BAFTA-winning actor Michael Ward, known for his role in the television series Top Boy, appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on Thursday to face charges of rape and sexual assault. The 27-year-old actor, who also starred in Blue Story, Small Axe, The Old Guard, and Empire of Light, did not enter a plea during the brief hearing.
Ward, from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, spoke only to confirm his name, address, and date of birth. He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 25 September.
The charges relate to a single woman and are alleged to have taken place 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 appeared on screen in the 2016 film Brotherhood but gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of 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. In 2021, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Lovers Rock, part of the Small Axe series, and in 2023, he received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Empire of Light.
Ward also stars in the film Eddington, alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, which is currently in cinemas.
