O’Connell is up against Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who appeared in Larry Crowne, Odd Thomas and Dido Belle, Miles Teller who made his feature screen debut in Rabbit Hole, The Wolf of Wall Street’s Margot Robbie and Shailene Woodley who starred opposite George Clooney in The Descendants.
Now in its tenth year, the award was created in honour of Mary Selway whose career spanned three decades and over ninety films before she died in 2004.
Selway worked with a range of top name directors including Steven Spielberg, Roman Polanski, Clint Eastwood and Ridley Scott, contributing to the creation of some of the silver screen’s most memorable characters.
Pippa Harris, EE Rising Star Award Jury Chair and Deputy Chair of BAFTA’s Film Committee, said: “It’s a huge honour to chair the EE Bafta Rising Star jury once again, and selecting the five nominees this year from such a talented field was extremely tough.
“It’s now up to the British public to select the winner, which is what sets this award apart and makes it so very special.”
Spencer McHugh, Director of Brand at EE, added: “We will see the 10th EE Rising Star crowned at the 2015 BAFTAs and I couldn’t think of a stronger line up to celebrate this anniversary than the hugely talented nominees we have announced today. I wish them all the best of luck.”
Voting is now open at ee.co.uk/BAFTA. The winner will be announced at the EE British Academy Film Awards on Sunday 8th February 2015.