Top Boy star Micheal Ward: Film industry diversity 'going in the right direction'

The winner of the EE rising star award at the Baftas has said that diversity in the film industry is "going in the right direction".

Top Boy and Blue Story star Micheal Ward, from Romford, won the award amid criticism of the ceremony for its lack of diversity.

After picking up the only trophy decided by the public he said: "The way I see it, I feel like a lot of people haven't realised there's a lot of opportunities."

Ward said that the film Blue Story and TV series Top Boy, both of which he starred in, give an insight into the lives of people who have not traditionally been represented on screen.

After accepting the award on stage, he added: "Thank you to Top Boy for changing my life forever, Blue Story, I wouldn't be here without the movie.

"What I want to say is, people watching at home, looking at me, life didn't have to be this way. You have to see the opposite and see a vision."