Warwick Davis feels 'very fortunate' as he dedicates Bafta Fellowship award to his supporters

Warwick Davis, the actor known for his roles in Harry Potter, has expressed his deep gratitude upon being announced as the recipient of Bafta's highest accolade, the Fellowship award.

The 54 year old star is set to be honoured at the upcoming film awards ceremony for his pioneering contributions to acting and his advocacy efforts, which include running a talent agency and charity supporting individuals with dwarfism. The announcement was made on The One Show by fellow Bafta-winning actor Lenny Rush, who looks up to Davis as a "massive inspiration".

Davis, who appeared on the BBC One programme, shared his excitement: "I’ve done a lot of amazing things in my career but this has got to top them all, it’s amazing. I’m very honoured." He continued, acknowledging his good fortune in having a career he loves: "I think I’m very fortunate to be in a career that I love."

Davis also emphasised the importance of recognising those who have supported him throughout his journey: "It’s a wonderful career to have and so I think it’s important that you’re also looking after the people around you, because, at the end of the day, I’ve won this Bafta Fellowship, but it’s down to the cast, the crew that I’ve worked with in the past, and also the audience out there who watched my work as well."

Rush, who shares the same rare form of dwarfism as Davis, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, lauded the veteran actor as a "legend" and an immense source of inspiration for himself.

The honour highlight' Davis' "trailblazing work, not just as an actor, but also for your advocacy work, for your talent agency, charity and theatre company, supporting actors under five foot tall, helping them build careers in our industry and working on positive representation."

The Harry Potter star’s own story began when he entered the silver screen at 11 years old as an Ewok in Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi. He starred alongside David Bowie in Labyrinth, played the titular character in Ron Howard's 1988 fantasy film Willow, and featured in BBC adaptations of CS Lewis's beloved Narnia books. He has become one of Britain's most sought-after actors, with notable roles in Jack The Giant Slayer, the Leprechaun films, Ricky Gervais' Extras, and the BBC mockumentary Life's Too Short.

Davis has also hosted ITV's quiz show Tenable and lent his voice to a character in the Moominvalley TV series. In addition to his acting career, he runs the talent agency Willow Management, which specializes in representing actors under five feet and over seven feet tall.

Davis co-founded the charity Little People UK with his late wife Samantha, which provides support and guidance to individuals with dwarfism and their families. Samantha, whom he married in 1991 and had two children with, Annabelle and Harrison, sadly passed away last March at the age of 53.

Bafta chairwoman Sara Putt said: "We are delighted to present Warwick Davis the Bafta Fellowship award, our highest honour. Warwick is a talented, much loved and truly inspiring figure who has captivated audiences over many decades.

"From his iconic performances to his advocacy for greater inclusion and representation on and off-screen, Warwick has had a remarkable impact on cinema and been profoundly influential in fostering a more inclusive and caring society."

"Hugely respected by his peers both in Britain and globally for his immense creativity and passion for the craft of storytelling, we at Bafta are thrilled to celebrate his exceptional body of work and achievements at the EE Bafta Film Awards next month."

Past recipients of this prestigious fellowship include Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Stanley Kubrick, Billy Wilder, Ken Loach, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Lord Laurence Olivier and Dame Judi Dench. Davis will be honoured with the Bafta Fellowship at the EE Bafta film awards on February 16.