BRITISH PUBLIC NAMES ROBERT ARAMAYO WINNER OF THE EE RISING STAR AWARD AT THE 2026 EE BAFTA FILM AWARDS
- Robert Aramayo is the first actor in the history of the EE Rising Star Award to take home two awards in the same night: the EE Rising Star Award and Best Actor
- The award was presented by David Jonsson, the 2025 EE Rising Star Award winner, and Aimee Lou Wood at this year’s ceremony, which was held at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
- The 2026 nominees were: Robert Aramayo (I Swear), Miles Caton (Sinners), Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another), Archie Madekwe (Lurker) and Posy Sterling (Lollipop)
- Celebrating its twenty-first year, the EE Rising Star Award is the only EE BAFTA Film Awards category to be voted for by the British public, reinforcing EE’s commitment to using the power of its network to bring film and emerging talent to audiences across the UK
- Previous winners include David Jonsson, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Emma Mackey, Kristen Stewart, Eva Green, Tom Holland, Lashana Lynch, Bukky Bakray, Letitia Wright, James McAvoy, Daniel Kaluuya, John Boyega and Tom Hardy
London, Sunday 22nd February 2026: Tonight, Robert Aramayo was revealed as the winner of the EE Rising Star Award for 2026, the only award presented at the EE BAFTA Film Awards that is decided by a public vote. He also became the first actor in the history of the award to take home two awards in the same night: the EE Rising Star Award and Best Actor.
The award was presented by David Jonsson, the 2025 EE Rising Star Award winner, and Aimee Lou Wood, 2023 EE Rising Star Award nominee, at this year’s ceremony, which was held at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.
Celebrating its twenty-first year, the EE Rising Star Award reinforces EE and BAFTA's commitment to champion the rising film stars of the future and to inspire the next generation to follow their passions and explore their curiosities. The accolade continues to highlight new and up-and-coming talent, who have captured the imagination of the British public and film industry alike over the past year, while also inspiring budding creatives.
Robert Aramayo is one of five incredible actors nominated in recognition of their work and identified as a standout rising star. The other nominees were: Miles Caton, Chase Infiniti, Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.
ROBERT ARAMAYO is a British actor from Hull and a graduate of The Juilliard School. He leads Kirk Jones’ film I Swear, inspired by the life of Tourette Syndrome advocate John Davidson. Aramayo’s performance was widely acclaimed and earned him the British Independent Film Award for Best Lead Performance. Aramayo also stars in Palestine 36, directed by Annemarie Jacir. On television, Aramayo is known for starring as Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and previously played young Eddard Stark in Game of Thrones.
MILES CATON is a rising actor and musician who gained global recognition for his breakout role in Ryan Coogler’s box office hit Sinners for Warner Bros. In his acting debut, Caton starred opposite an all-star cast and received rave reviews for his role as Sammie. The 20-year-old Brooklyn, New York native first garnered national attention in 2017 following a video of him singing Nina Simone's Feeling Good went viral, leading to appearances on NBC's Little Big Shots, The View, and a part in the Jay-Z short film 4:44. In 2022, he toured with Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. as a background vocalist, and, in addition to acting, Caton continues to build his music career.
CHASE INFINITI is a Golden Globe nominated actress best known for her starring role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s feature film One Battle After Another. Released by Warner Bros. in September 2025, the film has earned rave reviews, with Infiniti’s performance described as “star-making.” She has earned a Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice, and Gotham Award nomination for her performance as well as winning the 2025 National Board of Review award for “Breakthrough Performance.” In 2024, she delivered a breakout turn in David E. Kelley’s Apple TV+ limited series Presumed Innocent opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga, which became the streamer’s most-watched drama. Next, Infiniti leads Hulu’s The Testaments, the highly anticipated spinoff of The Handmaid’s Tale, and recently wrapped Nikki Byrne’s film The Julia Set.
