Alicia Vikander, Jo Hartley and Naomi Ackie join BAFTA EE Rising Star Award jury

Alicia Vikander, Jo Hartley and Naomi Ackie join BAFTA EE Rising Star Award panel to select the 2021 shortlist

A trio of actresses have been added to the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award panel to select the 2021 shortlist. 

Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander, This Is England actress Jo Hartley and BAFTA-winning actress Naomi Ackie have joined the roster, alongside a line-up of industry experts, who have already gathered digitally to debate the merits of the emerging talent longlist.

This is the first time the jury panel have had to meet over video conference to discuss this year’s shortlist of young and up-and-coming talent, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jury duty: Alicia Vikander is one of a trio of actresses to be announced as part of the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award panel to select the 2021 shortlist

This is the 16th year the award has been given, with past winners including Daniel Kaluuya, Juno Temple, John Boyega, Tom Hardy, Jack O’Connell, Tom Holland and Kristen Stewart.

The award is the only 2021 EE BAFTA category to be voted for by the British public and voting will open on 3rd March 2021, when the full shortlist will be revealed. 

The jury passionately deliberated over which five will go head-to-head in the public vote ahead of the 2021 BAFTAs.

Accompanying Naomi, Jo and Alicia were producer and director Anand Tucker (The Girl With A Pearl Earring), casting directors Leo Davis (The Queen), Nina Gold (The Kings Speech) and Lucy Bevan (An Education).

Line-up: BAFTA-winning actress Naomi Ackie has joined the roster, alongside a line-up of industry experts, who have already gathered digitally to debate the merits of the emerging talent longlist

Line-up: BAFTA-winning actress Naomi Ackie has joined the roster, alongside a line-up of industry experts, who have already gathered digitally to debate the merits of the emerging talent longlist

Star: This Is England actress Jo Hartley will also weigh in on the nominees

Star: This Is England actress Jo Hartley will also weigh in on the nominees

Creative Director Gaylene Gould and various prominent film and arts journalists were also involved.

Alicia said: ‘Being a BAFTA EE Rising Star nominee was a significant marker in my career and it is an honour and delight to deliberate the shortlist for this year’s award alongside the impressive panel of jurors.

‘In what has been a tumultuous year for the industry, watching these new faces has given me hope and excitement for the years of film to come.’

Jo added: ‘Film has truly been an escape during this isolation period. Not only keeping me entertained but really inspiring me from a professional point of view.

Past winner: Tom Holland is among those who have won the award in the past

Past winner: Tom Holland is among those who have won the award in the past

Rising star: This is the 16th year the award has been given, with past winners including Kristen Stewart

Rising star: This is the 16th year the award has been given, with past winners including Kristen Stewart

‘It is an absolute honour to join the EE Rising Star Award 2021 jury to celebrate the fresh faces on our screens and I cannot wait to see what this next generation of talent goes on to achieve.

‘The Award is an enviable accolade, and I can’t wait for the public to see the shortlist.’

Naomi rounded off the trio, saying: ‘It’s been a huge honour for me to deliberate over this year’s hugely talented candidates.

‘It’s really been hard to pick just five actors for this year’s shortlist and I’m certain I’ll be enjoying all these actor’s work for a long time to come. The industry is bursting with talent and with the last year that we’ve collectively faced, I’m so grateful projects are still being made.

Talent: Juno Temple is also a past recipient of the honour

Talent: Juno Temple is also a past recipient of the honour

Winner: Nominations for all categories at the EE British Academy Film Awards will be announced on March 9, with the ceremony being broadcast on April 11 on BBC One [past winner Tom Hardy is pictured]

Winner: Nominations for all categories at the EE British Academy Film Awards will be announced on March 9, with the ceremony being broadcast on April 11 on BBC One [past winner Tom Hardy is pictured]

‘For me and I’m sure many others, art, in its many mediums, is an important and needed respite while we adapt to our new reality. 

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. 

Nominations for all categories at the EE British Academy Film Awards will be announced on March 9, with the ceremony being broadcast on April 11 on BBC One.