Shia LaBeouf makes shortlist for Orange Rising Star Award
Story by Jack Foley
TRANSFORMERS star Shia LaBeouf has been nominated for the Orange Rising Star award at this year’s Baftas in February alongside British stars Sienna Miller and Sam Riley.
The trio will face tough competition from Chinese actress Tang Wei, star of Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution, and Juno‘s Ellen Page.
The Orange Rising Star Award is unique as it is the only award presented at the Orange British Academy Film Awards to be voted for by the British public.
It was created to recognise the talent of young international actors, but is not intended to be a prize for beginners and nominees will generally have appeared in several feature films already.
Film fans can have their say by voting via the Orange website orange.co.uk/bafta or via text message.
The winner will be announced at the Orange British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, February 10, 2008.
A jury, chaired by producer Duncan Kenworthy and consisting of respected industry figures, including director John Madden, Empire Executive Editor Ian Nathan and last year’s winner, Eva Green, selected the five nominees from a long list of recommendations put forward by the film industry and BAFTA members.
Upon announcing this year’s shortlist, last year’s recipient, Eva Green (pictured), said: “I was delighted to receive the award last year, winning was a huge surprise.
“The nominees I was up against would all have been worthy winners of the award so I was thrilled when the public voted me as The Orange Rising Star. This year’s five nominees are all actors who have really stood out in their work and I’m sure we’ll see a lot more of them throughout 2008.”
Finola Dwyer, Chairman of the BAFTA Film Committee, said: “This is the third year of the Orange Rising Star Award which has previously been awarded to the huge talents of James McAvoy and Eva Green, who, since they won, have both gone on to show why they were worthy winners.
“We are pleased to be working with Orange again on the awards and we’re sure that the five nominees for the Orange Rising Star Award will ensure that this will be one of the most exciting awards of the night.”
The Orange Rising Star Award was created in honour of Mary Selway, the highly respected BAFTA-winning casting director who died in 2004. Mary’s career spanned three decades and over 90 films.
To vote via text for this year’s nominees, please enter the following:
Shia LeBeouf – text ORSA SHIA to 82058
Sienna Miller – text ORSA SIENNA to 82058
Ellen Page – text ORSA ELLEN to 82058
Sam Riley – text ORSA SAM to 82058
Tang Wei – text ORSA TANG to 82058
Text cost 25p plus a standard network charge. Network charges may vary.
Find out more about this year’s nominees