ARCHIE MADEKWE can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed Sundance hit Lurker, the feature debut of writer-director Alex Russell. The film explores the darker edges of fame, para-social relationships, and contemporary fan culture, with Archie taking his first producer credit. Archie also delivered a standout performance as “cousin Farleigh” in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, and led Sony Pictures’ Gran Turismo, the true story of a British teenage gamer who became a professional racing driver. His additional film credits include Midsommar, Beau Is Afraid, Voyagers, Teen Spirit, and Heart of Stone.
POSY STERLING is one of the UK’s most exciting new talents, winning the BIFA Breakthrough Award for her performance in Lollipop and being named a Screen International Star of Tomorrow. The BBC Film and BFI-backed drama, directed by Daisy-May Hudson, has been hailed as a bold, urgent breakout. Sterling also spent seven weeks in New York performing in The Cherry Orchard at St. Ann’s Warehouse - having also starred in the Donmar Warehouse production the previous year. Her recent screen work includes multi-BAFTA nominated The Outrun and World on Fire, and she is soon to be featured in Trigger Point and Channel 4’s Dirty Business. On stage, she has appeared in acclaimed productions including National Theatre’s Dixon and Daughters and Faith, Hope & Charity.
2026 EE Rising Star Award winner Robert Aramayo said: "It is mad I don't think I can comprehend it yet... I really really can't. It's an honour to be nominated with such amazing people. I didn't write any sort of speech or think for a second I would be winning. I Swear has been such a journey and I feel so passionate about the people I met along the way."
Kelly Engstrom, Brand & Marketing Communications Director – EE and Plusnet, said: “Congratulations to Robert Aramayo for winning the 2026 EE Rising Star Award. Over the past two decades, we’ve seen nominees and winners go on to achieve incredible success, and we’re immensely proud of the role this award plays in recognising industry shaping and breakthrough performances. At EE, the UK’s best work, we’re committed to doing more to honour and support emerging talent and to help amplify fresh voices across the industry. The EE Rising Star Award is about celebrating bold ambition, creative courage and the next generation of storytellers. We can’t wait to see what’s ahead for Robert and all of this year’s outstanding nominees.”
Jane Millichip, CEO at BAFTA added: "The EE Rising Star Award is such an important category as it recognises exceptional breakout talent and is voted for by the public. The nominees this year delivered performances that were as rich and varied as they were exceptional. Huge congratulations to this year’s EE Rising Star, Robert Aramayo. If you haven’t seen I Swear, we strongly recommend you see it. Indeed, please check out as many BAFTA nominated films as you can. It is a brilliant year for film and great stories.”
The EE Rising Star Award was created in honour of the late Mary Selway. A highly respected and BAFTA award-winning casting director whose 36-year career saw her work on more than ninety films and work with leading directors such as Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood. Mary’s work contributed to the creation of some of the silver screen’s most memorable characters and in 2001 she received BAFTA’s Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award.
This year’s EE Rising Star Award nominees were selected by a lineup of renowned industry experts who were tasked with selecting the 2026 nominees from a comprehensive list of actors. The jury, chaired by Anna Higgs, BAFTA Film Committee member, featured actors Joe Alwyn (Hamnet), Sheila Atim (Blade Runner 2099) and Benedict Wong (3 Body Problem), director Raine Allen Miller (Rye Lane), casting director and BAFTA winner, Aisha Bywaters (Dreamers), as well as prominent film and arts journalists.
EE has been a partner of the EE BAFTA Film Awards for twenty-nine years, the longest standing cultural partnership in the UK. Through this partnership, EE works to bring film fans closer to the BAFTAs through the magic of technology and consumer participation. EE has not only worked with BAFTA to introduce the EE Rising Star Award but also uses its award-winning network to create new and exciting opportunities for film fans and emerging talent - demonstrated through the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards Red Carpet Hologram Experience as well as the launch of the Set the Stage programme in 2025.
For more information on the EE Rising Star Award please visit: www.ee.co.uk/bafta.
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