Actor unsure about Bafta nomination

By Frances Cronin
Newsbeat entertainment reporter

He's won critical acclaim for writing, directing and starring in Kidulthood and Adulthood but Noel Clarke says he doesn't know why he's been nominated for a Bafta rising star award.

It's helped establish the careers of James McAvoy, Eva Green and Shia LaBeouf but Noel can't believe he made this year's shortlist for the award.

He said: "I really have no idea. I am thankful to the jury.

"I know James McAvoy's on the jury and if I ever see him I'll kiss him and say, 'Thank you man. I don't know why you did but thank you'."

I don't know Matt Smith but I am very, very happy that he's the Doctor Noel Clarke on Matt Smith becoming the 11th Doctor Who

It's safe to say though that he's happy to be one of five up for the public vote.

"I'm over the moon, I'm ecstatic. It's an incredible honour to be recognised at this level by the industry for someone who's just a regular guy," he added.

The other nominees are Juno star Michael Cera, Toby Kebbell who played Johnny Quid in RocknRolla, Michael Fassbender from Hunger and Eden Lake and Rebecca Hall from Starter for 10 and Frost/Nixon.

Noel is impressed with his competition: "The other nominees are fantastic and they've all done huge movies and then there's me with my little movie toddling along.

"But hopefully that's part of the reason. Hopefully people have said, 'Actually, this guy's doing well and home grown and we want to support that', and hopefully the public will come out and support me too."

Moving on

Noel Clarke has written three more films that he's hoping will get made but he's moving away from Kidulthood and Adulthood.

He said: "We have said everything we need to say about 'street life'.

Toby Kebbell and Noel Clarke are both up for the rising star Bafta

"We've shown young kids that the way they behave is out of order and that through Adulthood they can chose different paths and try and get out of that life.

"And hopefully by making the films we've shown them they can be creative and do positive things.

"Now that that's been said I think it's time to move that audience into a new direction and show them they don't only have to be represented by those films but can be in sci-fis or romcoms or superhero films."

He laughed at rumours that Parenthood would be the third film in his trilogy.

The name's already been used as a title for a Steve Martin film in the 80s.

He said: "We're getting Steve Martin back. He's gonna be in a little, hooded top and he's gonna be trundling about west London."

Dr Who

Noel was a popular member of Dr Who playing Billie Piper's boyfriend Mickey Smith and he admits his next project is in the same genre.

He said: "I've written a sci-fi film that has a production deal and is very close. The script is going out to actors."

Noel Clarke is Mickey Smith and Billie Piper's boyfriend in Dr Who

But he says he doesn't expect it to be similar to Dr Who.

"I wrote it a while ago but it's not going to take elements of Dr Who," he said.

"It's going be my own thing, my own idea. I'm quite excited by it and hopefully all the Dr Who fans will come and support that."

As for the new Doctor, Matt Smith, Noel's backing him all the way: "I don't know Matt Smith but I am very, very happy that he's the Doctor," he said.

"There was a lot of speculation about who, what and why and out of nowhere Matt Smith came along.

"I've got to tell you I jumped up in the air. I was that happy.

"He's done a fair few acting jobs but he doesn't have baggage and he looks the part and is going to be fantastic.

"Dr Who fans, I'm supporting him all the way."

To vote for Noel or others in the running for the Bafta rising star award text the surname of the actor to the number 82058 or

Vote at the Orange Bafta website

The winner will be announced at the Bafta awards ceremony on 8 February.