'Alien: Romulus' star David Jonsson clinches BAFTA Rising Star Award
What's the story
British actor David Jonsson (31), who appeared in Alien: Romulus and the HBO series Industry, has bagged the EE Rising Star Award at the BAFTA Film Awards. The ceremony was held on Sunday (February 16) at London's Royal Festival Hall. This year was the 20th anniversary of the one-of-a-kind category, which is determined by public vote. Jonsson beat out several high-profile nominees including Marisa Abela, Jharrel Jerome, Mikey Madison (who won Best Actress for Anora), and Nabhaan Rizwan.
Triumph and gratitude
Jonsson's reaction after the victory
Upon winning, Jonsson said, "I've got to be honest, this isn't why I do it. Do you know what I mean? I'm just an east London boy." "As a young boy growing up in East London, I couldn't think of an honor that's more about the people, and proof that you can do it too. An absolute blessing and dream. Thank you, truly."
Inspiration
Jonsson's BAFTA win: A beacon of hope for aspiring actors
Jonsson's BAFTA recognition is not just a personal triumph but also an inspiration for others like him looking to pursue acting careers. "I didn't really see a space for me in this industry," he admitted, reflecting on his journey. "But this award is about people and as long as we can keep telling stories about people I think there's got to be a space for me."
Twitter Post
Here's his winning speech
David Jonsson wins the ‘EE Rising Star Award’ at the #BAFTAs: "I’m just an East London boy and I didn’t see a space for me in this industry.” 🎞️
— Far Out Magazine (@FarOutMag) February 16, 2025
🎥: BBC pic.twitter.com/55cu7yw5c7
Upcoming roles
Jonsson's career trajectory and future projects
Jonsson's career has been defined by prominent roles in projects such as the BBC Agatha Christie adaptation Murder Is Easy. He has also been a part of the 2023 film Rye Lane and the historical drama thriller Bonhoeffer (2024), among other projects. He is set to appear in the dystopian horror The Long Walk and the drama Wasteman. He will also play legendary entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. in Scandalous, which will mark actor Colman Domingo's directorial debut.