He is only 23, but The Revenant star Will Poulter is helping to pick up-and-coming stars of the big screen.
The British actor has been announced as one of the panellists of the Bafta jury helping to select the five EE Rising Star nominees for 2017.
Previous winners – such as James McAvoy, Tom Hardy, Kristen Stewart, Noel Clarke, Jack O’Connell, Star Wars actor John Boyega, Juno Temple and this year’s panellist Will – have gone on to enjoy huge success.
The Rising Star award is the only gong at the Bafta film ceremony to be voted for by the British public.
Other jury members include DJ Edith Bowman, This Is England producer Mark Herbert, casting director Lucy Bevan – whose credits include Cinderella and Pirates of the Caribbean – and Our Kind of Traitor director Susanna White.
The jury, chaired by producer Marc Samuelson, met at Bafta’s headquarters in Piccadilly, London, to debate which five nominees will face the public vote ahead of the awards.
Will has enjoyed success in Hollywood, with film credits including We’re The Millers with Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston, and War Machine with Brad Pitt.
He said of being a judge two years after winning the award: “It’s a huge honour to be asked to be on this side of the table but there’s also a sense of embarrassment that I’m judging my peers and people who have gone beyond what I’m doing.
“There’s a strange dichotomy there. I do feel the weight of responsibility. I’m very excited to get in the room and discuss everything I’ve seen. I’ve seen all the performances and it’s been such a treat,” he told the Press Association.
Will said of how life had changed since winning the gong: “Everyday life is pretty similar. But it was very, very encouraging. It certainly helped me in my career. But my day-to-day life is very much the same.”
Will said that he would not be moving to Los Angeles despite notching up so many film credits in Hollywood, adding: “London still feels like home.”
The shortlist will be announced on January 5 when voting opens to the public.
The winner will be revealed at the EE British Academy Film Awards on February 12.
