Joe Locke Eager to Return as Stephen Fry Celebrates Rising Stars at Newport Beach Film Festival!

by

Last night, some of the UK and Ireland’s most talented individuals were recognized at the glamorous Newport Beach Film Festival UK & IE Honours event in London. Those being honored included Stephen Fry who received the Icon Award, as well as Emma Corrin, Sharon Horgan, and Felicity Jones who were all given Nosferatu and Artist of Distinction awards.

Before receiving her award, Felicity Jones was spotted appreciating a cover story about Adrien Brody, her co-star in “The Brutalist,” who is now seen as a strong contender for the Best Actor Oscar. Similarly, Jones herself is a frontrunner, having been nominated for Best Supporting Actress at both the BAFTAs and Oscars for her work in Brady Corbet’s American epic. “It feels great when all your hard work pays off during an awards campaign,” she shared with EbMaster upon receiving this recognition.

Three contenders for this year’s BAFTA Rising Star Award received recognition – Nibhaan Rizwan was featured among EbMaster‘s 10 Up-and-Coming Brits, while Marisa Abel from “Back in Black” and David Jonsson of “Alien: Romulus” were bestowed with Breakout Artist Awards. Other artists who received Breakout Artist accolades included Adam Pearson (“A Different Man”), Mia Threaplton (“The Buccaneers”), Joe Locke (“Agatha All Along,” “Heartstopper”).

Or, more concisely:

Three BAFTA Rising Star Award nominees were highlighted – Nibhaan Rizwan was listed among EbMaster‘s 10 Brits to Watch, and Marisa Abel from “Back in Black” and David Jonsson of “Alien: Romulus” received Breakout Artist Awards. Additional Breakout Artists included Adam Pearson (“A Different Man”), Mia Threaplton (“The Buccaneers”), and Joe Locke (“Agatha All Along,” “Heartstopper”).

Before the ceremony, Locke had a chat with EbMaster where he shared that he’s been considering new projects but hasn’t acted since November, marking the first time in five years he hasn’t been employed. He expressed, “I’ve been idle for the first time in quite some while, so I’m trying to find ways to occupy my spare time.” He’s dabbled in pottery classes and yoga sessions, enjoying the break but eager to return to work.

Locke also opened up about the individuals who have stood by him during his career, particularly his mother. He admitted, “I possess a strong determination within me, and that’s thanks to her.” He also mentioned that the sudden limelight has been peculiar for them all. In fact, his mother had a fainting spell on the red carpet of the “Agatha All Along” premiere. Laughing, he said, “She’ll probably scold me for saying this, but it’s just too amusing.” He was doing press when his publicist informed him, “Your mom, she’s… um, fainted.” He walked over to find a kind stranger in Doctor Strange cosplay assisting her. He joked, “I believe she was simply overwhelmed by the grandeur of this Hollywood premiere and the heat.” Fortunately, she recovered quickly, but he playfully teased her about the incident.

In the Highlighted Category, the awardees included Ambika Mod (“One Day”), Will Sharpe (“A Real Pain”), Joe Alwyn (“The Brutalist”) and Jessica Gunning (“Baby Reindeer”). Gunning spoke about the past year and the unexpected success of “Baby Reindeer”, in which she portrayed Martha, a character who stalks Richard Gadd’s character. “I believe that both me and Richard felt that the show was unique when we were working on it,” Gunning shared. “However, even in our most imaginative thoughts, we didn’t foresee the scale of its impact.

Gunning shared that she’d played an obsessive character before, as she had once filmed a pilot for a series inspired by Bill Murray’s movie “What About Bob?” The show was called “What About Barb?”, and in it, Gunning portrayed a woman who secretly invaded her therapist’s life (played by Leah Remini). The night concluded with a standing ovation for Fry, who lauded his fellow recipients. He expressed his happiness at witnessing such a vibrant array of young talent. The sight of their diverse skills, intelligence, passion, and extraordinary talent filled him with immense joy. It’s breathtaking to see the remarkable range of abilities these young people possess.

Or, more concisely:

Gunning disclosed that she had previously acted as an obsessive character in a show based on “What About Bob?”, starring opposite Leah Remini. The series, titled “What About Barb?”, saw Gunning infiltrate her therapist’s life. The event concluded with a standing ovation for Fry, who celebrated his fellow honorees’ diverse talents. He found their exceptional skills and passion deeply inspiring.

EbMaster showcased its list of 10 promising Brits for the year 2025, who were all present: Rizwan, Abigail Thorn, Ava Wong-Davies, Erin Kellyman, Mia Tharia, Michelle de Swarte, Rich Peppiatt, Saura Lightfoot-Leon, Varada Sethu, and Xander Parish. The event was hosted by Edith Bowman and Cat Deeley and took place at Raffles London, located within The OWO Hotel.

Read More

2025-02-15 04:18