Warwick Davis breaks down in tears as he pays tribute to late wife one year after death in emotional Bafta win
Actor Warwick Davis delivered an emotional speech at the Bafta’s last night as he accepted the prestigious Fellowship award.
The 55-year-old star took to the stage to receive Bafta’s highest honour, presented by his former Harry Potter co-star Tom Felton.
Opening with his characteristic humour, Davis told the audience: “This is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me… and I’ve been in Star Wars!”
“I’m going to keep this short, it’s been a long night… short, yes you can laugh,” he continued, drawing warm laughter from the crowd.
The mood shifted as Davis paid tribute to his late wife Samantha, who died almost a year ago.
“Above all I would like to dedicate and thank my wonderful wife Sammy,” he said, his voice beginning to waver.
“She was always so supportive of my career, encouraging me to grab every opportunity with both hands,” Davis shared, before adding a touching moment of humour.
“However, I soon noticed her level of enthusiasm for me taking a particular role was often relative to how much she wanted that new designer handbag.”
The star then acknowledged how difficult life had become since her passing.
Their children Annabelle, 27, and Harrison, 21, were visibly moved in the audience as their father spoke about their support.
“Since then life has been pretty tough for me, but thanks to the support of our wonderful children Annabelle and Harrison, I’ve been able to continue working and engaging in life,” Davis said as tears welled in his eyes.
The siblings watched from their seats as their father delivered his heartfelt tribute, with both seen crying during the emotional moment.
The audience applauded as Davis acknowledged his children’s role in helping him through the difficult year.
In one of the most poignant moments of the speech, Davis broke down as he made a mysterious reference to someone known only as “Sponge”.
“A special mention too should go to Sponge, you know who you are,” he said through tears. “Thank you for showing me that life can still have meaning and helping me to laugh and to love again.”
The emotional tribute left many in the room visibly moved.
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Davis concluded his speech with an inspiring message: “And one final thought, anyone out there dreaming of telling your story, go for it, the world needs your vision.”
Samantha Davis passed away on March 24, 2024, at the age of 53, leaving what Warwick described as “a huge hole in our lives as a family”.
The couple first met on the set of Willow in 1988, when Warwick was 17 and Samantha was 16.
Their children Harrison and Annabelle had previously shared in a statement: “Mum is our best friend and we’re honoured to have received a love like hers.”
Last month, it emerged that Warwick is pursuing legal action against a London hospital over alleged medical negligence relating to his wife’s death.
An inquest into Samantha’s death was recently adjourned due to technical difficulties.