OSD Celebrates Spotlight Prize 2026 Finalists Anú Forkan and Angel O’Callaghan

OSD Celebrates Spotlight Prize 2026 Finalists Angel O’Callaghan and Anú Forkan

We’re delighted to share some exciting news from the OSD community: two of our third year students have been named finalists for the prestigious Spotlight Prize 2026.

Huge congratulations to Angel O’Callaghan, who has been selected as a finalist for the Screen Prize and Anú Forkan, who has been selected as a finalist for the Stage Prize.

The Spotlight Prize is one of the most respected showcases for graduating performers in the UK and Ireland, giving emerging actors the opportunity to perform in front of leading casting directors, agents and industry professionals. Each year, over 60 drama schools and universities nominate graduating students, with finalists selected through an incredibly competitive audition process.

This year, 20 schools are represented in the Stage category, and 20 in the Screen category, but only six schools achieved finalist representation in both. We’re incredibly proud that OSD is one of them, alongside some of the UK and Ireland’s most established conservatoires and drama schools. 

Angel and Anú aren’t the first OSD students to make it to the Spotlight Prize finals; in fact, they join a long list of OSD Spotlight Prize success stories. Finalists include 2023 Graduate Yasemin Junqueira and 2022 Graduate Victoria Wyant, as well as 2010 Graduate Andrew Gower, who went on to win the Spotlight Prize.  

What makes the Spotlight Prize especially significant is its remarkable history of championing emerging talent. Originally launched in 1954 as the Rodney Millington Award, the prize has supported generations of actors at the beginning of their careers. Over the decades, finalists and winners have gone on to become some of the industry’s most celebrated performers, including Judi Dench, John Hurt, Jodie Whittaker, Ben Whishaw and Gwendoline Christie. Since relaunching as the Spotlight Prize in 2002, it has become one of the defining showcases for graduating actors across the UK and Ireland.

For everyone at OSD, this recognition feels like a celebration of community as much as individual achievement. Training as an actor is never something done alone, and moments like this reflect the talent, encouragement and collaboration shared between classmates, tutors, directors and creative teams across the school.

Throughout their training, both Angel and Anú have brought enormous commitment, creativity and generosity to their work, and we couldn’t be more excited to see them represent OSD at this year’s showcase. Everyone at OSD will be cheering them on!

Congratulations again to Angel and Anú. We are incredibly proud of you both.