Robert Aramayo was lost for words after being crowned Best Leading Actor at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards

Aramayo beat Hollywood royalty Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Michael B Jordan (Sinners), Timothee Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia) to reign victorious in the category.

After Shadow Force actress Kerry Washington presented Aramayo with the award, he told the audience: "I absolutely can't believe this.

"I can't believe that I'm looking at people like you. And in the same academy as you, never mind that I'm a studier.

"Wow, on my word. I want to get this right. There's loads of people that I want to thank.

"I want to thank Kirk Jones for his vision, his collaboration, his brilliance. ?He's passionate to bring this to the screen. Thank you so much.

"Lauren Evans for casting me, Molly Cowan, Danny Streisand.

"I want to thank Tempo, I want to thank Studio Canal and Bankside.

"I want to thank Dotty. Murray, John, and Chris, and all the amazing people in Gala Shields, and the fantastic people that I met when I was researching this film.

"I honestly cannot believe that I have won this award. I really, really cannot."

The young actor then lauded his fellow nominees in the Best Leading Actor category.

Aramayo continued: "Everyone in this category blows me away."

The star shared that as a student at The Juilliard School, based in New York, he was deeply inspired by Hawke's advice about sustaining a long-acting career.

Aramayo said: "When I was in school, I've said this a million times, but when I was in school, Ethan Hawke came in to speak to us at Juilliard, and he gave an amazing talk on longevity as an actor, about protecting your instrument and avoiding self destructive behaviours, and it had a really impact a great impact on everyone in that room."

And Aramayo dec lared being nominated alongside him as meaningful and humbling.

The actor - who won the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award earlier in the night - ended with: "So to be in this category with you tonight is incredible.

"Thank you, Ethan."