As Star Wars: The Force Awakens continues to smash box office records, one of the film’s breakout actors is also generating award buzz. John Boyega, who plays Finn – the Stormtrooper on the run, has been nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award.
The 23-year-old’s previous credits include Attack the Block and Half of a Yellow Sun. He’ll be returning to the Star Wars franchise in Episode VIII which hits cinemas in 2017.
Fans of Fifty Shades of Grey are likely to throw their support behind Dakota Johnson. Johnson made waves with her role as Anastasia Steele in the big screen adaptation of the raunchy book series, and had a supporting part in gangster biopic Black Mass. Her upcoming projects are romantic comedy How to Be Single and sultry drama A Bigger Splash.
Potential Oscar nominee Brie Larson is another name on the shortlist. Critics praised her performance in Room and she’s already received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Independent Spirit Awards nods for her performance.
The other contenders are Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Legend) and Bel Powley (The Diary of a Teenage Girl, A Royal Night Out).
The EE Rising Star Award is voted for by the public and the winner will be revealed at the BAFTA Film Awards on February 14th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=dCAkjUgLFmg
Originally published January 5, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
