Voting is now open for the only category at the EE BAFTA Film Awards voted for by the British public

  • The EE Rising Star Award nominees for 2025 are: Marisa Abela, Jharrel Jerome, David Jonsson, Mikey Madison and Nabhaan Rizwan
  • Nominees were announced by Actor, Jack O’Connell at a press conference hosted by Film Critic and Radio Host, Ali Plumb
  • Nominees were selected by a panel of industry jurors including actors and former EE Rising Star Award winners, Letitia Wright and Mia McKenna-Bruce, and BAFTA-winner, actor and writer/director, Will Sharpe, alongside a distinguished line up of industry experts  
  • Celebrating its twentieth year, the prestigious EE Rising Star Award is the only award at the EE BAFTA Film Awards voted for by the British public, with voting now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA until Friday 14th February 2025 at 12pm
  • The winner will be announced on Sunday 16th February 2025 at the EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Tuesday 7th January 2025, London: Today, the five nominees for the 2025 EE Rising Star Award, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, were announced during a press conference at The Savoy Hotel in London.

The press conference was introduced by BAFTA CEO, Jane Millichip, and Marketing Communications Director at EE, Pete Jeavons, and hosted by Film Critic and Radio Host, Ali Plumb and Actor, Jack O’Connell, who revealed the highly anticipated 2025 nominee shortlist. 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 EE Rising Star Award nominees for 2025 are:

MARISA ABELA most recently starred in Sam Taylor Johnson’s film Back to Black, where she has garnered critical acclaim and accolades for her portrayal of Amy Winehouse. The biographical drama follows Amy’s life from adolescence through to the creation of her groundbreaking album, for which the film is named. Marisa has also starred as Yasmin Kara-Hanani in the popular BBC/HBO TV drama series, Industry, which just launched its third season and will resume production on Season 4 this Spring. In March 2025, Abela co-stars alongside Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett in Steven Soderbergh’s thriller Black Bag. Abela is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
 
Marisa Abela, commenting on her nomination, said: “I am deeply honoured to be recognised by BAFTA and EE with a Rising Star nomination and just as grateful to be alongside this year’s other incredibly talented nominees. Their impressive work is inspiration for the next generation of actors coming up whom BAFTA and EE will celebrate in the years to come. It’s truly a privilege to be here today and to have this opportunity to celebrate my peers and our wonderful community of actors.”

JHARREL JEROME 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. Jharrel 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.

Jharrel Jerome commenting on his nomination, said: “Receiving this nomination fills me with gratitude and pride. It’s an incredible privilege to tell stories and bring joy to people. Being recognised by the EE BAFTA Film Awards, I hope to inspire young people in the industry to pursue their dreams with passion and perseverance.”

DAVID JONSSON is a British actor who most recently starred in Alien: Romulus, where he plays Andy. The sci-fi horror film follows a group of space colonizers 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. David rose to fame following his performances in Industry, and his film debut in Rye Lane, which received critical acclaim. He is set to appear in Wasteman, The Long Walk, and Scandalous over the coming years, and was recently featured on Variety’s 2024 “10 actors to watch” list.

David Jonsson commenting on his nomination, said: “This is bonkers…Thank you BAFTA, EE and the wonderful jury for this nomination. As a young boy growing up in East London, I couldn’t think of an honour that’s more about the people, and proof that you can do it too. An absolute blessing and dream. Thank you, truly.”

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. In 2022, Mikey appeared in the fifth installment of Scream alongside the cast of the original 1996 cult classic. She also performed in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, alongside Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, garnering her international recognition.

Mikey Madison commenting on her nomination, said: It has been the greatest privilege of my career thus far making, “Anora”, alongside the brilliant Sean Baker and our incredible cast and crew. To have our film seen and recognised around the world is a dream come true. I am so honored and grateful to BAFTA and EE for this nomination and for including me amongst this year’s spectacular nominees.”

NABHAAN RIZWAN can be seen in the British independent film, In Camera. The film, which received critical acclaim when released, follows Aden (Rizwan) who dreams of becoming a successful actor, but the nightmarish grind of the audition circuit, with its callous rejections and upsetting micro-aggressions, is starting to take its toll. Nabhaan was most recently seen alongside Jeff Goldblum in KAOS, a darkly comedic and contemporary reimagining of Greek mythology. Nabhaan made his screen debut with the leading role in BBC’s thriller Informer, winning him the Breakthrough Award at the RTS Awards.

Nabhaan Rizwan, commenting on his nomination, said: “To be named in this category is to stand on the shoulders of giants – an exceptional group of artists who remind us all to keep pushing the envelope. Everyone who worked on In Camera put a little piece of their soul into it. To be here with this film means something very special to me.”

This year, the EE Rising Star Award jury panel was tasked with selecting the 2025 nominees from a comprehensive list of talented actors. The jury met at The Savoy Hotel in November 2024 where they whittled down the longlisted names to these five nominees, who will go head-to-head in the public vote ahead of the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards.

The jury, chaired by Anna Higgs, BAFTA Film Committee Chair, featured actors and former EE Rising Star Award winners, Letitia Wright and Mia McKenna-Bruce, as well as BAFTA-winner, actor and writer/director, Will Sharpe, casting director, Aisha Bywaters (We Are Lady Parts and The Kitchen), film producer, Marc Samuelson (Tom & Viv, Wilde and Stormbreaker) and film director, Yann Demange (’71, Top Boy and Lovecraft Country), alongside leading industry specialists.

Ali Plumb, EE Rising Star Award host, said: “It’s a privilege to host this year’s EE Rising Star Award nominee announcement at The Savoy. The line-up is truly remarkable! Each nominee has delivered outstanding performances that I’m sure will inspire the next generation of talent. I highly recommend watching their films and casting your vote for your favourite performance.”

Jack O’Connell, Actor and former EE Rising Star Award winner, said: “It was such an honour to win the EE Rising Star Award in 2015 and so to be here announcing the next group of nominees ten years later is special. Each of the nominees deserve to be nominated and I’m looking forward to seeing who the public choose as their winner”.

Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at EE, said: “We are thrilled to announce the nominees for this year’s EE Rising Star Award. Now in its twentieth year, the EE Rising Star Award showcases the shared ambition between EE and BAFTA to champion the rising film stars of the future and to inspire the next generation to follow their passions and explore their curiosities. We are incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with BAFTA, together fostering creativity and providing a global platform for emerging talent. Each of this year’s incredible nominees are fully deserving of their nomination and I encourage everyone to go online and cast their vote.”

Anna Higgs, Chair of the BAFTA Film Committee, said: “It was an honour to select the five nominees for the 2025 EE Rising Star Award, which this year marks its 20th anniversary. These exceptional artists on the rise represent an exciting future for the film industry, captivating audiences around the globe and inspiring the next generation. I am looking forward to seeing who will take home the award on 16th February, and know we’ll get to enjoy so much more from all our incredible Rising Stars in the future.”

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.

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, reinforcing EE’s commitment to become the UK’s most personal, customer-focused brand by giving the nation the chance to have their say in choosing the next recipient of the prestigious award. Previous winners include Mia McKenna-Bruce, Emma Mackey, Lashana Lynch, Bukky Bakray, Micheal Ward, Letitia Wright, Jack O’Connell, James McAvoy, Daniel Kaluuya, John Boyega and Tom Hardy.

Source: EE Newsroom