Emma Mackie shared an “iconic” moment with her “very special friend” and fellow EE Rising Star Award nominee Amy Lou Wood at the British Academy Film Awards.
The 27-year-old actress, who won the EE Rising Star award at Sunday night’s awards ceremony, rose to fame alongside Wood in the Netflix hit Sex Education.
Speaking to PA News Agency about the experience of being nominated with her friend and co-star, McKay said:
“So I think Amy and I didn’t realize how rare it is to be nominated in a category with someone who is literally one of the key players in your life.
“So it’s been very nice and we were very proud of each other.
“But we didn’t really talk about it. We were really happy with each other.”
In 2021, Wood won a British Academy Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for Sex Education for her portrayal of Amy Gibbs, the on-screen best friend of Mackie’s character Maeve Wiley.
Mackie was nominated for Best Female Comedy Performance in Bafta that same year.
Recalling the moment she was announced as the winner of the EE Rising Star Award, Mackey added: ‘We had literally just finished Season 4 (Sex Education) so it was really heartening to see her face and I thought she was so lovely.
“So it’s not too corny, but it felt like a very iconic moment for us, because we both just finished season four, and we’re both in the movie, and we’re doing another. It felt like a really powerful moment.So it meant a lot.”
The Baftas category is the only category selected by popular vote, and previous winners include Lashana Lynch, Bukky Bakray, John Boyega, James McAvoy, Kristen Stewart and Tom Hardy.
Mackie also revealed that he met many celebrities while attending the ceremony, which took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London’s Southbank Centre.
“Colin Farrell said congratulations to Angela Bassett and Cate Blanchett so it was really nice,” she told PA.
“Emma Thompson was there and she was a very nice person and far more eloquent in winning the award.
“I think my parents actually named me after her, and I don’t want to go into too much detail, but I think it really mattered.
“Maybe I should have told her, and I kind of regret not doing it, but it could have been pretty intense.
“But there were a lot of people I genuinely respected. I’m still learning to approach people and tell them that I respect them.
“But I’m learning that it’s actually not that big of a deal, because it’s so nice when people say nice things.”