FILM-BRITAIN-RISING STAR NOMINATIONS "Unbroken" Star Jack O'Connell among Bafta Rising Star nominees

Record ID: 343025

  • Title: FILM-BRITAIN-RISING STAR NOMINATIONS "Unbroken" Star Jack O'Connell among Bafta Rising Star nominees
  • Date: 7th January 2015
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 7, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF O'CONNELL BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) EE RISING STAR NOMINEE JACK O'CONNELL ON SIGNIFICANCE OF NOMINATION, SAYING: "I know what I wanna achieve in my career. I certainly don't base that on awards. That has to become secondary you know. So it would be great to you know have -- a level of reco
  • Embargoed: 22nd January 2015 12:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8YJ74Q5240MPONXWFJEST0TU3
  • Story Text: "Unbroken" star Jack O'Connell is among five up and coming actors nominated for this year's EE Rising Star award.
    The 24-year-old, whose list of films include "Harry Brown", "Starred Up" and teen TV drama "Skins", has been shortlisted alongside fellow British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw ("Larry Crowne"), Australian actress Margot Robbie ("The Wolf of Wall Street") and American actors Miles Teller ("Whiplash") and Shailene Woodley ("The Descendants", "The Fault in Our Stars").
    O'Connell was the only nominee present at a media event at Bafta's central London headquarters following the nomination's announcement on Wednesday (January 7).
    "I'm surprised I kept my mouth shut for all that time," the actor told Reuters.
    "I usually got a tendency to mouth off about things like this but they told me to be secretive so I was. And then yeah, it's great to finally sound off about it actually. I am amongst good company as well. Have you seen the category? It's gonna be tough. I'm not expecting much," he said.
    Whilst he feels honored about this latest recognition by Bafta, O'Connor says winning awards isn't a priority to him.
    "I know what I wanna achieve in my career. I certainly don't base that on awards. That has to become secondary you know. So it would be great to you know have -- a level of recognition on this degree moving forward for sure. Of course it's always welcome. But I don't ever wanna regard it essential you know," he said.
    The actor, who made his film debut with the 2006 drama "This is England" currently stars in the Angelina Jolie directed war drama, "Unbroken", which is based on the real life story of Olympian Louis Zamperini.
    The film is the second film Jolie has directed after 2011's Bosnian war drama "In the Land of Blood and Honey".
    Whilst O'Connor acknowledges the tough competition in his category, he joked that perhaps Angelina's star power can help him win some important votes.
    "She usually keeps taps of things and she's certainly been present as well since the shoot. But I never like to hound the woman you know. I'm sure if I win then she'll hear one way or another. So if you're short of reasons why to vote me then it'd be great to impress Angelina some," he laughed.
    The EE Rising Star award, which was first created in 2004 and recognizes up and coming acting talent in film, is the only Bafta award to be decided by public vote. The winner will be announced at the 2015 Bafta ceremony on February 8 in London.
    Previous winners include James McAvoy (2006), Eva Green (2007), Shia LaBeouf (2008), Kristen Stewart (2010) and Tom Hardy (2011).
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