Warwick Davis: Harry Potter actor to receive Bafta Fellowship

Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis will obtain this yr’s Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy’s highest honour.

The Surrey-born actor is thought for showing within the Harry Potter and Star Wars movie sequence and has introduced the ITV recreation present Tenable since 2016.

In a press release, Davis described the Fellowship as an “unimaginable honour” and thanked Bafta “for believing in my journey”.

“I settle for this Fellowship in honour of everybody residing with dwarfism or any type of distinction, reminding us that our uniqueness will be our best asset,” he stated.

Davis, 54, has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a uncommon type of dwarfism.

All through his profession, he has advocated for a extra inclusive display business and is the founding father of Willow Administration, an company devoted representing actors beneath 5ft or over 7ft tall.

Davis stated: “The Fellowship, to me, embodies the spirit of inclusivity, creativity, and collaboration that Bafta stands for.

“This recognition is not only concerning the physique of labor I’ve contributed but additionally concerning the individuals who’ve stood by me and the audiences who’ve made this journey worthwhile.”

He continued: “I additionally wish to acknowledge the great colleagues and pals who’ve labored behind the scenes – costumers, make-up artists, digital camera crews – who quietly and tirelessly pour their hearts into each manufacturing.

“I stay up for persevering with to champion contemporary views, advocate for higher illustration, and encourage the subsequent technology of storytellers to dream huge.”

The Fellowship recognises business figures who’ve made an excellent contribution to movie, tv or video games.

Earlier recipients embody Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Scorsese, Sidney Poitier and Dame Helen Mirren.

Davis started his profession aged 11 as Wicket the Ewok in 1983’s Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.

He continued to seem within the franchise over subsequent a long time, most lately in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.

His different movie credit embody Willow, The Hitchhiker’s Information to the Galaxy, and the horror-comedy Leprechaun movie franchise.

Davis is probably most acquainted to audiences for his position as Professor Filius Flitwick within the Harry Potter sequence of movies, which he appeared in between 2001 and 2011.

He appeared in PJDM TV sequence Life’s Too Brief, which he created with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Service provider.

Bafta chair Sara Putt described Davis as a “proficient, a lot beloved and really inspiring determine who has captivated audiences over many a long time”.

Final yr, Davis’s spouse Samantha, the co-founder of dwarfism charity Little Individuals UK, died aged 53.

Davis described her as his “favourite human” and stated “her passing has left an enormous gap in our lives as a household”. An inquest into her loss of life was as a result of open this week however was adjourned till a later date.

The nominations for the Bafta Movie Awards will likely be introduced on Wednesday 15 January, with Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Anora and The Brutalist anticipated to make the shortlists.