Only a week after celebrating the release of his latest project Eddington, British actor Micheal Ward, known for his breakout role in Netflix’s Top Boy, has been charged with multiple sexual offenses, according to London’s Metropolitan Police.
The 27-year-old actor from Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, has been formally charged with two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault. The charges relate to one woman and stem from an incident alleged to have occurred in January 2023.
Ward is scheduled to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, August 28.
Detective Superintendent Scott Ware, who is leading the investigation, said the department’s specialist officers are supporting the woman who came forward. “We know investigations of this nature can have significant impact on those who make reports,” he added.
Catherine Baccas, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London South, confirmed the charges following a review of evidence presented by the Metropolitan Police. “We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial,” she stated. “It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
As of Friday, Ward has been dropped by his UK agency, Olivia Bell Management. An employee at the agency told Deadline, “We no longer represent him.” His U.S. representation remains with CAA.
Born in Jamaica and raised in the UK, Ward gained prominence for his role as Jamie in Top Boy and has since appeared in notable films including Blue Story, The Old Guard, and Sam Mendes’ Empire of Light, which earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In 2020, he was awarded the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award.
Most recently, he appeared alongside Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Pedro Pascal, and Austin Butler in Eddington, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.