2025 EE BAFTA Rising Star Nominees – Who Are They?

Due to the tragic fires in California, it looked for a short time as if the awards season was also under threat and many award ceremonies were postponed or even cancelled. Of course, it’s not vital to get dressed up in expensive gowns and get rebuffed on the red carpet, but it’s often forgotten that the awards are a springboard for up-and-coming talent to make a household name of themselves, get better jobs and also have a basis for negotiating contracts. Awards such as the Rising Star Award, which the British Academy presents every year, can suddenly change the lives of the nominees and help make their dream a reality.

Unlike most categories, the Rising Star Award is unique in two critical ways: it is the only honour open to public voting, and it celebrates performers at the nascent stages of their careers. Past nominees and winners are chosen not for lifetime achievement but for their ability to captivate audiences with breakout performances that hint at limitless potential.

Nominees are selected by an expert panel of industry professionals, and the criteria extend beyond sheer talent. Nominees must have demonstrated a “star- making” performance in film or television and shown a distinct ability to stand out in a highly competitive field.

Let’s take a look at the nominees for 2025:

Marisa Abela

Marisa Abela has won critical acclaim for her portrayal of Amy Winehouse in Back to Black. The film biography by Sam Taylor-Johnson sheds light on the singer’s life up to the creation of her legendary album. Abela is also known from the HBO series Industry. In 2025, she will be seen alongside Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett in Steven Soderbergh’s thriller Black Bag. About her BAFTA nomination, she said: “It’s a great honour to be nominated in this talented round.”

Jharrel Jerome

Jharrel Jerome took on the lead role in Unstoppable, a biopic about wrestler Anthony Robles, alongside Jennifer Lopez and Don Cheadle. The actor became known for Moonlight and won an Emmy in 2019 for When They See Us. Commenting on his nomination, Jerome said: “I hope to inspire young people in the industry to pursue their dreams with passion.”

David Jonnson

David Jonsson plays the main character Andy in Alien: Romulus. The actor rose to fame with the series Industry and the acclaimed film Rye Lane. Next he can be seen in Wasteman, The Long Walk and Scandalous. As a boy in East London, I could never have dreamed of this honour,” says Jonsson about his nomination.

Mikey Madison

Mikey Madison can currently be seen in Sean Baker’s Anora – the Cannes D’or and now most recently Critics Choice Best Picture winner. She is an American actress best known for her standout role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the Scream movie from 2022. She just secured her a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards, as well as being nominated in the same category for the BAFTA’s. “It’s an honour to be recognized for this role and this particular film,” she said of this recognition.

Nabhaan Rizwan

Nabhaan Rizwan impresses in the British independent film In Camera as an actor who struggles in the tough everyday life of casting. He previously starred in the BBC series Informer and in the dark mythology series KAOS with Jeff Goldblum. “Every person who has worked on In Camera has put a piece of their soul into it. This nomination means a lot to me,” said Rizwan to BAFTA about his nomination.

Winning or even being nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award is often a career-defining moment. For many actors, this recognition opens doors to larger roles, international acclaim, and collaborations with prestigious filmmakers. Daniel Kaluuya, the 2018 winner, leveraged his victory into a string of high-profile projects, from ‘Black Panther‘ to his Oscar-winning turn in ‘Judas and the Black Messiah‘. Similarly, Florence Pugh’s 2020 nomination marked her transition from promising indie actor to a globally recognized star of films like ‘Little Women‘, ‘Oppenheimer‘ and now having a lead role in Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts‘ in May.

Since its inception, the award has honoured actors such as James McAvoy, Tom Holland, Kristen Stewart, Tom Hardy and Letitia Wright many of whom have gone on to become household names and industry icons. And that is just a peak of the winners, other nominees where names like Margot Robbie, Dakota Johnson, Anya- Taylor Joy, Timothée Chalamet, Michelle Williams, Emily Blunt or Michael Fassbender, who all became huge A-list celebrities and well respected actors.

The award also acts as an indicator of the industry’s cultural and creative priorities. By spotlighting diverse voices and perspectives, the Rising Star Award reflects a broader commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that fresh talent from varied back- grounds is given a platform to shine. As the industry evolves, the BAFTA Rising Star Award remains a vital touchstone for recognizing and celebrating emerging talent. Its winners and nominees often go on to define the cultural and artistic landscapes of their time, shaping the future of cinema.

In a profession where success is never guaranteed, the Rising Star Award provides not only recognition but also a vote of confidence in an actor’s ability to captivate audiences for years to come. For fans and industry insiders alike, it is a reminder that the future of film is as bright as the stars it seeks to honour and it’s always fun to look back the list a couple of years later, seeing who certain names and remembering the time, when they still have not yet made the complete leap.

The award will be presented by previous winners Letitia Wright and the first recipient James McAvoy on Sunday 16th. We are excited to see who wins, so we keep our fingers crossed for the nominees!