‘Eddington’ Actor Micheal Ward Charged with Rape and Sexual Assault in the UK

British actor Micheal Ward, known for the Netflix series Top Boy and most recently Ari Aster’s film Eddington, is facing charges of allegedly raping and sexually assaulting a woman in the United Kingdom in 2023.

London’s Metropolitan Police announced on Friday that prosecutors have charged the 28-year-old BAFTA winner with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault following an investigation into an alleged incident that took place in January 2023. The statement did not provide further details about the incident, including its location or the identity of the accuser.

“Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward — we understand that investigations of this nature can have a significant impact on those who make reports,” Detective Superintendent Scott Ware said in the statement.

Representatives for Ward did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for comment on Friday. The actor is scheduled to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court in London on August 28.

Born in Jamaica, Ward began his acting career less than a decade ago, gaining recognition for his roles in the British drama series Top Boy and rapper Rapman’s 2019 film Blue Story. He won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2020. That same year, he appeared in The Old Guard alongside Charlize Theron and in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe miniseries.

Ward’s film credits also include Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light, The Book of Clarence, Bob Marley: One Love, and The Beautiful Game. He currently stars as a young police officer in Eddington, the latest film from Hereditary and Midsommardirector Ari Aster.