At the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, held on February 22 at London’s Royal Festival Hall, British actor Robert Aramayo pulled off a historic upset that sent ripples through the film world. The 33-year-old star, best known to many as Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, walked away with not one, but two of the night’s most coveted honors: Best Leading Actor and the Rising Star Award. In doing so, Aramayo became the first performer ever to win both the emerging talent prize and the Leading Actor award in a single evening, a feat that even the most seasoned of nominees failed to anticipate.
Aramayo’s triumph came for his powerful portrayal of John Davidson, a real-life campaigner for Tourette syndrome awareness, in the British film I Swear. The movie, directed by Kirk Jones and set in 1980s Scotland, follows Davidson’s journey as a young man with severe Tourette’s syndrome. The film doesn’t shy away from the challenges—rejection from family, misunderstanding from society, and the daily realities of living with a misunderstood condition. Instead of leaning into stereotypes or sensationalism, I Swear has been widely praised for its compassionate and honest depiction of resilience and advocacy, according to Variety.
The Best Leading Actor category was a veritable who’s who of Hollywood talent this year, with Aramayo up against global heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia). To say that Aramayo’s win was unexpected would be an understatement. As reported by Deadline and The Nightly, the actor was visibly stunned when his name was called by presenter Kerry Washington, immediately covering his mouth in disbelief and taking a moment to collect himself before stepping on stage.
“I absolutely can’t believe this, I can’t believe I’m looking at people like you, in the same category as you, never mind that I’m stood here,” Aramayo said, addressing his fellow nominees with genuine awe. “I honestly cannot believe that I have won this award. I really, really cannot. Everyone in this category blows me away.” The emotion in his voice and his visible tears made the moment all the more memorable for those in attendance and viewers at home.
During his acceptance speech, Aramayo took time to thank several key figures in his journey. He paid tribute to director Kirk Jones for his vision and guidance, and to John Davidson himself, calling him “the most remarkable man I’ve ever met.” Davidson, who was present at the ceremony for the first half, left midway through due to involuntary outbursts, a moment that BAFTAs host Alan Cumming addressed with understanding and appreciation for the audience’s support and empathy.
Perhaps the most touching moment in Aramayo’s speech was his heartfelt shoutout to Ethan Hawke, who was also nominated in the category. Recalling his days as a student at Juilliard, Aramayo shared, “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 behaviors. And it had a really great impact on everyone in that room. So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you, Ethan.” Hawke, who was in the audience, was visibly moved by the tribute, as noted by Parade and Variety.
Aramayo’s double win capped a remarkable award season for the actor. In addition to his BAFTA accolades, he also took home Best Lead Performance at the British Independent Film Awards and was recognized as the ALFS Breakthrough Performer of the Year at the London Critics Circle Film Awards. The momentum behind I Swear continues to build, with the film set for an Australian release in late March 2026 and eligibility for next year’s Oscars following its recent U.S. release.
While Aramayo’s win dominated headlines, the night was filled with other surprises and standout moments. One Battle After Another emerged as the big winner overall, collecting six awards including Best Film, Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography. Anderson, accepting the award for Best Film, delivered a rousing speech: “This is a tremendous honour. I’m well aware of the other films that share this gift of an award and anybody who says movies aren’t good anymore, you can piss right off because this is a great f—king year.”
Other notable wins included Jessie Buckley taking home Best Leading Actress for her role in Hamnet, Sean Penn earning Best Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another, and Wunmi Mosaku being named Best Supporting Actress for Sinners. The BAFTAs, often seen as a bellwether for the Oscars, signaled that the race for Hollywood’s top honors remains wide open, with upsets in several major categories suggesting that nothing is set in stone for the upcoming Academy Awards.
The ceremony itself was attended by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, lending a royal touch to the proceedings. While the night was focused on cinematic achievement, subtle references to current royal family challenges were noted, with Prince William joking that he hadn’t seen Hamnet yet because he needed to be “in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment.”
Emma McNally, CEO of Tourettes Action, highlighted the broader impact of I Swear in an interview with Variety: “Historically, portrayals of Tourette’s in the media have tended to focus on shock value or reduce the condition to a punchline. ‘I Swear’ is very different. It focuses on resilience, the challenges people face, and the everyday realities of living with Tourette’s, rather than relying on stereotypes or sensationalism. It’s such a powerful, compassionate film that has opened up meaningful conversations.”
For Aramayo, the recognition marks a career-defining moment, and for audiences, it’s a reminder that sometimes, the underdog can steal the show—even when the competition is as formidable as Hollywood’s brightest stars. With his humility, gratitude, and undeniable talent, Robert Aramayo has set a new bar for what it means to be both a rising star and a leading man.