Robert Aramayo's Emotional BAFTA Triumph Moves Ethan Hawke to Tears
The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards delivered a profoundly moving moment as Robert Aramayo, the 33-year-old English actor, secured the coveted Best Actor prize for his acclaimed performance in the biopic I Swear. The film chronicles the life of campaigner John Davidson, who lives with severe Tourette's syndrome. Aramayo's victory was particularly poignant as he overcame a formidable field of nominees, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Jesse Plemons, and the widely-predicted winner, Timothée Chalamet.
A Heartfelt Tribute to a Mentor
While accepting the award on stage at London's Royal Festival Hall, an overwhelmed Aramayo took a moment to pay tribute to fellow nominee Ethan Hawke, 55, who was recognized for his role in Blue Moon. With his overjoyed father cheering excitedly in the audience, Aramayo revealed how Hawke had profoundly impacted his career during a talk at the Juilliard School.
"When I was in school, Ethan Hawke came to speak to us at Juilliard," Aramayo recalled emotionally. "He gave an amazing talk on longevity as an actor, protecting your instrument, and avoiding self-destructive behaviours. It had a great impact on everyone in that room. To be in this category with you tonight is incredible. Thank you, Ethan!"
The camera immediately panned to Hawke in the audience, who was visibly touched by the tribute. The veteran actor hid his face in his hand as he fought back tears, before sharing a warm smile and encouraging nod with the young winner.
A Double Victory for the Rising Star
Aramayo's success extended beyond the Best Actor category. The Hull-born actor, who has previously appeared in Game of Thrones and The Lord of The Rings, also claimed the EE Rising Star Award, which is voted for by the public. He triumphed over stiff competition from Miles Caton, Chase Infiniti, Archie Madekwe, and Posy Sterling.
In his Rising Star acceptance speech, Aramayo humorously noted, "Oh my word, this is really scary. Last time I was at the BAFTAs I dropped the award, so I hope this goes better." He went on to thank his family and the I Swear team, saying, "John Davidson is the most amazing person I have ever met."
Sensitivity and Understanding at the Ceremony
The ceremony also demonstrated remarkable sensitivity toward Davidson's condition. Host Alan Cumming addressed the audience after Davidson, who was present, experienced involuntary vocal tics due to his Tourette's syndrome during the event.
"You may have heard some strong offensive language tonight," Cumming explained. "But if you've seen the film I Swear, it's about the experience of a person with Tourette's syndrome. It is a disability, and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary. We apologise if it has caused offence."
Other Major Winners and Surprises
Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another emerged as the night's biggest winner, securing six awards including Best Film, Best Director, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor for Sean Penn, Cinematography, and Editing. The film had received a record 14 nominations.
Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for her role in Hamnet, solidifying her status as an Oscar favourite. In her acceptance speech, she thanked her fellow nominees and reflected on her journey, saying, "As a little girl I never thought in a million years I would be allowed to make a film, but here I am."
The evening's most surprising outcome was the complete shutout of Marty Supreme, which entered with 11 nominations but failed to win a single award. Similarly, Timothée Chalamet missed out on Best Actor despite being widely predicted to win.
Other notable winners included Wunmi Mosaku for Supporting Actress in Sinners, who thanked her family and spoke about connecting with her heritage through her role. Sinners, Frankenstein, and I Swear each won three awards, while Hamnet claimed two.
The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards will be remembered not only for its celebration of cinematic excellence but also for the powerful human connections that transcended the competition, exemplified by Aramayo's emotional tribute to his mentor, Ethan Hawke.
