Smiling Irish have their eyes set on five Oscars
THEY are the top awards in the movie industry – sought after by stars around the world.
But last night acting talent from Ireland was in pole position for Oscars glory after five nominations. Established Hollywood stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson were joined by lesserknown Paul Mescal, Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan.
British-Irish film-maker Martin McDonagh was also nominated in the Best Director and Best Original Screenplay categories for his critically-acclaimed film The Banshees Of Inisherin.
Farrell, 46, is up for Best Actor for his role in the movie as a confused man whose best pal mysteriously ends their friendship.
Co- star Gleeson, 67, is up for Best Supporting Actor. Keoghan, 30, was nominated as Best Supporting Actor for the film while Ms Condon, 40 – also in the movie – got a nod for Best Supporting Actress. The film has received a total of nine nominations, beaten only by surreal comedy Everything Everywhere All At Once, which has 11. British actress Andrea Riseborough, 41, received a surprise Best Actress nomination after support for her performance in To Leslie from stars including Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ed Norton and Susan Sarandon.
Mescal, 26, has enjoyed a swift rise to fame after being cast in the BBC’s Normal People in 2020.
He has been nominated as Best Actor for his role as a young father in Aftersun, which was directed by Scottish film-maker Charlotte Wells. Farrell and Mescal are joined in the category by veteran British star Bill Nighy, 73, for his role in Living, Austin Butler, 31, for his portrayal of Elvis Presley, and Brendan Fraser, 54, for his comeback role in The Whale.
Farrell said he was ‘just so grateful to the Academy for all the love it’s shared with the Banshees’ cast and crew. Also, beyond honoured to be lumped together with my fellow nominees. A heartfelt congratulations to all the lads!’
In a further boost to talent from the Emerald Isle, Irish language movie The Quiet Girl has been nominated in the International Feature Film category. Newcastleborn actress Ms Riseborough’s performance in To Leslie has been described by other stars as an acting masterclass. The movie, directed by English film-maker Michael Morris, had only a limited release and no budget for a marketing campaign during the awards season.
Ms Riseborough joins front-runners Tar’s Cate Blanchett, 53, and Michelle Yeoh, 60, of Everything Everywhere All At Once, in the Best Actress category as well as Michelle Williams, 42, for The Fabelmans, and Ana de Armas, 34, for her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. Elsewhere, British artist Charlie Mackesy’s heartwarming story The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse, which was screened on the BBC over Christmas, received a nomination for Best Animated Short Film.
Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Banshees Of Inisherin and All Quiet On The Western Front all received nominations in the coveted Best Picture category, along with The Fabelmans.
They were joined in the tenstrong category by blockbuster sequels Avatar: The Way Of Water; Top Gun: Maverick; as well as Elvis, Tar, Triangle Of Sadness and Women Talking. The Oscars ceremony, hosted by US comedian Jimmy Kimmel, will take place on March 12 in Los Angeles.
‘Just so grateful for all the love’