Micheal Ward

Career 2016–2018: Modelling and early roles

Ward began his career while he was at college when he signed with the talent agency. At the age of seventeen, Ward won the Face of JD Sports modelling competition. He has since modelled a number of brands and was handpicked by Virgil Abloh to model for Louis Vuitton's AW20 menswear campaign in August 2020. Ward made his film debut in Brotherhood in 2016. He starred in the first series of the teen thriller The A List on BBC iPlayer in 2018 and reprised his role for its second series on Netflix.

2019–2022: Top Boy and other work Ward's breakout year came in 2019, when he starred as Jamie in Netflix's revival and third series of Top Boy. He also appeared in a leading role in the film Blue Story in the same year. The film received critical acclaim, and Ward won the BAFTA Rising Star Award for his performance. Ward appeared in Steve McQueen's Small Axe: Lovers Rock in 2020, for which he received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

Ward starred alongside Olivia Colman, Colin Firth and Tanya Moodie in Sam Mendes' 2022 film Empire of Light. The film was released in the USA in December 2022, with the release in the UK in January 2023. In January 2023 it was announced that Ward was included on the longlist in the best supporting actor category for the 76th British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards. In December 2022, he was cast in Jeymes Samuel's The Book of Clarence.

2023–present He appeared alongside Bill Nighy in the 2024 film The Beautiful Game. In 2025 he acted in the Ari Aster directed satirical western Eddington.

Personal life Ward is an Arsenal fan. He went to school with English professional footballer Rhian Brewster. Ward was named in Forbes' 30 under 30 list in 2020. Ward became a British citizen in 2015.

The complainant alleged that there was blood on her leggings and underwear. However police forensic examination of all the relevant clothing found no trace of blood. It was revealed that she had hidden phone messages from the police and that it was not until 18 months after her original police interview she admitted having deleted parts of her messages with Ward.

Top Boy co-star Jasmine Jobson provided character evidence in support of Ward, describing him as being “lovely, polite, and outgoing” and “intelligent and hardworking, and popular”, she added that “The allegations are in stark contrast to the gentle and kind-hearted man I know.” and that she had never felt uncomfortable around him.

On 10 July 2026, at Snaresbrook Crown Court, the jury unanimously found him not guilty of all 5 charges.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2016 Brotherhood The Supporting Artists 2019 Blue Story Marco 2020 The Old Guard Lykon Good Thanks, You? Lewis Short film 2022 Beauty Cain Empire of Light Stephen 2023 The Book of Clarence Judas Iscariot2024 Bob Marley: One Love The Shooter Uncredited The Beautiful Game Vinny 2025 Eddington Michael

Television Year Title Role Notes 2018, 2021 The A List Brendan Main role (series 1)Guest role (series 2) 2019–2022 Top Boy Jamie Main role (series 3-4) 2020 Small Axe: Lovers Rock Franklyn Anthology series

Music videos Song Year Artist Notes "Blessings" 2017 Tom Walker "Trigger Bang" 2018 Lily Allen feat. Giggs "Black" 2019 Dave

Awards and nominations Organisations Year Category Work Result Ref. BAFTA Awards 2019 Rising Star Award Himself 2021 Best Supporting Actor Small Axe 2022 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Empire of Light National Film Awards UK 2020 Best Newcomer Blue Story Outstanding Performance NME Awards 2020 Best Film Actor RTS Programme Awards 2020 Actor (Male) Top Boy