Londoner John Boyega picked up the ‘Rising Star’ award at this year’s BAFTAs emulating James McAvoy and Tom Hardy as faces to look out for in the future.
The Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens actor called his win “a fluke” as he beat out fellow nominees Dakota Johnson, Brie Larson, Bel Powley and Taron Egerton.
The award was presented by last year’s winner Jack O’Connell at the star-studded ceremony in London’s Royal Opera House.
Accepting the award, Boyega said: “A big thank you for BAFTA for this amazing opportunity, and to the members of the public who have voted.”
He then joked: “I have-not been doing this for a long time; it’s a fluke,” before dedicating the award to “the young dreamers”
Boyega, who studied performing arts at South Thames College in Wandsworth, was born in Peckam to Nigerian parents. One of his roles before he landed the part of Stormtrooper Finn in Star Wars Episode VII was the character Ugwu in the film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Anika Noni Rose, Genevieve Nnaji and OC Ukeje.
He will soon begin filming Star Wars Episode VIII, in which it is rumoured a ‘bromance’ could develop between his Finn character and Poe Dameron, played in The Force Awakens by Inside Llewyn Davis star Oscar Isaac.
Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens also scooped the award for the best special visual effects.
