{"id":12979,"date":"2026-05-06T13:34:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T13:34:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=12979"},"modified":"2026-05-18T07:53:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T07:53:00","slug":"spotlight-prize-2026-finalists-announced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-industry\/spotlight-prize-2026-finalists-announced\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the 2026 Spotlight Prize Finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re thrilled to reveal the 40 talented performers selected for the 2026 Spotlight Prize.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the industry\u2019s most prestigious showcase for emerging talent, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/spotlight-prize\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spotlight Prize<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has long been a springboard for the next generation of world-class performers. This year, we\u2019re evolving. To celebrate the diverse skills of the next generation, we\u2019re debuting an expanded format, with 40 finalists split across two dedicated categories: The Screen Prize and The Stage Prize.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortlisted from over 60 drama schools across the UK and Ireland, these graduates are following in the footsteps of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-spotlight-prize-history-and-origins\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">legendary past finalists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> like Dame Judi Dench, Brian Cox, Bessie Carter, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Edward Bluemel and Rosalind Eleazar.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s meet the finalists selected to take part in the Spotlight Prize 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Screen Prize Finalists<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Directed by the acclaimed <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-industry\/director-paulette-randall-interview-olympics-spotlight-prize\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paulette Randall<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> MBE (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EastEnders, Waterloo Road<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), these 20 finalists will showcase their craft on camera, mastering the nuances of screen acting:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-replace hoverZoomLink\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/spotlight-prize-2026-screen-finalists.jpg\" alt=\"Spotlight Prize 2026 - Screen Prize finalists\" data-src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/spotlightuk\/image\/fetch\/w_{width},c_limit\/https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/spotlight-prize-2026-screen-finalists.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Angel O\u2019Callaghan <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Oxford School of Drama<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Ashik Rasool<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 St Mary\u2019s University Twickenham<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Eden Nova Tambala<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 London Southbank University<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Erin Clark<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Queen Margaret University<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Frankie D. Moules<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Fourth Monkey<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Joseph K Conteh<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Drama Studio London<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Kate Gerdena<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Court Theatre Training Company<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Kayleigh Jade<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Guildford School of Acting<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Lauren Park<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Leah Coghlan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Royal Central School of Speech and Drama<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Malea Stroud<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Italia Conti (Acting)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Max Coussins<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Laine Theatre Arts<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Molly McLoughlin<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 The Lir<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nathaniel Abdo<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Bristol Old Vic<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Saqib Bashir<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 LAMDA<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sofia Bryan Compton<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Rose Bruford College<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sophie Hough<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Performers College Manchester<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Thomalin Sirivattha<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 East 15<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Tomohiro Roddy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Manchester School of Theatre<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Yves Morris<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Mountview<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stage Prize Finalists<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Directed by actor, writer and Open Door founder David Mumeni (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bridgerton, Big Mood<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), these 20 finalists will take to the stage to perform live monologues in front of an audience of industry professionals:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"image-replace hoverZoomLink\" src=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/spotlight-prize-2026_stage-finalists.jpg\" alt=\"Spotlight Prize 2026 - Stage Prize finalists\" data-src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/spotlightuk\/image\/fetch\/w_{width},c_limit\/https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/spotlight-prize-2026_stage-finalists.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Alanna Patton<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 MTU Cork School of Music<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>An\u00fa Forkan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Oxford School of Drama<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Carmen Fyfe Paulo<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Royal Central School of Speech and Drama<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Daniel Francis-Carter<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Guildhall School of Music and Drama<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Ella O&#8217;Callaghan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 The Lir<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Elliot Holt<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Performance Preparation Academy<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Emily Leask <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 ArtsEd<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Ethan Rodmell<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Royal Birmingham Conservatoire<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fran Davidson<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 LAMDA<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Freddy Thompson<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Trinity Laban<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Jamie Whitelaw<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Bristol School of Acting<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Josh Singh Sian<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Kevin Ofosuhene<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 University of East London<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Lucy Jarvis-Chase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Bristol Old Vic<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Madeline Holland<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Royal Conservatoire of Scotland<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Olivia Grace Sullivan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Ruthie Henshall\u2019s CAST<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Priscilly Teca<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2013 Gaiety School of Acting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rebecca Hennessey<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sophie Lagden<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Royal Academy of Music<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Usuazo O\u2019David<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Urdang<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stage Prize finalists will perform in front of an invited audience of top casting directors, agents and producers at our annual Spotlight Prize Showcase on Wednesday 8 July 2026. An esteemed industry jury will then have the difficult task of selecting one winner for each prize. Both winners will take home \u00a32,000 and a one-year Spotlight membership.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Matt Hood, Spotlight\u2019s Managing Director, says: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;The 2026 Spotlight Prize finalists are a testament to the future of our industry. Selecting this group was an immense task, as each performer brings a unique, vital energy to the craft. We are incredibly proud to showcase these exceptional graduates and can\u2019t wait to see the impact they\u2019ll undoubtedly make on stage and screen.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find out more about the <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-spotlight-prize-history-and-origins\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">history of the Spotlight Prize<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019re thrilled to reveal the 40 talented performers selected for the 2026 Spotlight Prize.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":13053,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[42,37,76],"class_list":["post-12979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-industry","tag-graduates","tag-news","tag-spotlight-prize"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Meet the 2026 Spotlight Prize Finalists | Spotlight<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Spotlight announces the 40 finalists for the 2026 Spotlight Prize, featuring a brand new Screen Prize and Stage Prize format.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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