ACTRESS Andrea Riseborough has been shortlisted for one of the most prestigious honours in showbusiness.
The actress, who comes from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, is one of just five to be named as a contender for this year’s EE Rising Star Award by Bafta judges.
The 31-year-old, who started her acting career treading the boards at Newcastle’s People’s Theatre, was selected for demonstrating exceptional talent and showing the potential to be a cinema star of the future.
Alongside her in the running are Elizabeth Olsen, Suraj Sharma, Juno Temple and Alicia Vikander.
Andrea said: “To even be counted among this, and the last seven years’ rising star nominees feels utterly phenomenal. Bafta nurtures new talent throughout the international film community so I am so very grateful to be given this fantastic opportunity, and look forward to us celebrating the kind recognition together.”
The former pupil at Newcastle’s Church High School went on to study at London’s Rada, graduating in 2005, and she quickly began to accumulate critical acclaim and awards for her stage and screen work.
She made her film debut in Roger Michell’s Venus and roles in Never Let Me Go, Brighton Rock and Mike Leigh’s comedy-drama Happy Go Lucky soon followed.
Andrea, whose younger sister Laura is also an actress, has also starred as a young Margaret Thatcher in Margaret Thatcher – The Long Walk to Finchley and as Wallis Simpson in Madonna’s production of WE.
She will be hitting the cinema screens once again in April opposite Hollywood star Tom Cruise in Oblivion.
If Andrea were to pick up the award, which is now in its eighth year, she would be in good company as previous winners include James McAvoy, Eva Green, Shia LaBeouf, Noel Clarke, Kristen Stewart, Tom Hardy and Adam Deacon.
The judges were tasked with compiling a shortlist of five nominees from the hundreds of submissions made by the Bafta membership and film industry figures.
All nominees must have had at least one film released in 2012.
The panel for the award featured a raft of leading figures from across the film industry including jury chairwoman Pippa Harris, deputy chairman of Bafta’s film committee, Scottish director Kevin Macdonald, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, film critic Mark Kermode and casting director Nina Gold.
Pippa Harris said: “This year the quality of emerging acting talent has been just incredible and the jury had a very tough job selecting the shortlist.
“It’s great that the EE Rising Star Awards gives the general public the opportunity to champion their film stars of the future and I can’t wait to see who they vote their winner for 2013.”
EE’s accolade for up-and-coming talent is the only award at the EE British Academy Film Awards to be voted for by the public. The winner will be announced at the star-studded bash on Sunday, February 10.
Voting is now open at no cost at ee.co.uk/bafta
