BAFTAs 2016: John Boyega, Dakota Johnson amongst nominees for Rising Star award

Brie Larson, Bel Powley, and Taron Egerton have also been announced as in contention for the award

Identity graduate John Boyega played Finn in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (AP)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens may be the biggest cinematic event of last year; but does that make John Boyega its biggest rising star?

This year's BAFTAs will be the decider; with Boyega nominated for the ceremony's Rising Star award. He'll be joined by Brie Larson, who's already crafted a strong CV so far, but hits the Academy Awards race with Room.

Also nominated are Kingsman: The Secret Service's Taron Egerton, looking to cement his British standing with this year's Eddie the Eagle. Bel Powley finds inclusion thanks to her fearless performance in Diary of a Teenage Girl, alongside Dakota Johnson, who lit up the box office with last year's Fifty Shades of Grey.

The awards have evolved as a strong indicator of future success; James McAvoy won in 2006, Kristen Stewart in 2010, and Tom Hardy in 2011. Will Poulter, 2014's winner, is about to make waves in The Revenant; Jack O'Connell, last year's winner, boasts a trio of upcoming high-profile flicks: Tulip Fever, HHHH, and Jodie Foster's Money Monster.

The nominations will be announced this Friday, with the ceremony taking place 14 February.