Warwick Davis Set to Receive Prestigious BAFTA Fellowship

Warwick Davis is an actor and TV presenter who will be awarded this year's BAFTA Fellowship, the highest honor from the British Academy.

The Surrey-born thespian has made a name through his performances in the Harry Potter and Star Wars film franchises. He took over from Sally Wilcox to host the ITV game show, Tenable, in the year 2016.

"This award, however, is an incredible honour," Davis says, "and thank you to BAFTA for believing in my journey."

"I accept this Fellowship in honour of everyone living with dwarfism or any form of difference, reminding us that our uniqueness can be our greatest asset," he said.

Davis has been afflicted with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita by birth and since he was 54, a rare form of dwarfism. He has consistently campaigned throughout his career for a more inclusive film industry and founded Willow Management, an agency that represents actors who are below 5ft tall or above 7ft tall.

Davis said: "To me the Fellowship embodies the spirit of inclusion, imagination, and collaboration in which Bafta stands.

"This recognition is not just about the body of work I've contributed but also about the people who've stood by me and the audiences who have made this journey worthwhile."

He continued: "I also want to acknowledge the wonderful colleagues and friends who've worked behind the scenes - customers, makeup artists, camera crews - who quietly and tirelessly pour their hearts into every production.

"I look forward to continuing to champion fresh perspectives, advocate for better representation, and inspire the next generation of storytellers to dream big."

These people have made great contributions in their respective lines of film, television, or games and thus merit a position within The Fellowship. Previous honorees include: Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Martin Scorsese, and Sidney Poitier.

Davis began his acting career at the age of 11 playing Wicket the Ewok in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi in 1983. He has since then been an integral part of the franchise for decades now, last appearing in The Rise of Skywalker in 2019.

Among his other famous roles he is known for includes: Willow, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the horror-comedy Leprechaun series. But for most viewers, he is probably best known because of his role as Professor Filius Flitwick, whom he played in the Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011.

Davis also featured in the BBC TV series Life's Too Short, which he co-wrote with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

"She is a fantastic, deeply loved, and genuinely inspiring figure who mesmerized audiences for so many years," said Bafta chair Sara Putt.

Last year Davis lost his wife Samantha, one of the co-founders of Little People UK-the dwarfism charity-at just 53.

Davis referred to her as his "favorite human," saying, "Her passing left a huge void in our lives as a family." An inquest into his wife's death was scheduled for this week but postponed.

Today, January 15, is the date set for announcing nominations for the Bafta Film Awards, with expected entries including Conclave, Emilia Pérez, Anora, and The Brutalist.