been making headlines with his captivating portrayal of Malcolm X. He has also been longlisted in BAFTA’s ‘Leading Actor’ category for 2021.
Morfydd Clark, has been singled out by critics for her breath-taking performance in Rose Glass’s award-winning debut ‘Saint Maud’. She has also been longlisted in BAFTA’s ‘Leading Actress’ category for 2021. Clark is currently in New Zealand filming a lead role in Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings.’
Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, having starred on Sky’s ‘Gangs of London’ and Netflix horror ‘His House’ Dìrísù has earned a ‘Critic’s Choice Super’ and BIFA award nominations for ‘Best Actor’. He is currently in Ireland shooting a lead role in ‘Mr Malcolm’s List’. Upcoming releases include ‘Mothering Sunday’ with Olivia Colman and Colin Firth, Tim Felhbaum’s Berlinale Special ‘Tides’ and ‘Silent Night’ with Kiera Knightley and Matthew Goode.
Voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA and the winner will be announced at the EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday 11th April 2021 on BBC One.
