Today (January 7th), the five nominees for the 2025 BAFTA EE Rising Star Award, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, were announced at a press conference at The Savoy Hotel in London.
Hosted by film critic / radio host Ali Plumb and actor Jack O’Connell, the nominees consist of five actors who have each demonstrated their “remarkable talent in film over the past year, having captured the imagination of both the public and film industry alike”.
The performers up for this years award are as follows…
Marisa Abela
Having gained significant attention for her roles in projects such as HBO’s Industry and biographical thriller Rogue Agent, in 2024 Marisa Abela garnered critical acclaim and accolades for her portrayal of Amy Winehouse in Sam Taylor Johnson’s film Back to Black.
Jharrel Jerome
Acclaimed American actor and rapper Jharrel Jerome made his on-screen debut in 2016, in the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight, while his 2019 performance in When They See Us won him a Primetime Emmy Award, as well as an NAACP Image Award.
He most recently appeared on our screens as the lead in the biopic Unstoppable. Starring alongside Jennifer Lopez and Don Cheadle, the biographical sports drama sees Jharrel play Anthony Robles, who was born without a leg and was determined to pursue his dreams of becoming a wrestler.
David Jonsson
British actor David Jonsson rose to fame following his performances in Industry, and his film debut in Rye Lane, which received critical acclaim. Most most recently he starred in Alien: Romulus – a sci-fi horror movie that follows a group of space colonisers as they come face-to-face with the most terrifying life form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station.
Mikey Madison
Mikey Madison can currently be seen starring in Sean Baker’s award season contender, the comedy drama, Anora. The film, which won the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, follows a young sex worker from Brooklyn whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch.
Nabhaan Rizwan
Nabhaan Rizwan made his screen debut with the leading role in BBC’s thriller Informer, winning him the Breakthrough Award at the RTS Awards. His latest role in the British independent film, In Camera, sees Rizwan portray Aden, a young actor finds himself in a cycle of nightmarish auditions. After repeatedly being rejected, he takes it upon himself to find a part to play.
Celebrating its twentieth year, the EE Rising Star Award stands as the only EE BAFTA Film Awards category to be voted for by the British public.
Previous winners include Mia McKenna-Bruce, Emma Mackey, Lashana Lynch, Bukky Bakray, Micheal Ward, Letitia Wright, James McAvoy, Daniel Kaluuya, John Boyega and Tom Hardy.
Voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA and the winner will be announced at the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2025.
The ceremony will be held at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, 16th February and will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, and on BritBox International in North America, the Nordics and Australia.
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