Limerick native Ruth Negga had a brilliant year in 2016 with the success of her film Loving, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. Now only a few days into 2017, the actress continues to shine, with a new nomination for a BAFTA rising star award. It's a welcome early birthday present for the actress, who turns 35 on January 7. Negga was thrilled at the nomination and described the experience as "surreal". "I can't wait for the ceremony in London," she said excitedly.
Fellow nominees for the award include new Spider-Man Tom Holland, Laia Costa for Victoria, Lucas Hedges for Manchester by the Sea and Anya Taylor-Joy for The Witch. This is just the latest in a line of awards and nominations that Negga has received for her work on Loving, as she received another Rising Star award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in California. In the film, Negga plays Mildred Loving, a woman who faced discrimination for her illegal interracial marriage in the 1950s. The performance has also sparked a great deal of Oscar buzz for the actress, though those nominations haven't been announced as of yet.