The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the 2019’s BAFTA Breakthrough Brits, in partnership with Netflix. Twenty of the UK’s most promising future stars of film, games and television have been revealed and among them is Irish actor Niamh Algar.
Niamh, 29, grew up in County Westmeath in Ireland and now lives in South London. As a child, Niamh loved using her creative eye to entertain her family with short films she would make on her mum’s old VHS camera so a career in the arts seemed inevitable. Like so many people, it was through sleepovers with friends at an early age that Niamh discovered a world of heavy, female-centric dramas which had a profound impact on her, such as Woman Under the Influence , Girl Interrupted and Monster .
She landed her first leading role in the Independent feature film Without Name which was particularly exciting as she was a fan of director Lorcan Finnegan’s previous work. In fact, Niamh has been lucky enough to have already worked with many of her directing heroes, including Shane Meadows on The Virtues and now Ridley Scott, who has cast her in his sci-fi fantasy, Raised by Wolves , which has pushed Niamh like never before.
BAFTA Breakthrough is BAFTA’s flagship new talent scheme that showcases and supports the next generation of creative talent in film, games and television in the UK.
Honourees receive one-to-one mentoring and career guidance, as well as access to BAFTA events and networking opportunities in the UK and internationally – something Niamh is extremely thankful for.
Niamh says “I am incredibly grateful that I’m a Breakthrough Brit, I’ve followed the careers of previous honourees and they’re so immensely talented! To be recognised by BAFTA feels like I’m on the right path with my career. It’s a lovely honour and I’m very excited for the opportunity to be mentored.”
BAFTA and Netflix share a joint vision of celebrating emerging British talent and giving them the tools to develop their skills at the start of their careers. Building on the success of ‘Breakthrough Brits’, the partnership with Netflix will help facilitate expansion of the ‘Breakthrough’ initiative globally, working to identify overseas talent in new territories such as India and the USA.
Since its launch in 2013, BAFTA Breakthrough Brits has championed over 100 talented newcomers, including actors Florence Pugh , Josh O’Connor , Malachi Kirby , Ray Panthaki and Molly Windsor , composer Segun Akinola , game producer Dan Gray , and directors Destiny Ekaragha and Michael Pearce .
Previous Breakthrough Brits have gone on to flourish within their respective disciplines, many becoming BAFTA winners and nominees. Supporters of the initiative in recent years include actors Oliva Colman and Tilda Swinton , actor-producer Brad Pitt , directors Tom Harper and Barry Jenkins , game designers Brenda Romero and Tim Schafer , and actor-writers Sharon Horgan and Amy Schumer .
See below for the full list of winners.
● Abubakar Salim - Actor ( Raised By Wolves )
● Chance Perdomo - Actor ( Chilling Adventures of Sabrina )
● Chris Cox - Art Director ( Ordia )
● Coco Jackson - Producer ( Dancing On Ice )
● Daniel Dewsbury - Director ( The Mighty Redcar )
● Gemma Langford - Writer / Indie Games Studio Manager ( Overcooked 2 )
● Jen Kenwood - Producer ( Pure )
● Kayleigh Llewellyn - Writer ( In My Skin )
● Kirstie Swain - Writer ( Pure )
● Laurie Nunn - Screenwriter ( Sex Education )
● Lesleyann White - Principal Quality Analyst ( Sunless Skies )
● Liam de Valmency - Senior Principal Programmer ( Dreams )
● Luke Hull - Production Designer ( Chernoby l)
● Niamh Algar - Actor ( Calm with Horses )
● Oliver Kassman - Producer ( Saint Maud )
● Rose Glass - Director / Writer ( Saint Maud )
● Sarah Brocklehurst - Producer ( Animals )
● Simon McMahon - Film Editor ( For Sama )
● Stella Corradi - Director ( Trigonometry )