Warwick Davis: Harry Potter actor to obtain BAFTA fellowship

Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis will this 12 months obtain a BAFTA Fellowship, the British Academy's highest honour.

The Surrey-born actor is finest recognized for starring within the Harry Potter and Star Wars movie sequence and has offered the ITV sport present Tenable since 2016.

In an announcement, Davis described the fellowship as an “incredible honour” and thanked BAFTA “for believing in my journey”.

“I accept this fellowship out of respect for every person living with dwarfism or any other difference, reminding us that our uniqueness can be our greatest asset,” he mentioned.

Davis, 54, has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a uncommon type of dwarfism.

Throughout his profession, he has advocated for a extra inclusive display screen business and is the founding father of Willow Management, an company devoted to representing actors beneath 5 toes tall or over 7 toes tall.

Davies mentioned: “For me the Fellowship embodies the spirit of inclusivity, creativity and collaboration that BAFTA stands for.

“This recognition is not just about the contribution I have made, but also about the people who have stood by me and the viewers who have made this journey worthwhile.”

He added: “I also want to thank the wonderful colleagues and friends who have worked behind the scenes – costumers, makeup artists, camera crews – who quietly and tirelessly pour their hearts into every production.

“I look forward to continuing to support new perspectives, advocate for better representation, and inspire the next generation of storytellers to dream big.”

The fellowship acknowledges business figures who’ve made excellent contributions to movie, tv or video games.

Previous recipients embody Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Scorsese, Sidney Poitier and Dame Helen Mirren.

Davis started his profession on the age of 11 as Wicket the Ewok in 1983's Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.

He continued to look within the franchise in subsequent many years, most not too long ago in 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.

His different movie credit embody Willow, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the horror-comedy Leprechaun movie franchise.

Davis is probably most acquainted to audiences for his function as Professor Filius Flitwick within the Harry Potter sequence of movies, by which he appeared between 2001 and 2011.

He appeared within the BBC TV sequence Life's Too Short, which he created with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

BAFTA chair Sarah Putt described Davis as “a talented, much-loved and truly inspirational individual who has enthralled audiences for decades”.

Last 12 months, Davis's spouse Samantha, co-founder of dwarfism charity Little People UK, died aged 53.

Davis described him as his “favorite person”. and mentioned, “His passing has left a huge gap in our lives as a family”. The inquest into his dying was as a consequence of start this week however was postponed to a later date.

Nominations for the BAFTA Film Awards might be introduced on Wednesday 15 January, with Conclave, Emilia Perez, Enora and The Brutalist anticipated to characteristic within the shortlist.