Movie stars will take to the red carpet and viewers to their screens Sunday for the British Academy Film Awards—commonly known as the BAFTAs—in London. Taking place at the Royal Festival Hall, this year’s ceremony will be hosted by actor David Tennant.
First-khbrknews BAFTAs host Tennant, 52, is a celebrated Scottish actor famous for the Harry Potter films, TV shows including Doctor Who, Broadchurch and Good Omens, and much more.
Apparently he’s not nervous for his inaugural gig, telling the Associated Press that he feels less pressure as an actor in the role than a comedian.
Here’s 10 facts you may not know about the award-winning actor in honor of his BAFTAs hosting debut.
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David Tennant was initially a stage name
The actor was born David John McDonald. He said during an interview on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2018 that he had to pick another last name when he was 16 and registered with the actors’ union, which already included someone with his name.
Tennant told Corden he gained inspiration for his stage moniker by flipping through a music magazine and is “sort-of named” after Neil Tennant of the British music group Pet Shop Boys. David later officially changed his last name.
He’s the son of a Presbyterian minister
Tennant was raised in Bathgate, a town in Scotland made famous in the song “Letter from America” by Scottish band The Proclaimers, which Tennant’s website says is his favorite music group, along with the Beatles. Tennant cites Paisley, a town near Glasgow, as his hometown.
His father was a local Church of Scotland minister.
David Tennant dreamed of becoming an actor as a toddler
According to his website, he wanted to be an actor since he was three or four years old.
Tennant told the Guardian in 2011, “I know it’s absurd and precocious,” but said that he had a conversation with his parents about who the people…
