The 20 drama school graduates who’ll be performing at this year’s Spotlight Prize showcase.
Once again, the Spotlight Prize is here to recognise and celebrate the very best drama school talent that the UK and Ireland have to offer.
65 drama schools and universities nominated a student from their graduating class to submit a self-tape audition for the Spotlight Prize. The self-tapes were all watched by an expert, independent panel, who narrowed the entries down to our 20 finalists.
The finalists will now take part in the Spotlight Prize Showcase which, this year, is divided into two parts. First, with direction from Paulette Randall MBE, the finalists will film a piece for screen before taking to the stage to performer in front of a live audience of specially invited industry professionals. The stage performance will be directed by David Mumeni.
The winners of the Spotlight Prize will be announced at the Spotlight Prize Showcase on Wednesday 2 July in front of a specially invited audience of casting directors, agents, producers, directors and actors.
Spotlight’s Managing Director, Matt Hood, said, “I am thrilled to welcome the finalists for the Spotlight Prize 2025. The UK and Ireland’s drama training is, rightly, world renowned and selecting the finalists from this year’s nominees proved challenging and exhilarating for our judges. We’re looking forward to welcoming the industry to our annual showcase in July, and to adding two more names to the long list of Spotlight Prize winners.”
Here are the 20 finalists of the Spotlight Prize 2025:
1. Géovanna Lewin-Rowe
LAMDA
Headshot credit: Dujonna Gift
2. Gregor Curran
Queen Margaret University
Headshot credit: Jake Stewart
3. H Randkin
University of Northampton
Headshot credit: Fay Summerfield
4. Jennifer Drew Ememandu
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Headshot credit: AKTA Photography
5. Karishma Friers
Leeds Conservatoire
Headshot credit: AKTA Photography
6. Liberty Dearsley
Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Headshot credit: Olivia Spencer
7. Lily Kate Hearns
Bow Street Academy
Headshot credit: Connie Angela McGowan
8. Maria-Chantal Mbadinuju
Mountview
Headshot credit: YellowBellyPhoto
9. Milo Cluett
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Headshot credit: Matthew Dormer
10. Mkiyah Page-Gordon
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Headshot credit: Ben Wilkin
11. Molly McFadden
The Lir Academy
Headshot credit: YellowBellyPhoto
12. Oscar Picking
The Guildford School of Acting
Headshot credit: YellowBellyPhoto
13. Polly Graves
University of Central Lancashire
Headshot credit: Tom Barker
14. Rolene Annie
St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Headshot credit: Daniel Samray
15. Scot Greenan
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Headshot credit: Michael Shelford
16. Theo Athinou
Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA)
Headshot credit: Jennie Scott
17. Thomas Carter-Wright
Met Film School London
Headshot credit: Shoot Me Now – David Green
18. Tilda Fassih
Italia Conti (Acting)
Headshot credit: YellowBellyPhoto
19. Tom McMillan
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Headshot credit: YellowBellyPhoto
20. Tumba Katanda
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Headshot credit: Harry Livingstone
The finalists join our long and star-studded list of past winners and nominees, including Rosalind Eleazar, Mimi Ndiweni, Bessie Carter, Ben Whishaw, Gwendoline Cristie, Sam Heughan and Jodie Whittaker. When it was previously known as The Millington Award, notable winners and nominees of the Prize included Dame Judi Dench, John Hurt, Zoë Wanamaker and Robert Lindsay.
Congratulations to all of the finalists!
Take a look at our dedicated Spotlight Prize page to find out more about the Prize and its history.
