Bel Powley
Playing a teenage spy in CBBC's M.I.High, 23-year-old Bel Powley is already well known with the younger generations, and you may recognise her from ITV's comedy Benidorm where she plays party girl Bianca Dyke. However, in 2015 she appeared in her first breakout role as the star of The Diary of a Teenage Girl, where she plays cartoonist Minnie who, eager to lose her virginity, begins to have an affair with her mother's boyfriend.
The movie has been critically acclaimed and has been an "overwhelming" experience for Bel, who was thrilled by her involvement. Speaking The Telegraph, she said: “I’m not bigging myself up, but I feel so proud of it and what it’s doing for young women. I want loads of girls my age to go and see it and share my experience.” Speaking of her BAFTA nomination, she said: "I've watched and respected the BAFTAs and the EE Rising Star Award since I was very young, so I can't quite believe this is happening! I am incredibly thankful to the jury and to BAFTA for recognising my work. I really love what I do."
Brie Larson
Brie has been in the Hollywood scene for a while now, albeit never quite hitting the big roles. But besides a role as the love interest in 21 Jump Street, Brie's most well known roles include playing Amy Schumer's uptight sister in Trainwreck, and Envy Adams in Scott Pilgrim Vs The World.
However, her starring role in the critically acclaimed Room as the captive mother who lives to protect her son may not just send her into instant stardom, but could also see her with an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Site including IndieWire and Variety have predicted she will be nominated, and speaking of the Oscar rumours, she told The Guardian: ""Suddenly there's this weird spotlight on you and it's a vomit of gold coins. It's wonderful, but it doesn't feel real." Room will be out in cinemas on Friday 15th January.
Dakota Johnson
Dakota may be best known for her role as the timid Anastasia Steele in 50 Shades of Grey, but the versatile actress has starred in five movies including Johnny Depp's gangster biopic Black Mass, Shakespeare's Cymbeline and is due to appear alongside Rebel Wilson in the upcoming rom-com How to Be Single.
Although 50 Shades of Grey may be considered controversial, Dakota has seen nothing but praise for her treatment of the role and it's subject matter, and has been described by the director Sam Taylor-Johnson as "utterly fearless." Speaking to Vogue about her sudden stardom, Dakota said: “I think about my dwindling anonymity, and that’s really scary because a very large part of me would be perfectly happy living on a ranch in Colorado and having babies and chickens and horses—which I will do anyway.”
John Boyega
Perhaps the quickest to rise to the top of Hollywood in the list of nominees, John Boyega dwindled in TV shows and movies, most notably Attack the Block, before being cast in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Not only did his character receive instant popularity with fans, but Harrison Ford himself has said he will have "a wonderful career" after playing the ex-Stormtrooper, Finn.
Speaking of his BAFTA nomination, John told Vogue: "It feels great, of course. Especially to be alongside the other amazing talents who are in the category. It's very flattering. I've been to BAFTA before actually, but it will be amazing to be there as a nominee. I've not prepared a speech or anything though, definitely not, it doesn't feel real at the moment."
Taron Egerton
Taron hit the big time with the success of Kingsman: The Secret Service, and has gone on to appearing in the critically acclaimed Legend, along with the title roles in Eddie the Eagle and Robin Hood: Origins. Basically, the boy is on his way UP. He told BAFTA: "I am delighted to be nominated for the EE Rising Star Award. It is such an honour to be recognised in this way and I am proud and excited to be following in the footsteps of some incredibly talented previous nominees.
It is a people's choice award so you get to vote for your favourite! Head over to the EE Rising Star Award site to cast your vote.
Check out the rest of the BAFTA nominations here...
Best film
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Carol
The Revenant
Spotlight
Outstanding British film
45 Years
Amy
Brooklyn
The Danish Girl
Ex Machina
The Lobster
Outstanding debut by British writer, director or producer
Alex Garland (director, Ex Machina)
Debbie Tucker Green (writer/director, Second Coming)
Naji Abu Nowar (writer/director, Theeb), Rupert Lloyd (producer, Theeb)
Sean McAllister (director/producer, A Syrian Love Story), Elhum Shakerifar (producer, A Syrian Love Story)
Stephen Fingleton (writer/director, The Survivalist)Best film not in the English languageThe Assassin
Force Majeure
Theeb
Timbuktu
Wild Tales
Best documentary
Amy
Cartel Land
He Named Me Malala
Listen to Me Marlon
Sherpa
Best animated film
Inside Out
Minions
Shaun the Sheep the Movie
Best director
Adam McKay, The Big Short
Steven Spielberg, Bridge of Spies
Todd Haynes, Carol
Ridley Scott, The Martian
Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, The Revenant
Best original screenplay
Bridge of Spies
Ex Machina
The Hateful Eight
Inside Out
Spotlight
Best adapted screenplay
The Big Short
Brooklyn
Carol
Room
Steve Jobs
Best actor
Bryan Cranston, Trumbo
Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant
Matt Damon, The Martian
Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs
Best actress
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl
Brie Larson, Room
Cate Blanchett, Carol
Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van
Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Best supporting actor
Benicio del Toro, Sicario
Christian Bale, The Big Short
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation
Mark Ruffalo, Spotlight
Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Best supporting actress
Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Julie Walters, Brooklyn
Kate Winslet, Steve Jobs
Rooney Mara, Carol
Best original music
Bridge of Spies
The Hateful Eight
The Revenant
Sicario
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Best cinematography
Bridge of Spies
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Sicario
Best editing
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Best production design
Bridge of Spies
Carol
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Best costume design
Brooklyn
Carol
Cinderella
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
Best make-up and hair
Brooklyn
Carol
The Danish Girl
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Revenant
Best sound
Bridge of Spies
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Best special visual effects
Ant-Man
Ex Machina
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Best British short animation
Edmond
Manoman
Prologue
Best British short film
Elephant
Mining Poems or Odes
Operator
Over
Samuel-613
Who do you think will win? Tweet us @sofeminineUK!
This piece was written by Emmy Griffiths. Tweet her @emmyfg!
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