‘Rye Lane’ Star Vivian Oparah on Her BAFTA Leading Actress Nomination: ‘I Thought It Was an Extension of My Dream’
variety.comAlex Ritman “Rye Lane” was one of the standout British indie films of 2023, a lively and delightfully-spun rom-com set in the south of London that helped add a fresh coat of paint to a genre that had been fading for several years.
From first-time director Raine Allen Miller and led by rising stars Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson, both Londoners themselves, the film was hailed by critics at the Sundance Film Festival before being released in March.
But despite the immense love that “Rye Lane” generated, resulting in a record 16 nominations at the British Independent Film Awards in December, few experts would have suggested it had the momentum to plant a flag in BAFTA’s main performance categories, especially given the competition.
Neither did Oparah, whose nomination for leading actress alongside the likes of Emma Stone, Sandra Hüller and Margot Robbie was one of the most welcome surprises — at least from within the U.K. — of awards season.
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