David Farnor | On 04, Jan 2018

The have been announced – and it’s one of the strongest lists in recent memory, as a bunch of breakout new talents find the recognition and showcases they deserve.

The only award at the EE British Academy Film Awards voted for by the British public, the BAFTA category is designed recognise young talent in all walks of the industry. Whether it’s Daniel Kaluuya’s rise from Psychoville and The Fades to Get Out, Josh O’ Connor’s stunning work in God’s Own Country, Florence Pugh’s journey from The Falling to Lady Macbeth, Timothée Chalamet’s heartbreaking turn in Call Me By Your Name, or Tessa Thompson’s scene-stealing Han Solo-esque rogue in Thor: Ragnarok, they have all earned their share of the spotlight. Indeed, it’s no coincidence that streaming services have already come calling for their skills, with Netflix casting Pugh in its upcoming historical drama, Outlaw King, alongside Chris Pine, and Chalamet set to star in Beautiful Boy, opposite Steve Carell, a Plan B production for Amazon Studios.

You can also trace their journey to stardom over your favourite subscription streaming services too, whether it’s Kaluuya in Black Mirror or O’Connor in Amazon’s revival of Ripper Street. To vote for your chosen EE Rising Star winner, head to the official BAFTA website – and read on below for our profile of each actor and where you can stream one of their early hits.

Daniel Kaluuya

Daniel Kaluuya rocketed to fame in Jordan Peele’s genre hit Get Out, for which he won an MTV Movie Award and was most recently nominated for a Gotham Award in the Best Actor category. Daniel was already well-known for his TV roles in Skins and Black Mirror for London’s Channel 4, as well as appearing in the BBC’s dark comedy Psychoville and The Fades on BBC Three.

On the big screen, he has starred in Johnny English Reborn, Welcome to the Punch, Kick-Ass 2, and Sicario opposite Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin.

See Daniel Kaluuya in…

Black Mirror Season 1, Episode 2 (Netflix UK)

Josh O’ Connor

Josh can currently be seen as the lead in God’s Own Country, one of the most successful British films of 2017, and soon to be released on DVD and VOD. He made his big-screen debut in Lone Scherfig’s The Riot Club opposite Sam Claflin and Douglas Booth and roles soon followed working with Stephen Frears both in The Program and Florence Foster Jenkins, alongside Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant.

But before then, he also played James in Peaky Blinders Season 2 and appeared regularly as PC Bobby Grace in Ripper Street in 2014. You may also recognise him from ITV’s The Durrells, which has a third season due to broadcast in 2018.

See Josh O’ Connor in…

Ripper Street Season 3 (Amazon Prime Video)

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson was the standout star of Thor: Ragnarok last year, even outshining Jeff Goldblum and Chris Hemsworth. Her long-standing career reached special prominence with her recent role as the female lead in Creed, from director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station).

See Tessa Thompson in…

Creed (Netflix UK)

Florence Pugh

Florence received rave reviews for her performance in the film Lady Macbeth – following similarly stunned attention from her debut performance in Carol Morley’s mesmerising drama, The Falling. That earned her a Best Newcomer nod at the BFI London Film Festival awards. Now, after being crowned a Screen International Star of Tomorrow, a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit, and winning the Malone Souliers Award for Breakthrough of the Year at the Evening Standard British Film Awards, she may even be a contender at the Oscars.

She is currently filming on David Mackenzie’s Netflix original movie, Outlaw King, in which she stars alongside Chris Pine and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

See Florence Pugh in…

Lady Macbeth (Amazon Prime Video)

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet wowed everyone the world over with his leading performance in Call Me by Your Name, directed Luca Guadagnino. He will next appear in Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, but has also recently wrapped shooting the title role opposite Steve Carrell in Beautiful Boy, a film directed by Felix van Groeningen and produced by Plan B for Amazon Studios.

See Timothée Chalamet in…

Interstellar (Amazon Prime Video)

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