Former Wyke A Level Drama student Robert Aramayo has achieved an extraordinary milestone in his career, winning two BAFTAs at this year’s ceremony. In a night that will be remembered for years to come, Robert secured both the EE Rising Star Award and the prestigious BAFTA for Leading Actor for his role in the British independent film "I Swear".
His win in the Leading Actor category was particularly remarkable, as he triumphed over internationally recognised Hollywood stars including Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet. For those who have followed Robert’s journey, the recognition comes as no surprise. His dedication and talent were clear from an early stage, and his acceptance into the renowned Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York marked the beginning of a career destined for acclaim.
Robert’s achievements serve as an inspiration to current and future students, demonstrating how hard work, ambition and resilience can lead to exceptional success on the world stage. His journey from Malet Lambert to Wyke to Juilliard, and now to BAFTA-winning status, is a story that reflects not only his own talent but also the support and encouragement he has received along the way.
His former A Level Drama teacher, Andy Feetom, says that in the 25 years he taught drama at Wyke, where he also taught the likes of comedian Lucy Beaumont and actor Marc Pickering, Aramayo stood out as one of the best he’d seen. He even recalled that the only advice or notes he could give the then teenager to help with the practical part of his A-level drama exam was to trim down his performance so as not to exceed the time limits, likening it to shaving off gold. “It’s funny, I can’t remember the year that I taught Rob and I can’t even remember what grade he got for the practical, but I can remember his performance. It was mesmerising,” said Andy. “He was great then, as he is today.”
Reflecting on Robert's success, Julie Peaks, Principal at Wyke Sixth Form College, said "Everyone at Wyke is incredibly proud of Robert and that his success comes as no surprise." After leaving Wyke, Robert earned a place at the world‑renowned Juilliard School in New York, and Julie noted that the whole community always knew it was only a matter of time before the world recognised what they already knew: his extraordinary talent. She added that Robert is a credit to his family, to Wyke, and to the city of Hull — and that this is only the beginning, with much more success still to come.
Robert’s achievements are far from overnight success. Since graduating from Juilliard, he has built an impressive career across film and television. He is widely known for playing Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022 to present) and Young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones (2016 to 2017). His credits also include Behind Her Eyes (2021), Mindhunter (2019), and feature films such as The King’s Man (2021) and Nocturnal Animals (2016).
Congratulations Robert. With two BAFTAs already to his name, it is clear that this is only the beginning of what promises to be an outstanding career.
