Irish actor Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, The IT Crowd) has been long listed for the Orange Wednesday Rising Star Award at the BAFTAs.
Others up for the honour include Adam Deacon (Kidulthood, Adulthood), Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Star Trek), Felicity Jones (Like Crazy, The Tempest) and Tom Hiddleston (Midnight in Paris, Thor), Jennifer Lawrence (X-men First Class, The Beaver), Jessica Chastin (The Help, Take Shelter) and Eddie Redmayne (My Week with Marilyn, The Yellow Handkerchief).
The long-list judging panel of 13 included names from across the film and media industry, among them were Deputy Chairman of the BAFTA Film Committee and producer Pippa Harris, actors Simon Pegg (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People) and Sienna Miller (Stardust, G.I. Joe), director David Yates (State of Play, The Girl in the Café), producer Allon Reich (Never Let Me Go, 28 Weeks Later) and casting director Nina Gold (The Kings Speech, The Iron Lady) as well as a host of film publicists and journalists.
However, it is Orange customers in the UK will have final say on who wins the award, which will be announced on the 11th January 2012. Last year’s recipient of the award was English actor Tom Hardy (Inception, Layer Cake).