Actor Warwick Davis to receive Bafta Fellowship next month

Harry Potter star Warwick Davis will be given Bafta’s highest honour at its annual film awards.

The actor, 54, is to be next month awarded the Bafta Fellowship, which recognises “those who have made an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or television”.

He said: “The Fellowship, to me, embodies the spirit of inclusivity, creativity, and collaboration that Bafta stands for.

“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.

“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.

“I also want to acknowledge the wonderful colleagues and friends who’ve worked behind the scenes—costumers, makeup artists, camera crews, who quietly and tirelessly pour their hearts into every production.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this incredible honour.

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

“Thank you, Bafta, for believing in my journey.”

Davis, who played Professor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter film franchise, was born with a rare form of dwarfism called Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita.

He got his first break playing an Ewok in Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi at the age of just 11.

He starred alongside the late David Bowie in Labyrinth, and was cast as the eponymous hero of Ron Howard’s 1988 fantasy adventure Willow, and also featured in BBC adaptations of CS Lewis’s Narnia books.

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 hosted ITV quiz show Tenable, and also voiced a character on the Moominvalley TV series.

He also runs the talent agency Willow Management, which represents actors under five feet and over seven feet tall.

Davis is also the co-founder of Little People UK, a charity that “offers friendship and financial support and guidance to people with dwarfism, their families and friends, and helps build a positive future for those individuals”.

Bafta chairwoman Sara Putt said: “We are delighted to present Warwick Davis the Bafta Fellowship award, our highest honour.

“Warwick is a talented, much loved and truly inspiring figure who has captivated audiences over many decades.

“From his iconic performances to his advocacy for greater inclusion and representation on and off-screen, Warwick has had a remarkable impact on cinema and been profoundly influential in fostering a more inclusive and caring society.

“Hugely respected by his peers both in Britain and globally for his immense creativity and passion for the craft of storytelling, we at Bafta are thrilled to celebrate his exceptional body of work and achievements at the EE Bafta Film Awards next month.”

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.

Davis will be presented with the Bafta Fellowship at the EE Bafta film awards on February 16.