Rising Star Robert Aramayo Wins BAFTAs Best Actor Over Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothee Chalamet

British actor Robert Aramayo has called the moment when his name was announced as best actor at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, popularly known as the BAFTAs, ‘absolute madness’, as his win knocked out some of the most prominent A-list actors in Hollywood.

Everyone was shocked when Aramayo was given the award for playing a real-life Tourette’s syndrome campaigner character, John Davidson, in the film ‘I Swear’, set in 1980s Scotland.

He beat top contenders such as Timothee Chalamet, Jesse Plemons, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, and Leonardo DiCaprio to win the much-coveted award.

When his name was called for the leading actor role, he looked briefly shocked before breaking into tears and jogging to the stage.

He went on to say in disbelief, ‘I can’t believe that I’m looking at people like you, and I’m in the same category as you, never mind that I’m standing here,’ he said, talking to his fellow nominees, including Leonardo DiCaprio, who was smiling at him.

The award was the highlight of Aramayo’s evening, as he had already received the EE Rising Star Award earlier in the ceremony, a public-voted prize.

The BAFTAs were held on 22 February 2026, honouring outstanding national and foreign films of 2025, at the Royal Festival Hall in London’s Southbank Centre.