A Coronation Street writer and an It's a Sin star are being handed a place in the BAFTA's Breakthrough talent scheme, which supports those working in film, games and television.
David Proud, a director and writer, currently a core writer on ITV’s Coronation Street, and actress Lydia West have won a place on the programme, which will provide them with one-to-one mentoring and career guidance.
Proud told the PA news agency being recognised by BAFTA “means everything”, adding: “I also hope that it can encourage more disabled artists to get into working in the industry, whether that’s as an actor or a writer. I think any time a disabled artist is included on things like this, it’s a really big moment.”
Proud was born with spina bifida and also previously starred in EastEnders, playing Oxford student Adam Best in 2009, a role which marked the first time a regular disabled part was played by a disabled actor on the soap, the BBC said at the time.
It's A Sin star Lydia has credited the hit series with helping her to “find her voice” and the causes she wants to support in her career, after securing a place on the programme.
The actress, 28, played Jill Baxter, in the series which told the story of a group of gay men and their friends through the UK’s HIV/Aids epidemic in the 1980 and 1990s.
Lydia's character was inspired by real-life person Jill Nadler in the show which also starred Years and Years singer Olly Alexander.
She said: “I think none of us expected it to do as well as it did. You make these things and you let them go, and you hope and pray that people watch and respond and resonate with the material.
“But you never expect it until it happens, and then when it happens I just feel so lucky and to be part of something that was both very, very entertaining, very fun, and very bright and colourful, but also so historical and grounded in education, and to change public health through our performances, and through the creation of this television programme, is something that you just only hope for.
“I know these jobs don’t come around very often, so I just feel extremely honoured.
"I would say that it is a real breakthrough part for me in terms of my personal growth, too, and finding my voice and finding what causes I want to support and believe in, and what I want to do, what stories I want to tell in the future and in my career.”
More than 160 newcomers have participated in the Netflix-supported initiative, including Bukky Bakray, Letitia Wright, Florence Pugh and Josh O’Connor, and it has also expanded to the US and India.
Other who have secured a place in the scheme include Sex Education’s George Robinson, Welsh film director and writer Prano Bailey-Bond, whose film Censor premiered this year, and casting director Aisha Bywaters, whose credits include We Are Lady Parts.
