Jack O’Connell and Gugu Mbatha-Raw nominated for coveted EE Rising Star Award at BAFTAs

Jack O'Connell and Gugu Mbatha-Raw face competition from Margot Robbie, and Shailene Woodley
Nominated: Jack and Gugu are short listed for the award
Alistair Foster7 January 2015
The Weekender

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Young British actors Jack O’Connell and Gugu Mbatha-Raw will go up against talent from the US and Australia in the competition for the coveted EE Rising Star Award at this year’s BAFTAs, it was announced today.

The award is seen as a precursor for success in film, with previous winners including Eva Green, Noel Clarke, Kristen Stewart, Tom Hardy and, last year, Will Poulter.

Mbatha-Raw, 31, became a familiar face when she played Tish Jones in Doctor Who, and went on to star as Ophelia opposite Jude Law’s Hamlet at the Wyndham Theatre.

O’Connell, 24, is making waves after his performance in Angelia Jolie’s war drama Unbroken, and last night received a National Board of Review Award in New York for his portrayal of prisoner of war Louis Zamperini.

He flew overnight to appear at Bafta’s HQ in Piccadilly, where the shortlist was unveiled.

The pair will face competition from Australian actress Margot Robbie, 24, and US stars Miles Teller, 27, and Shailene Woodley, 23.

EE Rising Star nominations

1/5

The title is the only BAFTA voted for by the public.

O’Connell has been touted for an Oscar nomination for Unbroken, and director Jolie has been full of praise for her star, saying this week: “I challenge you to find another young man full of more fire.”

The actor was born in Derby and left school with just two GCSEs — a B in drama and C in English. He first became a household name when he played James Cook in Skins in 2009.

He said of today’s nomination: “Thank you to BAFTA and the jury. I’m honoured to be considered for the EE Rising Star Award amongst such a talented field; especially for films which I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of.”

Mbatha-Raw grew up in the Oxfordshire town of Witney before attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Her first major feature film role was 2011’s Larry Crowne, directed by Tom Hanks and co-starring Julia Roberts, and in 2013 she won acclaim for her turn as Dido Belle, Britain’s first mixed-race aristocrat, in period drama film Belle.

Her TV roles include parts in Spooks, Marple – Ordeal by Innocence and Fallout.

She said: “I am delighted to be nominated for the EE Rising Star Award. It is such an honour to be recognised for a growing body of work and I am proud and excited to be included.”

Former Neighbours star Robbie moved to Hollywood and made an immediate impact as the female lead opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street.

Next month she will appears on the big screen as a con artist with Will Smith in Focus.

Teller established himself last year with roles in Whiplash and Divergent. Later this year he will be Mr Fantastic in the reboot of The Fantastic Four.

Woodley’s breakthrough was alongside George Clooney in the acclaimed drama The Descendants in 2011. She also appeared in Divergent and will soon begin filming Oliver Stone’s next movie Snowden.

The nominees were selected by a jury which included Alice Eve, Dexter Fletcher, film critics and journalists.

Voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA. The winner will be announced at the EE British Academy Film Awards on February 8.

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