BAFTAs 2019: Letitia Wright thanks God in emotional speech as she opens up on depression battle

Letitia Wright thanked God as she was named EE Rising Star at this year’s BAFTAs, branding herself a “work in progress” in an emotional acceptance speech.

The Black Panther actress beat Jessie Buckley, Barry Keoghan, Cynthia Erivo and Lakeith Stanfield to the prestigious breakthrough award on Sunday night, telling the audience that her faith and BAFTA’s confidence in her as a young British actress had helped her to overcome depression.

The 25-year-old said: “A few years ago I saw myself in a deep depression and I wanted to quit acting.

“The only thing that pulled me out of that was God, my belief, my family, and an email from BAFTA telling me they wanted me to be a part of BAFTA Breakthrough Brits and it inspired me to keep going.”

She later received a shout out from her co-stars Danai Gurira and Andy Serkis as they took to the stage to present Original Music.

“Baby girl, we love you!” shouted Gurira as they did a little dance.

Wright’s speech in full:

“I identify myself as a child of God and I can't get up here without thanking God. A few years ago I saw myself in a deep depression and I literally wanted to quit acting. The only thing that pretty much pulled me out of that was God, my belief, my faith. my family, and an email from BAFTA saying that they wanted me to be a part of BAFTA Breakthrough Brits and I was like 'let me try again'. So this wasn't an overnight thing. This wasn't a click of the finger success. It's still a work in progress. I'm still a work in progress.

"But I just want to thank God, I want to thank my family, I want to thank my team. I want to thank everybody who said yes to me. I want to say thank you to everybody who gave me a chance and just saw my talents or what God placed in me and said yes. I want to encourage young people – matter of fact you don’t even have to be young, you can be any age. I just want to encourage you, anybody that is going through a hard time or something in their soul that they have lost their light. God made you and you are important.

"There might be some of you going through a bad time and you're putting on a smile on your face and nobody can see that. But you know it that and God knows it. I just want to say that God loves you and let your light shine. God bless you all and thank you so much. And the category that I'm in, to be a part of this category means so much to me. I'm so honoured, you guys all inspire me. Thank you Jesus, thank you thank you."