‘Top Boy’ Actor Micheal Ward Appears in UK Court on Rape and Sexual Assault Charges

British actor Micheal Ward, best known for his role in Netflix’s Top Boy, appeared in a London court on Thursday to face multiple charges of rape and sexual assault.

The 27-year-old, who also stars in the upcoming Hollywood film Eddington alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal, has been charged with five offences related to a single complainant. The charges, filed in July, include two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault. The alleged incident took place in January 2023.

During a brief hearing at Thames Magistrates’ Court in east London, Ward confirmed his name, date of birth, and address. He did not enter a plea and was released on conditional bail. Under the terms of his release, he is prohibited from contacting the alleged victim.

Ward is scheduled to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 25.

In a public statement released in July, the actor denied all allegations, stating: “I deny the charges against me entirely.” He added that he had fully cooperated with police throughout the investigation.

Ward rose to prominence in Top Boy, which ran from 2019 to 2023, and has since received critical acclaim for roles in Small Axe and Empire of Light. He was named BAFTA Rising Star in 2020 and received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2021.