Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham have both received an invitation to join the film Academy this year. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended the invite to 534 names this year, up from last year’s total of 487.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences aims to recognise and “uphold excellence” in the motion picture arts and sciences as well as inspire imagination and connect the world through the medium of motion pictures. The organisation is based in California.
Bill Kramer, the Academy CEO, and Janet Yang, the Academy president, said in a statement: “We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists and professionals to join the Academy.
“Through their commitment to filmmaking and to the greater movie industry, these exceptionally talented individuals have made indelible contributions to our global film-making community.”
As well as Stephen and Jodie, The Oscars’ voting body has also invited singer Ariana Grande after her Wicked role. The Academy has invited a mix of breakout filmmakers from last year, as well as other names known in the world of filmmaking.
Jodie Comer has had an incredible 2025 so far, she is one of the biggest names in the acting world at the moment. She has gained fame for her performances both on stage and screen. For her work, she has received two BAFTA Television Awards, one Laurence Olivier Award, one Primetime Emmy Award, and one Tony Award.
The actress has also received plenty of nominations for her roles, including nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award, two Critics’ Choice Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. The latest project the Liverpool-born star is involved in is Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later.
Jodie played the lead role in the zombie movie which premiered in the UK last week. The 32-year-old skyrocketed to stardom with her incredible performance as Villanelle in Killing Eve, it was her first role that brought international fame for the Scouser.
Equally, Stephen Graham is enjoying a stellar career. He has won a number of awards throughout his acting career, including for Boardwalk Empire, Little Boy Blue, the Virtues and Help. This is alongside many more nominations for his other major roles.
He has received nominations for five British Academy Television Awards and two British Academy Film Awards. He was made an OBE in 2023. In 2025 he created, co-wrote and executive produced the miniseries Adolescence on Netflix, in which he also appeared. The series was watched worldwide, becoming one of the streaming services most watched shows.
Jodie recently spoke about her relationship with Stephen. She told Capital: “He’s beautiful, he has helped me out so much and he is a dear, dear, friend now.
“He gives back to the community, the city and encourages young talent. He is a beautiful, beautiful man, he is like so ridiculously talented but equally such a lovely human being. It’s lovely to have those people kind of lead by example.”
Jodie and fellow Scouse actor Stephen share a close professional relationship, with Stephen playing a key role in launching Comer’s career. Jodie impressed the Adolescent star in a 2012 BBC miniseries and recommended her to his agent. The two later co-starred together in 2021 drama ‘Help’, which was a hard-hitting show about the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2022, after winning the prestigious Best Leading Actress BAFTA for Help, Jodie vowed in her acceptance speech to thank Stephen ‘for the rest of her life’. She also expressed gratitude to Stephen when she won the Best Leading Actress BAFTA in 2019 for her role in Killing Eve.
Thanking him for his support and saying: “I want to take this moment to thank Stephen Graham. If I didn’t owe you a pint before then, I do now. Thank you for the generosity you showed me all those years ago.”
Recalling their first meeting and the development of their friendship, Jodie said: “I met Stephen for the first time 10 years ago. Stephen very kindly introduced me to his agent who then became my agent. He made that introduction out of pure kindness in order to help me get more opportunities.”