British actor Robert Aramayo made history at the 2026 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Film Awards, becoming the first performer to win both the EE Rising Star Award and Best Actor in the same night.
The 33-year-old earned Best Actor for his lead role in I Swear, beating strong contenders including Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan.
When his name was announced at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Aramayo looked stunned. He embraced his father before walking to the stage.
“I honestly cannot believe that I have won this award,” he said.
In I Swear, directed by Kirk Jones, Aramayo plays Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson. The film follows Davidson’s fight for awareness and acceptance.
During his speech, Aramayo singled out fellow nominee Ethan Hawke for shaping his early ambitions.
“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,” he said.
“So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you, Ethan.”
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Earlier in the evening, Aramayo had picked up the publicly voted Rising Star award — a sign of growing support from audiences — before completing his historic double.
Host Alan Cumming later addressed the audience after involuntary outbursts from Davidson during the ceremony, explaining that Tourette’s can cause uncontrollable tics and asking for understanding.
While Aramayo’s win delivered the biggest surprise, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominated the awards, claiming six trophies including Best Film and Best Director. Accepting the top prize, Anderson called it a “tremendous honour,” adding: “Anybody who says that movies aren’t good any more can piss right off because this is a great f***ing year.”
Irish actress Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for Hamnet.
“As a little girl, I never in a million years thought I would get to make a film,” she said, later describing motherhood as “the best role of my life.”
The ceremony was attended by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, alongside leading figures from across the film industry.
See the full list of winners from the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards here.
In a night filled with global stars and expected victories, it was Aramayo’s quiet shock and heartfelt gratitude that stood out — marking a career-defining moment and a rare BAFTA milestone.