Warwick Davis’ moving reaction to BAFTA Fellowship Award after family heartache

Actor Warwick Davis, who was just chosen as the most recent recipient of the BAFTA Fellowship Award, has stated that he feels “very fortunate” about his career.

The Harry Potter actor, 54, will receive BAFTA’s highest award at its annual film awards next month, it was announced on Friday. He has received the award for both his “trailblazing work” as an actor and his advocacy efforts, which include a talent agency and a charity that help those who have dwarfism. The news was revealed by BAFTA-winning actor Lenny Rush, 15, on The One Show as Davis has been an “massive inspiration” for him.

As reported by PA, whilst appearing on the BBC One show, Davis said: “I’ve done a lot of amazing things in my career but this has got to top them all, it’s amazing. I’m very honoured”. He added: “I think I’m very fortunate to be in a career that I love.

” It’s a wonderful career to have and so I think it’s important that you’re also looking after the people around you, because, at the end of the day, I’ve won this BAFTA Fellowship, but it’s down to the cast, the crew that I’ve worked with in the past, and also the audience out there who watched my work as well. So, I probably dedicate it to all those people. “

Am I Being Unreasonable? Rush, the actor known as a “legend” and a “great inspiration” for him, praised the actor for having the same rare form of dwarfism as Davis and having spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a descendant of him. Announcing the award, Rush read a letter from BAFTA which said Davis had been chosen for his” trailblazing work, not just as an actor, but also for your advocacy work, for your talent agency, charity and theatre company, supporting actors under five foot tall, helping them build careers in our industry and working on positive representation. “

In a statement, Davis said:” The Fellowship, to me, embodies the spirit of inclusivity, creativity and collaboration that BAFTA stands for. The people who have stood by me and the audiences who have helped me make this journey worthwhile are not just the things I’ve contributed, but they also need recognition.

He added that he remarked that “everyone who suffers from dwarfism or any other form of disability” should be honored as such, and that it served as a reminder that “our uniqueness can be our greatest asset.” The actor also paid tribute to his “fabulous coworkers and friends,” who quietly and unapologetically pour their hearts into each production.

” From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this incredible honour, “he added”. I look forward to defending fresh viewpoints, advancing better representation, and inspiring the next generation of storytellers to set new goals. Thank you, BAFTA, for believing in my journey. “

At the age of 11, Davis, who played Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter movies, made his first appearance in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. In addition to his roles in BBC adaptations of CS Lewis’ Narnia books, he also appeared in Labyrinth and Ron Howard’s 1988 fantasy adventure Willow, as well as the late David Bowie.

Over the years he has become one of Britain’s most in-demand actors, featuring in Jack The Giant Slayer, the Leprechaun movies, Ricky Gervais ‘ Extras and also working with Gervais on BBC mockumentary Life’s Too Short.

He acted as a character on the TV series Moominvalley and hosted the ITV quiz show Tenable. The actor also runs Willow Management, a talent agency that represents actors who are between five and seven feet tall.

With his wife Samantha, Davis co-founded the dwarfism charity Little People UK, which “provides friendship, financial support, and guidance to people with dwarfism, their families, and friends, and helps build a positive future for those individuals.” Samantha, who he married in 1991 and welcomed two children with, Annabelle and Harrison, died aged 53 last March.

We are delighted to present Warwick Davis with the BAFTA Fellowship Award, which is our highest honor, according to Sara Putt, chairwoman of the BAFTA. Over the years, Warwick has captured audiences’ attention with his talent, his much-loved persona, and his profound inspirational persona.

Warwick has had a remarkable impact on cinema and been profoundly influential in creating a more inclusive and caring society, from his iconic performances to his campaigning for greater inclusion and representation both on and off-screen.

We at BAFTA are thrilled to celebrate his extraordinary body of work and accomplishments at the EE BAFTA Film Awards next month. He is incredibly well-known both nationally and internationally for his immense creativity and passion for storytelling.

Previous recipients of the fellowship include Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick, Billy Wilder, Ken Loach, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Lord Laurence Olivier and Dame Judi Dench. On February 16, Davis will receive the Bafta Fellowship at the EE Bafta film awards.

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Source: Mirror