Ireland eyes Oscar success
Daniel Day Lewis, 50, living in Co Wicklow, and Saoirse Ronan, 13, from Co Carlow are among the nominees for Oscars at this year’s awards.
Day Lewis is nominated as best lead actor in the 'There Will be Blood' blockbuster while Ronan is up for best supporting actress in the period drama 'Atonement'.
The Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on February 24 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
With the US writers’ strike now in its 12th week, the biggest night in the Hollywood calendar is under threat.
'Atonement' explores the life of writer Briony Tallis and looks at her character at three ages – 13, 18 and 77 – with separate actresses for each part.
Saoirse played the part of the young fledgling writer.
She was recently nominated for the Baftas awards for the British film industry.
In 2007, Day-Lewis appeared in director Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaptation of the Upton Sinclair novel 'Oil!', renamed 'There Will Be Blood'.
Day-Lewis has received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for best actor for the role, and won both a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama and the Critic’s Choice Award for Best Actor.
Glen Hansard from Dublin band 'The Frames' and Marketa Irglova are nominated for best original song for “falling slowly” in low-budget Irish romantic movie 'Once'.
Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey from Armagh is up for best cinematography for 'Atonement', having worked in the past with Oliver Stone, Stephen Frears and Conor McPhearson.
Day Lewis is a regular in the 17th century Roundwood Inn, a mile from his home.
Owner Aine Schwalm said he enjoyed game, pheasant and venison.
“He is lovely, very ordinary and very nice,” she added.
“Sometimes you meet someone famous and they are different but he is down to earth and really nice, a nice family man.”
Ronan, who was also nominated for the Golden Globes, had a life-long interest in acting, her cousin Sarah told RTÉ radio.
“We are just over the moon, we can’t believe it, when she was nominated for the Golden Globes it was just out of this world,” she added.
“It is just amazing, she is so young and so down to earth, she just takes it in her stride.”
A thrilled Saoirse Ronan said in a statement: "I would like to thank the Academy for this great honour. It wouldn't have been possible without the guidance and love of Joe Wright, Paul Webster and everyone involved in the making of this beautiful, wonderful film.
“I would also like to acknowledge the support of my family and friends at home in Ireland.”
Wright is the director of 'Atonement' and Webster is the producer.
The film’s scriptwriter, Christopher Hampton, is nominated for best adapted screenplay.
