Who is Robert Aramayo? From humble Hull to his big break at New York’s Julliard as I Swear star beats Timothee Chalamet and wins two BAFTAs at this year’s ceremony

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Robert Aramayo looked genuinely surprised and a little overwhelmed when he won the Lead Actor award at the BAFTAs on Sunday evening.

I was so thrilled to see him win! He was visibly moved accepting the award, and honestly, it was incredibly heartwarming. To beat out such talented actors like Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio for his performance in ‘I Swear,’ a really powerful film about Tourette’s, just proves how deserving he is.

Speaking to a crowd of Hollywood celebrities, Robert playfully acknowledged Leonardo DiCaprio, saying, ‘It’s amazing to be standing here, let alone looking at people like you!’

Robert, who grew up in Hull, Yorkshire, started acting at the young age of seven when he played Bugsy Malone in a school play.

He discovered he was good at imitating others, and as a child, he often got into trouble for copying his teachers.

He began acting with the Hull Truck Youth Theatre at age 10. In 2011, he earned a spot at the renowned Juilliard School in New York City, and continues to live there now.

He previously told Elle Magazine: ‘It’s a tough place to live, but the energy is undeniable.’ 

Robert’s career took off after he played Alex in a Julliard production of A Clockwork Orange, which led to his first movie role in Lost In Florence.

Robert gained wider recognition in 2016 after being cast in Game of Thrones, where he played the character Eddard Stark in seasons six and seven of the popular HBO series.

He took on several acting roles before landing parts in two major series. In 2019, he appeared in the Netflix thriller Behind Her Eyes, and in 2020, it was announced he would play Elrond in Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Robert Pattinson’s performance in ‘Yet I Swear’ has significantly boosted his career, and his wins for Lead Actor and EE Rising Star at the recent BAFTAs suggest even greater success is on the horizon.

Robert portrays John Davidson, a 54-year-old activist who received a Tourette Syndrome diagnosis when understanding of the condition was limited.

The film depicts his younger years living in Galashiels, when he was first diagnosed.

Robert told Rolling Stone in October that he wasn’t expecting anything to happen at the awards show.

Before the award nominations were revealed, he was asked if he’d be ready to win an award.

“Absolutely not,” Robert responded. “We’ve been working hard to create a genuine story, and I think it would be fantastic if many people saw it and it showcased what an incredible person John is. That would be wonderful.”

Robert also discussed the ongoing conversation about whether actors should play characters who have a health condition or experience that they themselves don’t share.

He shared that taking on the project felt like a big responsibility, wanting to do it well. As an actor, he compared it to being drawn to a difficult role and wanting to deliver a strong performance.

I was determined to make it as genuine as possible, pushing my own limits to achieve that. I truly believed in the importance of authenticity.

Robert also described his role as John as the ‘biggest challenge’ of his career. 

He described the experience as a significant challenge, likely the biggest he’s faced. He emphasized how much he appreciated the support and guidance of John, saying it was invaluable.

Robert doesn’t seem to care much about being famous. When he’s not working, he enjoys exercising, watching movies from the 1970s with friends, or playing the board game Catan.

Robert recently started performing on stage, following his role in “Guess How Much I Love You?” at London’s Royal Court theatre, which concluded last week.

This emotional story follows a couple expecting their first child and explores how unexpected events can change your identity and dreams for the future.

Robert seems to be a private person, as his Instagram account only goes back to September, suggesting he hasn’t shared much of his personal life publicly before then.

He expressed gratitude to his family and partner during his Sunday night speech, but her name and details haven’t been released.

Robert was incredibly moved and addressed the crowd, saying he was stunned to be there and even more amazed to see people like Leonardo DiCaprio in the audience.

He expressed his disbelief at winning the award, saying he was truly surprised. He explained that he was incredibly impressed by all the other nominees in the category.

Ethan Hawke once spoke at Juilliard while I was a student, and his talk about having a long and healthy career as an actor really resonated with everyone there. He emphasized taking care of yourself – both physically and mentally – and avoiding harmful habits, and it made a huge impression on all of us.

When the camera showed the other nominees, Leonardo was seen clapping respectfully, and Timothée offered a smile.

When Robert’s name was called, his father immediately stood up, cheering with joy, and rushed to hug him.

Robert also received the EE Rising Star Award earlier in the evening, which is unique because it’s the only award decided by public vote.

Also nominated in the category was Miles Caton, Chase Infiniti, Archie Madekwe and Posy Sterling.

He admitted he was nervous, recalling a previous BAFTA experience where he accidentally dropped his award. He expressed disbelief and excitement at the current moment, saying it was truly amazing.

I just want to quickly thank my incredible family. Seeing my dad, mum, sister, and my wonderful partner in the audience means the world to me – they’ve always been there for me, and I wouldn’t be here without their support.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone, especially my I Swear family, for giving me the chance to share your stories. John Davidson is truly the most wonderful person I’ve ever known.

Robert Aramayo’s father compared his son getting into Juilliard, the prestigious New York performing arts school, to the feeling of having a child selected to play for Barcelona’s football club. It was a particularly impressive achievement, as Robert was the sole British student accepted out of 4,000 applicants.

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2026-02-23 01:19