The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards turned into a night of genuine surprise and raw emotion as British actor Robert Aramayo walked away with not one but two major trophies. The 33-year-old Hull-born actor defeated Hollywood royalty including Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothรฉe Chalamet to claim the Best Actor award for his role in the biographical drama I Swear. Adding to the magic of the evening, Aramayo also secured the EE Rising Star Award, marking the first time in BAFTA history that an actor has won both categories in the same year .
The ceremony, held on February 22, 2026 at Londonโs Royal Festival Hall, saw Aramayo deliver an emotional acceptance speech that moved audiences at home and fellow nominees in the room. His tribute to actor Ethan Hawke brought one of the most touching moments of the entire broadcast, with cameras capturing Hawke fighting back tears .
From Juilliard to BAFTA Glory: The Speech That Moved Ethan Hawke
When Robert Aramayo’s name was announced for Best Actor, there was a brief moment of stunned silence before the room erupted in applause . The actor, who graduated from New York’s prestigious Juilliard School, took the stage visibly overwhelmed by the victory against such heavyweight competition.
In his acceptance speech, Aramayo made sure to acknowledge the people who shaped his journey. He specifically called out Ethan Hawke, who was nominated in the same category for Blue Moon and was sitting in the audience.
“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,” Aramayo said .
He continued, looking directly at Hawke: “So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you Ethan.”
The cameras immediately cut to Ethan Hawke, who was seen hiding his face in his hand, clearly emotional, before offering a warm smile and nod of encouragement to the young actor . The moment quickly became one of the most shared clips from the awards night on social media.
Aramayo also expressed his disbelief at being nominated alongside actors he has long admired. “I can’t believe I’m looking at people like you never mind that I’m stood here,” he said, gesturing toward DiCaprio .
The Role That Won It All: Playing John Davidson in I Swear
Robert Aramayo won the Best Actor award for his transformative performance in I Swear, a biographical drama directed by Kirk Jones. The film tells the true story of John Davidson, a Scottish man with severe Tourette’s syndrome who became a campaigner for greater understanding of the condition .
The role required Aramayo to authentically portray the involuntary tics and vocalisations associated with Tourette’s syndrome. According to reports from the ceremony, the performance was praised for its empathy and accuracy, avoiding the pitfalls of sensationalising the condition . Davidson himself was present at the BAFTAs, adding another layer of meaning to Aramayo’s victory.
In his Rising Star Award acceptance speech earlier in the evening, Aramayo spoke passionately about Davidson. “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,” he said. “In the words of the film, they need support and understanding” .
I Swear won three awards in total at the 2026 BAFTAs, with casting director Lauren Evans also taking home the award for Best Casting, describing Aramayo’s performance as “stellar” .
Defeating Hollywood Heavyweights
The Best Actor category at the 2026 BAFTAs was arguably one of the most competitive in recent memory. Robert Aramayo faced off against:
- Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another)
- Timothรฉe Chalamet (Marty Supreme)
- Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)
- Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
- Jesse Plemons (Kinds of Kindness)
Many pundits had predicted either Chalamet or DiCaprio would take the award home . Chalamet’s Marty Supreme entered the night with 11 nominations but walked away empty-handed, making Aramayo’s victory even more remarkable .
The win represents a major milestone for the British actor, who has steadily built his career with notable roles in television and film. He is perhaps best known to global audiences as Elrond in the The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV series and as a young Eddard Stark in Game of Thrones .
A Historic Double Win
Robert Aramayo’s night was made even more special when he also claimed the EE Rising Star Award, the only category at the BAFTAs decided by a public vote . This marks the first time an actor has won both Best Actor and the Rising Star Award in the same year .
Accepting the Rising Star prize, Aramayo showed his down-to-earth personality. “This is really scary, last time I was at Bafta I dropped the award, so hopefully this will go better,” he joked, referencing a previous awards appearance .
