It was quite a different picture from last year's Bafta Rising Star Awards, where not a single female was recognized. But judges say it was a "happy accident" that 4/5 nominees are female for this year's awards.
Juno Temple - the daughter of filmmaker Julien - has an increasingly impressive acting CV, and is coming to the fore for last year's Killer Joe. Quoted in the Independent, she expressed her delight that the prize had "gone female" adding: "It's good to redress the balance, to keep things even. When you look at the girls who have been nominated, some of their work is mind-blowing." She also praised the writers and commissioners for some unique opportunities, saying "We are very lucky to have such diverse character roles coming our way." Another nominee, 31-year old Andrea Riseborough, said: "To even be counted amongst this, and the last seven years' rising star nominees feels utterly phenomenal." Elizabeth Olsen and 24-year old Swede Alicia Vikander complete the female contingent, while Suraj Sharma completes a worthy list of actors.
Mark Kermode, the film critic who was part of the jury, said: "The number of female nominees was one of those things that happens. There wasn't any sense of doing it as a balance, although it's nice it's worked out like that. It's a happy accident with the emphasis on the happy."
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