RADA graduates Awards and nominations
It is Awards season for film and theatre and as usual we are thrilled to see our graduates included among the accolades.
Olivier Awards
The Olivier Award ceremony took place at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 10 April. RADA graduates gained five nominations across acting and theatre production, with three graduates winning their categories.
Life of Pi was the winner of Best New Play adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti graduate and member of the RADA Council. Congratulations too to Hiran Abeysekera who won for Best Actor.
Graduate Jessie Buckley was the winner for Best Actress in a Musical for Cabaret, and Robert Lindsay was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical for Anything Goes
Theatre Production graduate takis was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for set and costume design of HMS Pinafore by English National Opera. We are also pleased for Jai Morjaria who worked as Lighting Designer on Cruise which was nominated for Best New Play.
Congratulations to David Harewood and Syrus Lowe for their performances in The Best of Enemies which was nominated for Best New Play.
Read the full list of winners and nominees here. Congratulations to all our graduates who won or were nominated.
Academy Awards and BAFTA winners and nominees
Belfast was nominated in six categories this year, with RADA graduate and our President Kenneth Branagh winning his first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Fellow RADA graduate and Council member, Tamar Thomas who is a producer on the movie was also nominated for Best Picture. Other nominations included Best Supporting Actor for RADA graduate Ciarán Hinds, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, Best Sound, and Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song).
Belfast continued its winning streak for Branagh and Thomas by scooping up the Outstanding British Film award at the BAFTAs for Branagh and Thomas. The film was nominated in six categories, including: Best British Film, Best Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Supporting Actor for RADA graduate Ciarán Hinds, and Best Supporting Actress.
You can watch Kenneth’s acceptance speech below or via YouTube.
Critics Choice Award Winner
Kenneth Branagh’s film also scored three wins at this year’s Critics Choice Awards for Best Acting Ensemble, Best Original Screenplay (Kenneth Branagh) and Best Young Actor/Actress.
Photo credits: BAFTA/Guy Levy, Marc Brenner, Johan Persson, Tristram Kenton.