Storm as rising Irish star is claimed by UK in movie awards
Saoirse Ronan in Atonement
A fledgling Irish actress is set to be honoured at home after the British film industry tried to lay claim to her.
Rising star Saoirse Ronan, from Carlow, has been nominated for a homegrown Irish Film and Television Award at the glitzy annual ceremony in the Gaiety Theatre on February 17.
The young actress, from Carlow, has already caught the attention of the British acting set for her highly regarded role opposite Keira Knightley in 'Atonement'.
But her nomination for two awards from the London Critics Circle -- British Actress in a Supporting Role and British Breakthrough: Acting -- has caused a storm of controversy.
Dublin-shot film 'Once', starring the Frames frontman Glen Hansard, is nominated for British Film of the Year at the same awards on February 4, despite being an Irish production.
National pride was restored yesterday when teenager Saoirse was listed for two awards among 33 nominees on the IFTA shortlist.
The 13-year-old will compete against Elaine Cassidy ('And When Did you Last See Your Father'), Anne Marie Duff ('Garage') and Gail Fitzpatrick ('Strength and Honour') in the Actress in a Supporting Role category.
Nominated
She has also been nominated for the new Rising Star Award, which will also be announced at the IFTA ceremony a few weeks after the London Critics awards.
Other nominees include Martin McCann ('Closing the Ring'), Marion Quinn ('32A'), Mark Mahon ('Strength & Honour') and the Taoiseach's daughter and writer Cecilia Ahern.
It will be a particularly proud moment for Golden Globe nominee Saoirse, who missed out on her chance to shine on the red carpet when the ceremony was cancelled due to a writers' strike.
Other first-time IFTA nominees include the cast members of 'Prosperity', Siobhan Shanahan and Leroy Harris, veteran actor Michael Gambon ('Celebration') and actor-turned-writer/director Stuart Townsend for his epic 'Battle in Seattle'.
"This is a very significant award which puts the spotlight on great new Irish talent making their mark in film," said Aine Moriarty, chief executive of the Irish Film and Television Awards.
Saoirse rose to fame after she played Briony Tallis, a young writer in 'Atonement'.
Later this year, she will appear with Bill Murray in the action fantasy 'City of Ember', and star as a con artist in 'Death Defying Acts' alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones.
She also landed the lead role in Peter Jackson's film version of 'The Lovely Bones'.
- Anne-Marie Walsh
