Top Boy actor Micheal Ward charged with rape and sexual assault
He is charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Bafta-winning actor Micheal Ward has been charged with rape and sexual assault, the Metropolitan Police said.
The Jamaican-born English actor and former model, 27, is best known for films Blue Story and The Old Guard and also starred as Jamie in Netflix’s Top Boy.
In 2020, he was awarded the Bafta rising star award. He was then recognised again with a supporting actor nomination for his role in BBC’s Small Axe in 2021 and the 2022 film Empire of Light.
He is accused of offences against one woman in January 2023, according to police.
The force said he is charged with two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
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Ward, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on August 28, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
Ward starred as Jamie in Top Boy (Picture: Netflix) He also appeared in Blue Story, a feature adaptation of Rapman’s YouTube series about two young friends who become rivals in a street war (Picture: Paramount Pictures)In a statement issued after the charges were announced, Ward said: ‘I deny the charges against me entirely.
‘I have cooperated fully with the police throughout their investigation and will continue to cooperate.’
He continued: ‘I recognise that proceedings are now ongoing, and I have full faith that they will lead to my name being cleared.
‘Given those proceedings, I am unable to comment further.’
Meanwhile, Catherine Baccas, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London South, said: ‘Having carefully reviewed a file of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Micheal Ward, 27, with two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman in January 2023.
‘He will appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 28 August 2025.
He was awarded the Bafta rising star gong in 2020 (Picture: PA) The 27-year-old’s latest role is Eddington, with A-list cast members including Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix (Picture: Reuters)‘We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial.
‘It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
Also following the charges, Detective Superintendent Scott Ware added: ‘Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward—we know investigations of this nature can have significant impact on those who make reports.’
In the earlier days of his career, Ward appeared in music videos for artists such as Lily Allen and Tom Walker.
He also modelled as a teenager, having won the Face of JD Sports competition at 17 and been handpicked by the late Virgil Abloh to model for Louis Vuitton in August 2020.
Ward made his film debut in 2016’s Brotherhood before bagging Empire of Light alongside Olivia Colman and Colin Firth, plus 2024 sports drama The Beautiful Game with Bill Nighy.
Eddington will be released in UK cinemas next month (Picture: AP) Ward, pictured here at Cannes Film Festival with Austin Butler, will appear in court on August 28 (Picture: Gisela Schober/Getty Images)His latest role was western comedy film Eddington, in which he plays Michael, a young sheriff’s trainee.
With an A-list cast also comprising Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Austin Butler, and Emma Stone, the blockbuster has just had its US release and will hit UK cinemas in August.
Elsewhere, Ward, who has 1.2million followers on Instagram, played in the Soccer Aid match at Stamford Bridge last year.
He also gave a reading at the Christmas Eve carol service hosted by the Princess of Wales in 2023.
In 2020, he was named in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list of the UK’s biggest young stars.
Reps for Micheal Ward have been contacted for comment.
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