‘Michael’ Star Jaafar Jackson Achieves Triple Win at National Film Awards UK

Jaafar Jackson’s rise from acting novice to one of the year’s standout stars has been a remarkable journey in Hollywood. Just months after stepping into his late uncle’s iconic role for the first time, the young actor has been accumulating accolades for a performance that even he didn’t foresee.

‘Michael‘, the biopic directed by Antoine Fuqua that chronicles the life of Michael Jackson, has been rewriting box office records while gaining significant momentum in the awards season. Recently, the film surpassed ‘Oppenheimer’ to become the highest-grossing biopic of all time, adding yet another achievement to its impressive run.

This momentum translated directly into the 2026 National Film Awards UK, where ‘Michael’ secured three major awards. Jaafar Jackson won both the Outstanding Performance award and Best Newcomer for his portrayal of the King of Pop, while producers Graham King, John Branca, Prince Jackson, and John McClain received the Best Producer award for their efforts in bringing the film to life.

These wins are particularly significant as the National Film Awards UK are determined solely by public vote, rather than by critics or industry panels. This means Jackson’s dual victory reflects genuine enthusiasm from audiences who connected with his performance, rather than accolades filtered through traditional award channels.

The triple win also coincided with a notable day for the film, occurring on the same date that ‘Michael’ surpassed Walt Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ at the box office. Jackson’s individual awards came just two days after he won Best Actor at the 2026 Astra Midseason Movie Awards, where he triumphed over competitors like Chiwetel Ejiofor for ‘Backrooms’, Ralph Fiennes for ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’, and runner-up Ryan Gosling for ‘Project Hail Mary’.

Jackson’s journey to this level of acclaim has been anything but typical. With no prior acting experience before landing this pivotal role, his only previous screen credit was a cameo on the 2015 reality series ‘The Jacksons, Next Generation’. Producer Graham King, known for his work on ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, noted that Jackson bypassed the traditional audition process entirely, opting instead to send King a voice note of himself embodying Michael, a bold move that led to extensive coaching before he was officially cast.

This unconventional casting story has become a key part of the film’s narrative, with both critics and audiences highlighting Jackson’s performance as one of the year’s most notable breakthroughs. His ability to lead a nearly billion-dollar global blockbuster in his debut feature film role has drawn comparisons to some of the most challenging musical biopic performances in recent memory.

In addition to the individual accolades, the Best Producer win for the producing team emphasizes the film’s continued recognition within the industry, alongside its commercial success. With five nominations heading into the ceremony, including additional recognition for director Antoine Fuqua and the film itself in the Best International Film category, ‘Michael’ was a clear frontrunner for the evening.

As the awards season progresses, the momentum behind both Jackson and the film shows no signs of waning. Given how consistently ‘Michael’ has shattered records at the box office and now on the awards circuit, this latest sweep feels more like a confirmation of a narrative that has been unfolding since the film’s release.

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