BAFTA 2021 EE Rising Star Award nominations are revealed

The nominations for BAFTAs 2021 EE Rising Star award were revealed on Wednesday.

George McKay revealed the all-British line-up in a special virtual event, and named Bukky Bakray, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Morfydd Clark, Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, and Conrad Khan as the nominees.

Bukky, 16, was shortlisted for her incredible turn as Olushola ‘Rocks’ in Rocks, while Kingsley, 35, was nominated for his work in Regina King’s Golden Globe-nominated film One Night In Miami as Malcolm X. 

Morfydd was shortlisted for her horror film Saint Maud, while Ṣọpẹ́ was named for his turn in the tense horror His House, and Conrad was nominated for County Lines.

Speaking of his role in the historical drama, Kingsley gushed: ‘I look back now and I feel so lucky to have spent so much time with Regina and Malcolm. 

I feel like Regina and I spoke about being very careful about all the decisions from the beginning and trying to create a Malcolm that if you went back to watch it again you would see the undercurrent that explodes at the end.

‘Regina is one of the most fascinating human beings who have ever lived so I feel very lucky to have had this experience.’

Speaking of her nomination, Bukky told the panel of getting the news: ‘I told my brothers, and when I told them they were just really shocked. They were all shocked. 

‘When my agents told me I told them they were lying but I remember my brothers telling me it’s your time champ.’   

She added: ‘I honestly feel so blessed to be recognised so early on in my career. I still can’t believe this, I’m not sure I ever will either.

‘All the warmth and love from BAFTA and EE is beautiful and I’m grateful. Thank you’  

Rocks follows Bukky’s teenage character after she and her brother are abandoned by their single mother, and have to learn to fend for themselves and avoid being taken away by authorities. 

Morfydd plays hospice nurse Katie, in the psychological horror, who renames herself Maud and becomes obsessed with saving the soul of a dancer in her care.

Speaking about the role, she told the panel: ‘When I read the script I feel Rose Glass (the film’s director) wrote a character that felt complete, it was easy to step into it.’

When asked if it was difficult to play Maud, Morfydd, who was tuning in from New Zealand, added: ‘No, not really which I think freaks people out a bit. 

‘She made a lot of sense to me and I think loneliness is a kind of fear that seems kind of non-neurotic.

‘It was a thing I’ve been thinking about for some time, and when I read the script it was something I wanted to write if I had any skill in writing, she made sense to me.’

This is the 16th year the award has been given, with past winners including Daniel Kaluuya, Juno Temple, John Boyega, Tom Hardy, Jack O’Connell, Tom Holland and Kristen Stewart. 

The award is the only 2021 EE BAFTA category to be voted for by the British public and voting is now open.  

Top Boy actor Michael Ward was given the coveted trophy in last year’s ceremony. 

In January it was revealed that Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander, This Is England actress Jo Hartley and BAFTA-winning actress Naomi Ackie had joined the line-up of industry experts to select the shortlist. 

Creative Director Gaylene Gould and various prominent film and arts journalists were also involved in the process, which took place over video call amid the coronavirus crisis.

Alicia said: ‘Being a BAFTA EE Rising Star nominee was a significant marker in my career and it is an honour and delight to deliberate the shortlist for this year’s award alongside the impressive panel of jurors.

‘In what has been a tumultuous year for the industry, watching these new faces has given me hope and excitement for the years of film to come.’

Jo added: ‘Film has truly been an escape during this isolation period. Not only keeping me entertained but really inspiring me from a professional point of view.

‘It is an absolute honour to join the EE Rising Star Award 2021 jury to celebrate the fresh faces on our screens and I cannot wait to see what this next generation of talent goes on to achieve.

‘The Award is an enviable accolade, and I can’t wait for the public to see the shortlist.’

Naomi rounded off the trio, saying: ‘It’s been a huge honour for me to deliberate over this year’s hugely talented candidates.

‘It’s really been hard to pick just five actors for this year’s shortlist and I’m certain I’ll be enjoying all these actor’s work for a long time to come. 

‘The industry is bursting with talent and with the last year that we’ve collectively faced, I’m so grateful projects are still being made.

‘For me and I’m sure many others, art, in its many mediums, is an important and needed respite while we adapt to our new reality.’

The EE Rising Star award was created in honour of the late Mary Selway. A highly respected and BAFTA award-winning casting director whose 36-year career saw her work on more than ninety films and work with leading directors such as Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood.

Mary’s work contributed to the creation of some of the silver screen’s most memorable characters and in 2001 she received BAFTA’s Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award. 

Public voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA and the winner will be revealed at the EE British Academy Film Awards on April 11th 2021 on BBC One.