Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 7 Jan 2020
IRISH ACTORS SAOIRSE Ronan and Jessie Buckely have been nominated for Bafta awards.
The EE British Academy Film Awards recognise the best in film of the past year.
The nominations have been criticised by some in the industry online over a lack of diversity, particularly in the main acting categories.
In the Leading Actress category, both Buckley and Ronan are nominated for their performances in Wild Rose and Little Women.
Also nominated in this category is Scarlett Johansson for Marriage Story, Charlize Theron for Bombshell and Renée Zellweger for Judy.
A total of 39 feature films received nominations. Joker received 11 nominations and there were 10 nominations for the Irishman and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Other highlights include:
The awards will take place on 2 February at the Royal Albert Hall in London and the ceremony will be hosted by Graham Norton.
Minority Ehtnic Members, a section of trade union Equity which advises on issues of race and ethnicity in the entertainment industry, said the lack of ethnic representation in the main acting categories is “shameful”.
Bafta chief executive Amanda Berry said the lack of diversity was “disappointing” and said the organisation is “not going to stop pushing”, Sky News reports.
Chair of the Bafta film committee Marc Samuelson said this issue was “infuriating” but added that nominees are now up to about 36% female.
“It doesn’t take anything away from the issue in the acting categories but nonetheless it’s something and things are moving,” said Samuelson.
With reporting by Orla Dwyer
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
It’s great to see the old Irish pastime of knocking anyone of us who succeeds. Begrudgery , Jealousy ,Spite … whatever it is ,its traditional . The first 4 comments on this article .. not complimentary at all.. sneering is another tradition. How about well done ladies !
@Terry Cahill:
Compliments, on here? You’re off your head mate!
@Terry Cahill: I’m sure, as talented, rich, acclaimed and beautiful young woman, it will be heartbreaking to have (mostly) anonymous men on here criticizing her as they set world alight with their achievements … especially the lad who paid into her hugely successful film, and left after half an hour, that’s going to really cut deep…..
@C.C. Baxter:
Lol
Does she still do the whole “I’m Saoirse and Americans don’t know how to say my name” thing?
@Ed: oh god ya old tubs loves haven her on the show too there such good fun the two of them together hehehe
@Ed: I found her alongside little women.. Really uninteresting!.. I left after thirty minutes.. It took me a year to be able pronounce her name.. People have lives. The Irish language is way down their list of priorities!! Shore- sha
@Ed: I cant understand this online trend of middle aged men having a problem with young successful women and here we go again.
@Conoroconnor: I agree with you even though I’m heading for 50 myself. It’s becoming so predictable.
@Manbackonboard: I think it’s classic overcompensation
@Ed: she gets asked about it in every interview. It must be pretty annoying for her, especially considering she’s been nominated for three Oscars.
I want to like Saoirse Ronan. I mean she’s one of us and is doing well. But my god she wrecks my head. Her voice goes through me. Good actress but up there with Bono, Ronan Keating and the Healy Raes with people that should never talk.
@Ger:
Along with Bob “give us your fooking money” Geldof.
@Ger:One of us, Saoirse Ronan was born in the Bronx NYC
@Still-Not-News: as a baby to Irish parents. Moved back when three..
@Still-Not-News: ah Jesus was born in a stable, but that doesnt make him a horse
@Ger: not much call for the old silent movie these days in fairness. What’s your poison? Die Hard?
@jamesdecay: not mad about the Die Hard movies. Just been to see Jojo Rabbit. One of the best movies I’ve seen in years.
@Ger: I’ll give it a lash. But 1917 up first.
@jamesdecay: yes! Looking forward to seeing that at the weekend
@Ger:
So you kind of have a problem with Irish People being successful.
It is going to happen, the whole world can’t have taste as good as yours…
Bu lets look at the brightside…. Saoirse isn’t Kim Kardashian, Bono isn’t Axel Rose, Ronan isn’t Ted Nugent and the Healy Raes aren’t the Trumps….
Now they all look lovely…
@Cowboy Paddy: Did you even read my comment? Remove the chip from your shoulder, im happy for her for her success and proud she’s Irish. U2 are my favourite band but that doesnt mean I want to listen to Bono’s self-indulgent drivel or a girl from Carlow speaking with a fake Dublin accent to make her sound edgy or something. Her accent has completely changed since she started as and actress. The Healy Raes are idiots who belong in a remake of Derby O’Gill and the Little People and have as little grasp on reality as two other families you mentioned, Trumps and Kardashians. I never said my taste was the best, just mine
Award shows are vile self-congratulating cringe fests. The fake concern for social issues is sickening – the ultimate stage for virtue signalling.
@SkepticalHippoEyes: dont worry. Rocky gervais covered that excellently.
Still waiting for the “Prison Population Criticised Due to Lack of Diversity: too Pale, Male & Stale” article.
Saoirse ronan what a women
@sam: lightweight. So dull. Little women like some American afternoon tv costume drama. The fact that is nominated for awards shows the power of advertising/social media and a world of critics who simply endorse what they are told to or whatever will bring them into closer contact with industry movers and shakers. Hardly the film that we will all be remembering in 20 yrs time.
@alan: I left after thirty minutes suffering with boredom.. Its a girls film!
@Victor Feldman: It can’t be more boring than The Irishman??
BARF Ta
Anyone watching the awards? Did you see Angelina Jolie. She was sitting well have lying on someone beside her. Directly behind Brad Pitt. She looked dreadful. Really ill.
@Margaret O Neill: Which awards was this?
@Margaret O Neill: This is a bizarre comment on an article about successful female Irish actors.
How exactly is any of this relevant?
@Tricia G: Mmm let me see…acting… awards… Nah, sorry I don’t have anything.
You know you’ve made it as an Irish person having success on a global stage when your own lot turn on you. It’s a uniquely Irish way of acknowledging fame
Seriously, let’s exclusively award disabled, ethnic minority women. At least then there’ll be no more of this rubbish.
“Not enough diversity” is such a funny way to say “not enough people with largely non-European genetics”. I guess the fact that the group is called Equity rather than Equality says it all.
@Power Hitters: 87% of Brits are qhite so if you choose 5 at random, likely all are white. And if you choose 5 successful ones, even more likely. Going to acting school will always be more of a rich kids thing because they already have security.
She’s well on her way to becoming a ‘Broadcaster’
Go Jessie Buckley. Sooo talented.
have your say