Robert Aramayo has been on a remarkable journey with I Swear, the biographical drama that earned him the BAFTA for Best Leading Actor—beating out heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, and Michael B. Jordan. But for Aramayo, the real reward hasn't been the trophy; it's been the conversations the film has sparked about Tourette syndrome.
In the film, Aramayo plays Scottish activist John Davidson, who was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome at age 14 in the 1980s, a time when the condition was widely misunderstood. Davidson's verbal and physical tics made him feel like he was constantly apologizing for behavior he couldn't control. It wasn't until he met Dottie (Maxine Peake) that he began to embrace the duality of his gentle nature and the involuntary outbursts. The story follows Davidson as he learns to live with Tourette's and builds a community to educate loved ones about navigating a world that often doesn't understand them.
When asked about his award-winning performance, Aramayo humbly deflects the praise to the people who have reached out to him. "All the responses from people and the dialogue that has been around it—people who live with Tourette's, or their kids do, or they know someone with Tourette's—it's so amazing," he says. "I feel really proud that the film has been able to spark that kind of dialogue."
Aramayo admits he never felt completely confident going into the role. "I don't think I ever felt like, 'Yeah, I've got this.' That's probably a good thing," he says. "I just knew that the only thing I could really be in control of was how hard I worked on something, and I wanted to work as hard as I possibly could because I felt so passionate about this story."
To prepare, Aramayo immersed himself in learning everything he could about living with Tourette's. "It was about gaining as much knowledge as I could about John's life—from John himself, but also from books, YouTube, and people I met," he explains. The most special days on set, he says, were those spent with the Tourette's community. "We got to spend time with incredible people who had amazing stories. It was just a bigger family at that point."
Aramayo also credits his co-stars for making the experience unforgettable. "Working with people like Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, and Peter Mullan—they all taught me so much. They work in really different ways and they're incredible actors," he says. The film's success has also given Aramayo a new perspective on his craft. "It's been the biggest challenge of my life. Yes, I've learned things about myself as an actor, but you learn on everything you do."
Beyond I Swear, Aramayo continues to reprise his role as Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, with Season 3 due later this year. He describes returning to the fantasy epic as both exciting and challenging. For fans of flawless shows, Aramayo's range—from Middle-earth to a deeply human true story—is a testament to his versatility.
As I Swear hits UK theaters in 2025, Aramayo hopes the film continues to foster understanding. "We talk a lot about representation, but that's a community that is severely underrepresented," he says. With his BAFTA win and the film's impact, Aramayo has proven that the most powerful performances come from a place of genuine empathy and hard work.
