Deacon, Hemsworth, Hiddleston, O’Dowd, Redmayne on BAFTA Orange Rising Star shortlist

Adam Deacon, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Chris O’Dowd, and Eddie Redmayne make up the Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award shortlist, which is suprisingly all-male this year.

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth landed the title role in Thor and will reprise the role in The Avengers later this year. He plays opposite Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron in the upcoming Snow White and the Huntsman and will play Formula One driver James Hunt in Ron Howard’s Rush.

Chris O’Dowd began his career in thecult comedy series The IT Crowd and went on to secure roles in The Boat that Rocked, Gulliver’s Travels, Bridesmaids and the upcoming Paul Rudd comedy This is 40.

Eddie Redmayne started out on stage in London’s West End before a breakthrough film role in My Week with Marilyn alongside Michelle Williams. He recently finished filming BBC drama Birdsong and will star in the next film version of Les Miserables.

Adam Deacon starred in Noel Clarke’s Kidulthood and Adulthood before co-writing, directing and starring in comedy Anuvahood.

RADA graduate Tom Hiddleston also played in Thor as well as Midnight in Paris, War Horse and The Deep Blue Sea. He will also feature in The Avengers.

Pippa Harris, Orange Wednesdays Rising Star award jury chair and Deputy Chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee, said: “It’s great to involve the general public in championing the stars of the future, which is why the Orange Wednesdays Rising Star Award is such a fantastic initiative. The jury had a tough job deciding the long list of eight, as we were spoilt for choice. With such an array of new talent, I can’t wait to see who the public choose as their winner.”

The Rising Star award is the only BAFTA award voted on by the public. The winner will be announced at the awards on 12 February 2012.

Previous winners include James McAvoy, Eva Green, Shia LaBeouf, Noel Clarke, Kristen Stewart and Tom Hardy.