... WHILE SAOIRSE’S AFTER A BAFTA

IT was another good day for the Irish, as nominations for the BAFTA awards were announced yesterday.

Already in the running for Best Actress at the Golden Globes this weekend, Saoirse Ronan secured yet another prestigious award nomination for her performance in Brooklyn.

The Carlow native was announced as one of the five actresses on the shortlist for a BAFTA award.

Ms Ronan, 21, will go head-to-head with Alicia Vikander, Cate Blanchett, Maggie Smith and Brie Larson, who has been nominated for her role in Room, directed by Irish director Lenny Abrahamson.

Saoirse took home the Best Actress prize at the New York Film Critics Circle awards earlier this week and will also compete for a Screen Actor’s Guild gong during awards season.

With yet another nomination under her belt for her portrayal as Eilis in Brooklyn, Oscar buzz has reached fever pitch.

Brooklyn secured six nominations in total for the 2016 BAFTAs, which take place in London on February. Other nominations include Costume and Hair and Make-Up, as well as in the Best Screenplay for Nick Hornby.

Directed by John Crowley, the Irish-British-Canadian movie version of Colm Tóibín’s hit novel is also up against has also received the nod in the Outstanding British film category, pitting it against Ex Machina, 45 Years, Amy, The Danish Girl, and The Lobster, starring Dubliner Colin Farrell.

Kerryman Michael Fassbender is up for the Best Actor honour, for his portrayal of Steve Jobs, in the eponymous film. He will compete with Eddie Redmayne Matt Damon, Bryan Cranston and Leonardo DiCaprio for the best actor award. Along with Brie Larson’s Best Actress nomination, Irish author Emma Donoghue is in with a chance to win the Best Adapted Screenplay for Room. Speaking yesterday, Ms Donoghue said: ‘I’m over the moon to be nominated for a BAFTA for adapted screenplay for Room. As a first-timer, to find myself in the company of such superb scriptwriters is an honour I’ll never forget.