With Awards season in full swing, BAFTA has announced the nominees for this year’s EE Rising Star Award, which is the only award at the annual award ceremony that is voted on by the public.

The five nominees include Ayo Edebiri, Phoebe Dynevor, Jacob Elordi, Mia McKenna-Bruce and Sophie Wilde.  Ayo Edebiri has appeared in several Disney projects in the last year, including Searchlight Pictures’ “Theater Camp”, ABC’s “Abbott Elementary”, and FX’s “The Bear”, all of which can be watched on Disney+ in the UK.

The announcement was made during a press conference at The Savoy Hotel in London, and 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 the film industry alike.

Ayo Edebiri is an American comedian, writer, producer, actress and voice actress who most recently starred in Bottoms, a satirical teen comedy directed by Emma Seligman and co-written with Rachel Sennott, which premiered in August 2023. The film follows the story of two high school senior girls who set up a fight club as a vehicle to hook up with cheerleaders; Ayo plays the leading role of ‘Josie’. She has also starred opposite Jeremy Allen White in a breakout television show, The Bear. Ayo delivered high praise for her performance as the character ‘Sydney’, earning her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, alongside multiple ensemble nominations. Edebiri continues to voice the character ‘Missy’ in the hit show Big Mouth on which she is also a writer.

Ayo Edebiri made a statement about her nomination, which said:

It’s wonderful and humbling to receive this nomination. It’s the greatest privilege to tell stories and make people laugh. I know I’m in esteemed company and this means the world.”

Jane Millichip, CEO at BAFTA, also said in a statement regarding the nominees:

“I am delighted to celebrate the exceptional talent showcased by this year’s five nominees for the EE Rising Star Award. These remarkable individuals represent what BAFTA and the EE Rising Star Award stand for as the future of the film industry, embodying innovation, dedication, and a commitment to storytelling that captivates audiences worldwide. I look forward to seeing who will take home the award on 18th February.”

With Ali Plumb, who is the EE Rising Star Award host, adding:

“I’m honoured to be hosting this year’s EE Rising Star Award Nominees Announcement at The Savoy – what an incredible line-up! Each rising star talent deserves this spotlight, having provided extraordinary performances serving as inspiration for the next generation. If you haven’t already, I would encourage you all to watch the nominees’ films, they are all wonderful in their own way, and vote for your favourite performance.”

Voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA and the winner will be announced at the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024. The ceremony will be held at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, 18th February and will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, and on BritBox International in the USA, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and South Africa, with more international territories to be confirmed.

Previous winners include Emma Mackey, Lashana Lynch, Bukky Bakray, Micheal Ward, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, John Boyega, and Tom Hardy.

Do you think Ayo is going to win?  Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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