Simon Pegg and Sienna Miller announced as jurors for the 2012 Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award

• The Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award is the only accolade at the Orange British Academy Film Awards voted for by the British public
• Top actors join influential film industry figures on jury to decide the longlist of award nominees
• Nominees to be announced on 11 January 2012

Orange today announced that leading British actors Simon Pegg and Sienna Miller (a nominee herself in 2008) have joined the influential jury for the Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award, which yesterday met to cast the final votes for the longlist of nominees upon which the British public will vote. The winner will be announced at the Orange British Academy Film Awards on Sunday 12 February 2012.

The Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award honours a young actor or actress of any nationality who has demonstrated exceptional talent and ambition, and has begun to capture the imagination of the British public as a film star in the making. Previous winners have included James McAvoy, Kristen Stewart and Noel Clarke, with 2011’s nominees including Gemma Arterton, Andrew Garfield, Aaron Johnson, Emma Stone and winner Tom Hardy. The award is the only one at the ceremony voted for by members of the public, and is a hotly-contested accolade for up-and-coming film talent.

Simon and Sienna will join a raft of leading figures from across the film industry, including jury chair Pippa Harris, Deputy Chairman of BAFTA’s Film Committee and producing partner of Sam Mendes (Revolutionary Road, Jarhead), four time Harry Potter director David Yates, producer Allon Reich (28 Weeks Later, The History Boys, The Last King of Scotland), casting director Nina Gold (The King’s Speech) and film publicist Kate Lee.

Joining Simon, Sienna and other jurors are leading film and arts journalists Colin Kennedy (Metro), Alex O’Connell (The Times), Hannah Marriott (Grazia), Jonny Pile (Shortlist), Jamie Graham (Total Film) and Charles Gant (Heat). Many of the jury have discovered, worked alongside or supported rising stars throughout their careers.

The Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award jury’s role is to select a longlist of eight nominees from the hundreds of submissions made by the BAFTA membership, film industry figures and members of the arts media. This longlist is then voted on by Orange customers, including those who have used Orange Wednesdays and Orange Film To Go, throughout November and December to create a final list of five nominees which are announced in January 2012, when voting opens to the British public. The final winner is announced at the Orange British Academy Film Awards on Sunday 13 February 2012.

Spencer McHugh, Brand Director at Orange UK commented:“Our jury this year represents a stellar array of leading lights and talent from the British film industry. We’re of course particularly thrilled that Simon and Sienna have kindly offered their time and expertise in order to celebrate the film stars of tomorrow.”

Simon Pegg added:“Joining the jury for the award was such an exciting prospect as it means you get to watch so many brilliant films and performances in the name of research. The award has a great track record for celebrating actors that really strike a chord with cinema goers, and with such great up and coming talent out there at the minute I think they’re going to be spoilt for choice.”

Jury Chair Pippa Harris:“I’m thrilled that so many talented Industry colleagues have made the time to take part in this year’s Orange Wednesdays Rising Star jury. The jury’s wealth of experience is a testament to how highly regarded this award is, and will ensure that the list of nominees represent the real stars of tomorrow.”  

The award was created in honour of Mary Selway, the highly respected BAFTA-winning casting director whose career spanned three decades and over ninety films before she died in 2004. She worked with notable directors such as Steven Spielberg, Roman Polanski, Clint Eastwood and Ridley Scott, contributing to the creation of some of the silver screen's most memorable characters.

For more info:orange.co.uk/bafta

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For further information, video content and images please contact Alex Wilkinson or Sam Harris at M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment.

Alex Wilkinson /alex.wilkinson@mcsaatchi.com/ 07969 573 313 / 020 7544 3855

Samantha Harris /samantha.harris@mcsaatchi.com/ 07896 530 007 / 020 7544 3873

Notes to editors

Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award full eligibility guidelines

The Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award honours a young actor or actress of any nationality who has demonstrated exceptional talent and ambition and begun to capture the imagination of the British public as a film star in the making.

Nominees must have appeared in a film released during the current BAFTA awards year: 1 January to 31 December 2011.

The eight longlisted actors and actresses will usually have several film performances under their belt, in addition to one in the current year. Although this award is designed to encourage actors at the beginning rather than the end of their careers, it is not intended as a true ‘beginner’s award’, nor is it intended to be for child actors (those longlisted will usually be aged between 18 and 32). In exceptional circumstances, a star-making debut will be considered, but this will be the exception rather than the norm.

About Orange UK

Orange is the key brand of the France Telecom Group, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators. With almost 131 million customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates.

In the UK, Orange provides high quality GSM coverage to 99% of the UK population, and 3G coverage to more than 93%. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Brand Services Limited.

On July 1 2010, the company became part of Everything Everywhere, one company that runs two of Britain's most famous brands - Orange UK and T-MobileUK - with plans to transform the industry by giving customers instant access to everything, everywhere, offering them the best value, best choice and best network coverage in the country. Everything Everywhere Limited is the UK’s biggest communications company, with a combined customer base of almost 28 million people and more than 720 retail stores across the country. Everything Everywhere Limited is registered at HatfieldBusinessPark, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9BW under the registered company number 02382161.

For more information please call the Orange Press Office 0870 373 1500, or visitwww.orange.co.uk/newsroom

About BAFTA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is an independent charity that supports, develops and promotes the art forms of the moving image by identifying and rewarding excellence, inspiring practitioners and benefiting the public. In addition to its Awards ceremonies, BAFTA has a year-round Learning & Events programme that offers unique access to some of the world’s most inspiring talent through workshops, masterclasses and lectures and mentoring schemes, connecting with audiences of all ages and backgrounds across the UK, Los Angeles and New York.  BAFTA relies on income from membership subscriptions, individual donations, trusts, foundations and corporate partnerships to support its ongoing outreach work.  For further information, visitwww.bafta.org.