Daniel Kaluuya, a British-born Ugandan actor has won the Rising Star accolade in this year’s British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTAs) that were held Yesterday night (February 18) at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Although he has been in the film industry for quite a while, Kaluuya shot to fame after his stellar performance in the critically acclaimed horror film Get Out.
The 28-year-old actor emerged winner after beating stiff competition from Florence Pugh, Josh O’Connor, Timothée Chalamet and Tessa Thompson in the tightly contested category, which was voted for by the public.
The star praised his fellow Rising Star nominees and also thanked his acting mentors for letting him ‘think different.’
He said: “I’ve gone blank. Thank you, Tessa, Tim, Josh and Florence. I feel so privileged to be in your guys’ company. I am a product of arts funding in the UK. I want to thank people who support that, mainstream arts and grass roots levels. Thank you for letting me think different. I wasn’t supposed to say that. We break all the rules.”
Kaluuya dedicated the award to his mother whom he says is the person behind his success saying, “Mum – you’re the reason why I started, why I’m here, you’re the reason I keep going. This is yours. Love peace let’s get it.”
Kaluuya, however, lost the Best Actor award to Gary Oldman who took the award due to his role in Darkest Hour.
Kaluuya has also picked up Oscar, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his role as Chris Washington in the 2017 horror film. He won the Best Actor award at the MTV Movie Awards and the NAACP Image Awards.
Kate Middleton and Prince William arrive at the Royal Albert Hall for the BAFTAs. COURTESY PHOTOS
He is known for his roles in hit TV shows, Skins, Psychoville and Black Mirror and has also starred in films, including crime thriller Sicario, Johnny English Reborn and Kick Ass 2.
This month he appeared in Marvel film Black Panther, followed by a co-starring role in Steve McQueen’s upcoming heist thriller Widows later this year.
READ: Ugandan actor Daniel Kaluuya scoops Oscar nomination against Denzel Washington
Just like at the Golden Globes, the 71st BAFTA film awards was a sea of black as nearly all the A-list actors showed solidarity to the “Me Too” movement and the “Time’s Up” campaign by shunning colour and wearing glamorous black gowns and suits. This was done in solidarity with those standing against abuse in the industry. Many nominees and presenters – Naomie Harris and Angelina Jolie – brought activists as their guests.
Orlando Bloom
Below is the full list of winners at the 2018 BAFTAs:
Rising Star Award: Daniel Kaluuya
Original Score: The Shape Of Water (Alexandre Desplat)
Best Make Up & Hair: Darkest Hour
Best Costume Design: Phantom Thread (Mark Bridges)
Best Animated Film: Coco
Outstanding British Film: Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Best Film: Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Best Actor: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Best Actress: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water
Lupita Nyong’o
Best Original Screenplay: Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, Martin McDonagh
Best Adapted Screenplay: Call Me By Your Name, James Ivory
Supporting Actress: Allison Janney
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer: I Am Not a Witch (Rungano Nyoni, Emily Morgan)
Best Film Not in the English Language: The Handmaiden
Best Documentary: I Am Not Your Negro
Best Original Music: The Shape of Water (Alexandre Desplat)
Best Cinematography: Blade Runner 2049 (Roger Deakin)
Best Editing: Baby Driver
Best Production Design: The Shape of Water
Best Sound: Dunkirk
Best Special Visual Effects: Blade Runner 2049
Best British Short Animation: Poles Apart
Best British Short Film: Cowboy Dave
DO NOT MISS: Is Kaluuya in a Kanzu #SoUG enough for you?