Hull-born actor Robert Aramayo has capped a breakthrough year with a remarkable BAFTA double win – and name checked the Hollywood legend that inspired him on his way.
The 33-year-old Yorkshire actor picked up both Best Actor and the EE Rising Star award at the 79th British Academy Film Awards on Sunday for his portrayal of Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson in the biopic I Swear.
While Aramayo’s performance has already earned widespread critical acclaim, the double win marks a significant milestone for a northern actor whose career has spanned independent film, major TV productions and international studios.
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In an emotional speech after winning Best Actor, Aramayo reflected on a formative moment from his training in New York.
“When I was in school, Ethan Hawke came in to speak to us at Juilliard and he gave an amazing talk on longevity as an actor, about protecting your instrument and avoiding self-destructive behaviours, and it had a great impact on everyone in the room. So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you Ethan.”
Aramayo also won the public-voted EE Rising Star award on the night. Accepting the prize, he said: “This is really scary, last time I was at Bafta I dropped the award, so hopefully this will go better.”
He added: “I can’t believe this, it really blows my mind. John Davidson is the most remarkable person I’ve ever met and he believes there is so much more we need to learn about Tourette’s.
“In the words of the film, they need support and understanding.” He continued: “This means the world to me, I can’t believe it.”
The Kirk Jones-directed film follows Davidson’s life growing up in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, where he first began experiencing tics at the age of 12.
According to the NHS, Tourette syndrome is a condition that causes sudden, repetitive sounds or movements known as tics. There is no cure, although treatment can help manage symptoms.
Aramayo’s portrayal of Davidson has already earned industry recognition, including the British Independent Film Award for Best Lead Performance, where he beat competition from Cillian Murphy and Jennifer Lawrence.
Originally from Hull, Aramayo trained at the Juilliard School in New York before building an international screen career. He is best known to global audiences for playing Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, as well as appearing as a young Eddard Stark in Game Of Thrones and in Annemarie Jacir’s historical drama Palestine 36.
Aramayo now joins a list of former Rising Star winners that includes Emma Mackey, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright and Tom Holland — placing him among a generation of actors who have moved from early promise to major international careers.
The awards mark a defining moment for the Yorkshire performer — and a reminder that some of the UK’s biggest screen success stories are still being shaped far from London.
