Everything comes Irish.
In January, the Academy announced this year’s Oscar nominees, and one thing was clear: Ireland is rightfully on the film map. From Best Picture nominees to lead actor awards, Irish creatives graced every major list. While Irish men awarded with the most honors (classical Academy), Banshees of Inisherin Star Kerry Condon also earned her own supporting actress nomination.
10 things we want to see at the Oscars
Ireland isn’t just taking over our cinema screens. The names of our favorite Irish musicians are on everyone’s lips, too. One Direction’s Irish hunk Niall Horan recently released his first single in two years, ‘Heaven’. The same goes for beloved singer Hozier, who will be releasing the lead single from his new EP, All things come to an end, on March 17.
Derry Girls may be over, but Ireland’s boys continue their country’s pop culture reign.
On Sunday, March 12, all eyes will be on the boy band taking over the Oscars red carpet, and we’re here to bring you our comprehensive look at the main characters.
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The Center of the Multiverse of Sadness, Paul Mescal
Nominated for Best Actor (After the SUN)
No one will ever pretend they didn’t know Paul…
Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Other key projects: normal people, The “Scarlet” music video.(Opens in a new tab), Denny’s Sausage Commercial(Opens in a new tab)
Indie daydream Mescal came into our lives when we needed him the most with his gold chain dangling. We’re referring, of course, to his role as Connell in the Hulu adaptation of Sally Rooney Normal people. He’s since perfected his craft of playing men in crisis — so much so, in fact, that Vulture aptly called him “Our heartthrob disappointment.”(Opens in a new tab)
His performance as Calum in After the SUN it was a testament to his subtle, painful naturalistic interpretation. Between his role as Connell and his very public (former?) relationship with singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, he’s become a true friend of the internet and a central figure in the Multiverse of Sorrow(Opens in a new tab)a fan-made map that traces the connections between “sad girl” favorites like Taylor Swift, Normal peopleand Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag. The fanfare surrounding Mescal is also partly due to his tender relationship with his child co-star Frankie Corio. He is just so wonderful! (I hope you win, Paul! – Elena)
The Leading Man, Colin Farrell
Nominated for Best Actor (The Banshees of Inisherin)
His crazy charisma!
Credit: Rich Polk/NBC via Getty Images
Other key projects: In Bruges, Gentlemen, Killing of a Sacred Deer, After Yang
The king of eyebrows, Farrell captured hearts as innocent, gentle Pádraic Súilleabháin in Martin McDonagh’s Banshees of Inisherin. It was a defining character that has spawned TikTok trends and existential musings about compassion and kindness, mirroring the message of other Oscar pioneers Everything Everywhere Simultaneously. Farrell is not new to the scene, of course. He is a Hollywood name known for a range of roles that included 2022 After Yang and his take on comic villain ‘The Penguin’ in batman, starring Robert Pattinson (Mashable’s No 1 British friend). What really sold Farrell in the eyes of many, however, is how charming and seemingly lovable he is, from his cheeky moments with fellow actors, his love for animal co-star Jenny the Donkey and emotional interviews(Opens in a new tab) with other legends such as Jamie Lee Curtis. (I hope you win, Colin! – Chase)
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The tragically fatal lad, Barry Keoghan
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (The Banshees of Inisherin)
There is something so personal about a man who was in “Dunkirk”.
Credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Other key projects: Dunkirk, Eternals, Killing of a Sacred Deer, Chernobyl
Keoghan is a slow burn. He was nominated for his role as Dominic Kearney in Banshees of InisherinKeoghan is gradually building a resume of incredible films stacked with big names, including several projects with Farrell — and Harry Styles. The actor started stealing hearts in Christopher Nolan’s 2017 film Dunkirk (RIP), and a few years later, the internet was fooled when it entered theaters for Chloe Zhao’s 2021 Marvel epic Eternal ones, as Keoghan took the top film crown from co-star Richard Madden. Viewers (us) left these films forever changed.
Spoiler alert: He’ll have more fun at the Oscars than anyone else.
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The Irish Everyman, Brendan Gleeson
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Crazy about Moody’s portrayal of Colm.
Credit: Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA
Other key projects: In Bruges, Gangs of New York, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Paddington 2
When it comes to Farrell and Gleeson, you can’t have one without the other. in a post-In Bruges reunion for the ages, the two reunited The Banshees of Inisherin, depicting the breakup of the friend of the century. by Gleeson Colm Doherty is an apt portrayal of the desire for fame at the expense of connection, a finger-crippling menace.
The actor’s career is long and storied and many will know him best for entering the Harry Potter universe as Mad-Eye Moody, but is having a renaissance online. There’s something about those eyes…
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The mastermind, Martin McDonough
Nominated for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Everyone says “Thank you, Martin!”
Credit: Marilla Sicilia / Archivio Marilla Sicilia / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
Other key projects: In Bruges, Three billboards outside Ebbing, missouri, Variety“Directors to Directors” with Taylor Swift(Opens in a new tab)
King of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Queen, McDonough is the mastermind behind this year’s Irish Academy Awards. And while technically born and raised in England to Irish parents, the British-Irish director still counts: Ireland is his muse. McDonagh has previously been nominated for and won an Academy Award for his filmography, not to mention what seems like a million BAFTAs and other international awards, and is a renowned playwright. He had a truly remarkable 2022, as he managed to live out every person’s dream of sitting down and talking with Taylor Swift for 45 minutes. He’s also something of a Multiverse of Sadness icon, due to his connections to Waller-Bridge and Swift. (Watch out, Paul, you’re next.)
The 95th Academy Awards will take place on March 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Here’s how to watch the Oscars and here are all the candidates.