Wow. When it rains it pours. Last year the BAFTA Rising Star Awards caused major controversy by completely shunning womankind with an all-male shortlist. This time around? Life Of Pi star Suraj Sharma is the only man on the 2013 list of nominees.
Brits Andrea Riseborough and Juno Temple are also named in the class of 2013, and Elizabeth Olsen and Anna Karenina's Alicia Vikander complete the female-dominated new talent line-up. The shortlist was compiled by a judging panel including Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Kermode, and Kevin Macdonald, but it's up to the public to vote for the winner.
First presented back in 2006, previous winners include James McAvoy, Tom Hardy, and Kristen Stewart — so, you know that whoever scoops the gong is poised to become a serious industry contender.
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According to BAFTA, the nominations are purely about remarkable acting talent, whether on TV or film — and don't take age, nationality, gender, or anything else into account. We're going to assume that this female-dominated list isn't an attempt to make amends for last year's shortfall, and instead simply illustrates the sheer amount of awesome female acting talent around right now.
Fancy weighing in? Voting for the winner is now open at ee.co.uk/bafta. The winner will be announced at the 2013 BAFTA ceremony on February 10.
Photo via contactmusic.com