Robert Aramayo, 33, stunned the entertainment world by winning both the best actor and rising star awards at the Baftas on Sunday night, becoming the first actor to achieve the double in a single evening. His performance in 'I Swear', where he portrays a man with Tourette syndrome, earned him the top prize ahead of nominees including Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothée Chalamet.
Back in Hull, his former drama teacher Andy Feetom was unsurprised. 'For me the rising star award was a foregone conclusion,' said Feetom, who taught Aramayo at Wyke College. 'And I wasn't shocked at the best actor win. He was mesmerising even then.' Feetom recalled that the only advice he gave the teenager for his A-level exam was to trim his performance to avoid exceeding time limits.
Aramayo's journey took him to Juilliard in New York, which he chose after Googling 'best drama school in the world'. His father encouraged him to 'just do whatever you can to get your arse over there', brushing aside financial concerns. At Juilliard, teacher Richard Feldman described him as 'one of the hardest workers that's ever come through the school' and praised his pride in his Hull roots.
Mark Babych, artistic director of Hull Truck theatre where Aramayo performed as a teen, said the win was a culmination of years of hard work. 'He's worked so hard for himself but also for the people who have supported him,' Babych said, noting the visible pride of Aramayo's family at the ceremony. Babych hopes the success will inspire young performers from Hull to pursue careers in the arts.
