Baykali Ganambarr, a 25-year-old Australian dancer turned actor, made his acting debut in Jennifer Kent’s The Nightingale, a role which instantly garnered him critical acclaim.

When cast in the brutal historical drama, which swept most of the film categories at this year’s Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards in Sydney, Ganambarr had never acted professionally; instead he had been a member of an aboriginal dance company, Djuki Mala, touring a mix of traditional and modern dance styles. However, after The Nightingale’s debut at the 75th Venice International Film Festival in 2018, he was recognised with the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor or Actress. Ganambarr is set to return to screens next year in Australian Western, The Furnace.