Harry Potter actor to receive BAFTA award

Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis will receive this year's Bafta, the British Academy's highest honour.

The Surrey-born actor is best known for starring in the Harry Potter and Star Wars film series and has hosted ITV game show Tenable since 2016.

In a statement, Davies described receiving the scholarship as an “incredible honour” and thanked BAFTA for “believing in my journey”.

“I accept this scholarship to honor all those living with dwarfism or any form of difference and to remind us that our uniqueness can be our greatest asset,” he said.

Davis, 54, was born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism.

Throughout his career, he has advocated for a more inclusive screen industry and is the founder of Willow Management, an agency dedicated to representing actors under 5 feet tall or over 7 feet tall.

Davies said: “For me, the scholarship embodies the spirit of inclusivity, creativity and collaboration that BAFTA champions.

“This recognition is not only a recognition of the work I have contributed, but also of the people who have supported me and the audience who have made this journey worthwhile.”

He continued: “I would also like to thank the wonderful colleagues and friends who work behind the scenes – the costumers, makeup artists, camera crew – who quietly and tirelessly pour their heart and soul into every production.

“I look forward to continuing to champion new perspectives, advocate for better representation, and inspire the next generation of storytellers to dream big.”

The award recognizes industry figures who have made outstanding contributions to film, television or games.

Previous winners include Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Scorsese, Sidney Poitier and Dame Helen Mirren.

Davis began his career at the age of 11, playing Wicket the Ewok in 1983's Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

He continued to appear in the franchise over the following decades, most recently in 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.

His other film credits include “Willow,” “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy” and the horror-comedy “Leprechaun” films.

Davies is perhaps best known for his role as Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011.

He appeared in the BBC drama Life's Too Short, which he co-created with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

Sara Putt, chair of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, described Davies as “a brilliant, much-loved and truly inspiring figure who has captivated audiences for decades”.

Last year, Davis's wife Samantha, co-founder of the British dwarfism charity Little People, died aged 53.

Davis described her as his “favorite person” “Her death has left a huge gap in our family's lives,” he said. An inquest into her death was due to begin this week but was postponed to a later date.

Nominations for the BAFTA Film Awards will be announced on Wednesday, January 15, with Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Anora and The Brutalist expected to be shortlisted.