Micheal Ward, the Bafta-winning actor best known for his role in the Netflix series Top Boy, has appeared in court charged with rape and sexual assault. The 27-year-old appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on Thursday, where he spoke only to confirm his name, address, and date of birth.
Ward, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, did not enter a plea during the brief hearing. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 25 September. The charges relate to one woman and are alleged to have occurred in January 2023.
In a statement issued after the charges were announced last month, Ward said: 'I deny the charges against me entirely. I have cooperated fully with the police throughout their investigation and will continue to cooperate. I recognise that proceedings are now ongoing, and I have full faith that they will lead to my name being cleared. Given those proceedings, I am unable to comment further.'
Ward first gained attention in the 2016 film Brotherhood but is best known for playing Jamie in Top Boy from 2019 to 2022. He won the EE Rising Star Award at the Baftas in 2020 and has been nominated twice more, including for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Lovers Rock (2021) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Empire of Light (2023). He also stars in the upcoming film Eddington alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal.
