A BAFTA-winning Top Boy star has been charged with raping and sexually assaulting a woman.
Micheal Ward, who also appeared in films Blue Story and The Old Guard, allegedly carried out the offences in January 2023.
The actor starred in the third season of Top Boy[/caption]
The Jamaican-born English actor, 27, is accused of two counts of rape and three of sexual assault.
All the alleged offences relate to one woman, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.
Ward has arrived at Thames Magistrates’ Court today for a first appearance.
The actor said previously he denies the accusations, adding: “I recognise that proceedings are now ongoing, and I have full faith that they will lead to my name being cleared.”
Ward’s first on-screen appearance came in 2016 in movie Brotherhood.
His breakout role was in 2019 when he starred as Jamie in Netflix’s third series of Top Boy.
He also appeared in the Sam Mendes drama Empire of Light alongside Olivia Coleman.
The star was nominated for the Bafta Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the film.
He also won a Bafta Rising Star Award for his performance in British musical crime drama Blue Story.
Ward appears in the upcoming drama Eddington, which stars Pedro Pascal and Joaquin Phoenix.
He was named on the Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in 2020.
Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, whose team is leading the Met’s investigation, said: “Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward – we know investigations of this nature can have significant impact on those who make reports.”
He has also worked as a model[/caption]
Ward poses with his Bafta award for Rising Star Award in 2020[/caption]