An actress from Kent has won the BAFTA Rising Star award after rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A-listers on the red carpet.

Mia McKenna-Bruce, a former Maidstone Grammar School for Girls pupil, has been pictured looking glamorous as she attended the awards.

The 26-year-old was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star gong after receiving critical acclaim for her breakout role in Molly Manning-Walker’s hit indie film ‘How to Have Sex’.

This evening it was confirmed she had won the award – following in the footsteps of the likes of James McAvoy, Tom Hardy and Kristen Stewart.

Stars such as Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy are also at the event in London's Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank.

Richard E Grant who plays Sir James Catton in Saltburn is also there alongside singer-songwriter Dua Lipa and former footballer David Beckham.

While still a student, Mia regularly featured in the reboot of British children’s show Tracy Beaker Returns, and its spin-off, The Dumping Ground.

During this time she would spend half of the year on set filming and the other half knuckling down on her school work.

Mia, who grew up in Bexley, says she hopes her latest film will “start the conversation” around its themes to do with sex, consent and more.

Since leaving school, Mia has gone on to star in Netflix’s adaptation of Jane Austin’s Persuasion alongside A-listers like Dakota Johnson, Richard E. Grant and Henry Golding.

She has also appeared in The Witcher alongside Henry Cavill and in The Last Train to Christmas opposite Michael Sheen.

But it’s her performance as ‘Tara’ in her latest movie which has seen Mia hit new levels of success.

At the British Independent Film Awards, she won the Lead Performance Award and the Breakthrough Performer Award at the London Critic’s Circle Film Awards.

Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who is nominated for best actor for playing theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic Oppenheimer, was wearing a dark outfit as he walked along the red carpet.

The Prince of Wales, who is president of Bafta, is attending the event – his first high-profile royal engagement since his wife’s operation.

At the BAFTAs last year, William was accompanied by the Princess of Wales, who will not be attending this time as she continues her recovery.

The BAFTAs is hosted by Scottish actor David Tennant and will feature performances by Ellis-Bextor and Hannah Waddingham.

The ceremony is being broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm.