FORMER Headington School student Emma Watson is up against male and female actors in the running for a new gender neutral acting accolade.

MTV has dropped its categories for best actor and actress in its film and television awards, opting instead for a gender neutral prize open to all performers.

Watson has been nominated for her role in Beauty and the Beast. She is pitted against other stars including Daniel Kaluuya, for Get Out, and Taraji P Henson, for Hidden Figures.

Many major awards ceremonies, including the Oscars and Baftas, still feature separate categories for men and women. 

The MTV Movie and TV Awards will be held in Los Angeles on May 7.