Warwick Davis to receive prestigious Bafta Fellowship

Actor and TV presenter Warwick Davis volition person this year's Bafta Fellowship, the British Academy's highest honour.

The Surrey-born histrion is known for appearing successful the Harry Potter and Star Wars movie bid and has presented the ITV crippled amusement Tenable since 2016.

In a statement, Davis described the Fellowship arsenic an "incredible honour" and thanked Bafta "for believing successful my journey".

"I judge this Fellowship successful honour of everyone surviving with dwarfism oregon immoderate signifier of difference, reminding america that our uniqueness tin beryllium our top asset," helium said.

Davis, 54, has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a uncommon signifier of dwarfism.

Throughout his career, helium has advocated for a much inclusive surface manufacture and is the laminitis of Willow Management, an bureau dedicated representing actors nether 5ft oregon implicit 7ft tall.

Davis said: "The Fellowship, to me, embodies the tone of inclusivity, creativity, and collaboration that Bafta stands for.

"This designation is not conscionable astir the assemblage of enactment I've contributed but besides astir the radical who've stood by maine and the audiences who person made this travel worthwhile."

He continued: "I besides privation to admit the fantastic colleagues and friends who've worked down the scenes - costumers, constitution artists, camera crews - who softly and tirelessly determination their hearts into each production.

"I look guardant to continuing to champion caller perspectives, advocator for amended representation, and animate the adjacent procreation of storytellers to imagination big."

The Fellowship recognises manufacture figures who person made an outstanding publication to film, tv oregon games.

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

Davis began his vocation aged 11 arsenic Wicket the Ewok successful 1983's Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.

He continued to look successful the franchise implicit consequent decades, astir precocious successful 2019's The Rise of Skywalker.

His different movie credits see Willow, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the horror-comedy Leprechaun movie franchise.

Davis is possibly astir acquainted to audiences for his relation arsenic Professor Filius Flitwick successful the Harry Potter bid of films, which helium appeared successful betwixt 2001 and 2011.

He appeared successful BBC TV bid Life's Too Short, which helium created with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

Bafta seat Sara Putt described Davis arsenic a "talented, overmuch loved and genuinely inspiring fig who has captivated audiences implicit galore decades".

Last year, Davis's woman Samantha, the co-founder of dwarfism foundation Little People UK, died aged 53.

Davis described her arsenic his "favourite human" and said "her passing has near a immense spread successful our lives arsenic a family". An inquest into her decease was owed to unfastened this week but was adjourned until a aboriginal date.

The nominations for the Bafta Film Awards volition beryllium announced connected Wednesday 15 January, with Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Anora and The Brutalist expected to marque the shortlists.