BAFTA Global icon to shine spotlight on new talent
BAFTA has announced today that this year’s leading actress nominee Lady Gaga will introduce this year’s EE Rising Star segment during the EE British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 13 March.
The only award voted for by the British public, the EE Rising Star award has proven to be a marker of performers on the ascendance, and is an important part of BAFTA’s wider ongoing commitment to supporting and shining a light on new talent.
A vocal supporter of up and coming talent throughout her career, Lady Gaga will highlight the importance of supporting the next generation of talent, before introducing last year’s EE Rising Star winner, Bukky Bakray.
Bukky will then announce the recipient of this year’s EE Rising Star winner, presenting them with the coveted Rising Star mask.
Emma Baehr, Executive Director of Awards & Content at BAFTA said: “We’re thrilled to be able to create such a memorable moment that celebrates the exciting new talent within our industry. The EE Rising Star Award is a huge moment in someone’s early career, and our multiple new talent initatives are a key part of BAFTA’s year-round work. We’re delighted that Lady Gaga has agreed to be part of the ceremony, and pleased that Bukky will finally get to enjoy her moment on the Royal Albert Hall stage.”
The ceremony, celebrating the very best of British and international film talent, will be returning to London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall, and broadcast at 7pm on BBC One, BBC One HD and BBC iPlayer.
Voting for this year’s EE Rising Star Award closes at 10am on Friday 11 March.
For further information, please contact:
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About BAFTA
BAFTA – the British Academy of Film and Television Arts - is a world-leading independent arts charity that brings the very best work in film, games and television to public attention and supports the growth of creative talent in the UK and internationally. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of learning events and initiatives – which includes workshops, masterclasses, scholarships, lectures and mentoring schemes in the UK, USA and Asia – BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For more, visit www.bafta.org. BAFTA is a registered charity (no. 216726).
About the Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. Throughout its 150-year history, it has welcomed a who’s who of world-renowned figures: artists, athletes and activists. No other place on earth has played host to Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein and Muhammad Ali; Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles and Adele. This was the Suffragettes’ “temple of liberty” – the site of Votes for Women rallies that helped change the course of British history – the home of the Stonewall concerts, and a place of celebration during Nelson Mandela’s state visit. But its eccentric history has also seen it used for a séance, an indoor marathon and the world’s first bodybuilding contest (judged by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).
From 2021 to 2023, the Hall celebrates its 150th birthday, with a special programme of events including major commissions from British artists, headline performances from musical legends, and a series of showcases promoting the next generation of talent. The season is designed to reflect Prince Albert’s founding vision of the venue: to promote the arts and sciences, and to offer a place of celebration, inspiration and commemoration for the country as a whole.
In an ordinary year, the Hall’s extraordinary auditorium presents around 400 world-class events: encompassing rock, pop and classical music, theatre, dance, films, Cirque du Soleil and sport. It typically welcomes 1.8 million visitors a year, while its 1,000 events in secondary spaces help to attract a young, diverse audience. Its Education & Outreach programme includes music therapy, concerts in the community, and workshops with A-list artists, often in collaboration with other charities, such as Nordoff Robbins and Music for Youth.
