Emma Mackey nominated for the EE Rising Star Award
(Picture: Chris Chapman)Last year saw Emma Mackey captivate audiences as Emily Bronte in the period epic Emily and rubs shoulders with Hollywood acting heavyweights in Kenneth Branagh’s neo-noir mystery Death On The Nile.
Next up, film fans will see her continue to show off her acting prowess alongside Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in Greta Gerwig’s high-anticipated flick, Barbie, out later this year.
But before then, Mackey will be heading to the BAFTAs later this month with hopes of bagging the EE Rising Star Award, with the actress nominated alongside Naomi Ackie, Sheila Atim, Daryl McCormack and her Sex Education co-star Aimee Lou Wood.
And while humbled by her nod, the Eiffel star told The Standard she was so taken aback she forgot to inform her family and friends about it, leaving them to learn about her huge honour when the public did.
She shared: “I forgot to tell people. I didn’t really shout it from the rooftops.
“They found out when it was announced. I didn’t really tell anyone and put it to the back of my brain.
“But being recognised in any way is so, so special, and having [Sex Education co-star] Aimee [Lou Wood] there after everything we’ve been through, we’ve spent our twenties growing up together, that, to me, is what makes me even more excited about the nomination.”
Mackey’s excitement over her and Wood’s nomination comes as no surprise, much like their characters, Maeve Wiley and Aimee Gibbs, on the popular Netflix series, they are both best friends on and off the screen.
They are also no strangers to battling it out during awards season having previously both been nominated for the Best Female Comedy Performance at 2021’s TV BAFTAs, which Wood won.
Mackey shared her delight about them being recognised for their film work – and even more so, for having a friend by her side on the night.
“It’s just so wonderful,” she told us. “She’s one of my best friends and I love her dearly, so this is just a lovely thing to do together and I’m quite glad I’ve a companion for the evening.
“And in a selfish way, I’m glad that we’ll be together.”
Admitting she finds it difficult to talk about her successes “without sounding a bit w**ky”, Mackey said she views her nomination as celebration of the hard work she, the nominees and those behind-the-scenes have put in.
“It’s a celebration of the work that we do,” she continued. “Including the crews that we work with, in the parts that we get to play, all of those hours, those early mornings, the traveling, the loneliness and all this stuff goes on behind closed doors.
“It’s an evening that is a celebration of everything that comes with our job.”