The Rising Star Award has previously been won by actors who went on to major careers, including Tom Holland, Daniel Kaluuya, and Emma Mackey . Aramayo now joins that prestigious list.
His father, seated in the audience, was captured on camera leaping with joy when his son’s name was announced for the Rising Star Award, adding a heartwarming family moment to the broadcast .
Understanding Tourette’s: A Moment of Education at the Ceremony
The BAFTA ceremony also became an unexpected platform for education about Tourette’s syndrome. John Davidson, the real-life subject of I Swear and the film’s director, experienced involuntary tics during the broadcast, including shouting words that some viewers found offensive .
Host Alan Cumming addressed the situation with grace and sensitivity. “You may have heard some strong offensive language tonight, but if you’ve seen the film I Swear, it’s about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome,” Cumming explained to the audience. “It is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary that means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language and we apologise if it has caused offence” .
The BBC also issued a statement apologising for any offence caused while explaining the nature of involuntary tics associated with Tourette’s syndrome .
When asked about the incident after the ceremony, Robert Aramayo defended Davidson. “First of all they are tics. He is ticking. We have to understand. The way we perceive Tourette’s is a joint responsibility. It’s not shouting obscenities. It’s not being abusive. It’s Tourette’s. They are tics,” Aramayo explained. “If it can lead to a deeper understanding of Tourette’s, and movies are part of that conversation, then it’s an incredible thing” .
Other Major Winners at the 2026 BAFTAs
While Robert Aramayo provided the emotional highlight of the evening, other winners also made history at the 79th British Academy Film Awards.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another was the biggest winner of the night, taking home six awards including Best Film, Best Director for Anderson, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Penn . Anderson used his acceptance speech to send a message about the state of cinema. “Anybody that says movies aren’t any good any more can (expletive) right off. Let’s keep making movies without fear,” he told the audience .
Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, becoming the first Irish actress to win the category . The film also won Outstanding British Film. The Princess of Wales, attending the ceremony, told BAFTA film committee chair Emily Stillman that she had watched Hamnet the previous day, adding: “I think it was a very bad idea actuallyโฆ ended up with very puffy eyes” .
Wunmi Mosaku won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Sinners, marking the first British winner in this category for four years . Sinners also won Best Original Screenplay for director Ryan Coogler and Best Original Score.
Boong, a Manipuri-language film from India directed by Lakshmipriya Devi and produced by Farhan Akhtar, made history by winning Best Children’s and Family Film. It marked the first time an Indian production has won in this category . Alia Bhatt appeared as a presenter at the ceremony, beginning her speech in Hindi and representing Indian culture on the global stage .
Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein, starring Jacob Elordi, swept the design categories, winning Best Production Design, Best Makeup and Hair, and Best Costume Design . Elordi reportedly spent up to 10 hours a day in the makeup chair for the role.
Avatar: Fire and Ash won Best Special Visual Effects, replicating the win of the original film in the franchise back in 2010 .
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A Proud Yorkshireman
Beyond the glamour of the awards, Robert Aramayo remains deeply connected to his roots. Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post before the ceremony, the actor spoke fondly of his upbringing in Hull and his love for Leeds United football club.
“Growing up, going to Elland Road with my dad and that community experience of watching the game has always been really special and a big part of my childhood,” Aramayo said. “I’m a very proud Yorkshireman and I love going back to Hull and to watch the games in Leeds. I feel very connected to where I come from” .
His journey from Hull to the Juilliard School in New York and now to BAFTA winner status serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors from the region. With both a BIFA (British Independent Film Award) and now two BAFTAs for his performance in I Swear, Robert Aramayo has firmly established himself as one of Britain’s most exciting acting talents .
The 2026 BAFTA Awards will be remembered as the night a relatively unheralded British actor stood among Hollywood giants and emerged victorious, humbly thanking those who inspired him along the way while using his platform to advocate for greater understanding of Tourette’s syndrome. For Robert Aramayo, it was a night that truly meant the world.
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