British actor Warwick Davis is to received the BAFTA Fellowship at this year’s awards ceremony due to take place in London next month.
According to an official press release, the British actor, comedian, presenter and producer will pick up the award at the glittering ceremony at Royal Festival Hall in London on 16th February.
Born in Epsom, Surrey, Warwick Davis is celebrated for his roles in several of the world’s most successful and enduring film franchises. Davis was diagnosed with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare form of dwarfism. Despite the physical challenges this presented, his passion for acting was evident from a young age. Beyond acting, Davis is also an entrepreneur and advocate who has dedicated his career to creating a more inclusive screen industry.
Davis uses his platform to challenge societal prejudice and champion self-empowerment, advocating that people with dwarfism can and do lead full and meaningful lives. He is the founder of Willow Management, an agency dedicated to representing actors under five feet and over seven feet tall that today is the largest agency of its kind in the world. He is also 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. Alongside, his Reduced Height Theatre Company, also supports actors under five foot tall and helps them build careers in the screen arts.
Davis’s career began at age 11 as Wicket the Ewok in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983). Selected by George Lucas himself, Davis’s performance brought charm and heart to the film, winning him fans worldwide, returning to the franchise multiple times, with his most recent contribution culminating in Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). He then went on to star in the fantasy adventure film Willow (1988), directed by Ron Howard and produced by Lucasfilm, further establishing his place in Hollywood.
Davis enjoys an amazing presence in the fantasy genre, portraying Professor Filius and Flitwick in the Harry Potter film franchise (2001 – 2011) and is the face of the horror-comedy Leprechaun film franchise (1993 – present). He has also appeared on British television in shows such as Life’s Too Short (2011–2013), which he co-created with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, blending autobiography with comedic satire on fame.
