Letitia Wright brings home this year’s BAFTA’s EE Rising Star 2019, following last years winner Daniel Kaluuya. Previous winners include stars such as Tom Holland and James McAvoy.
Wright gave an emotional speech sharing her admiration for the BAFTAs for believing in her as a young British actress and how her religion helped her overcome her fight with depression.
The Black Panther Actress Said: “The only thing that pretty much pulled me out of that was God, my belief, my faith, my family, and an email from BAFTA saying that they wanted me to be a part of BAFTA’s Breakthrough Brits and I was like ‘let me try again’. So this wasn’t an overnight thing. This wasn’t a click of the finger success. It’s still a work in progress. I’m still a work in progress.”
Other candidates up for the prestigious breakthrough award were, Jessie Buckley, Barry Keoghan, Cynthia Erivo and Lakeith Stanfield.
She ended her speech with a message for other people going through depression.
“There might be some of you going through a bad time and you’re putting on a smile on your face and nobody can see that. But you know it and God knows it. I just want to say that God loves you and let your light shine. God bless you all and thank you so much. And the category that I’m in, to be a part of this category means so much to me. I’m so honoured, you guys all inspire me. Thank you, Jesus, thank you thank you.”
Watch Letitia Wright’s emotional acceptance speech above.