Everything’s coming up Irish.
In January, the Academy announced this year’s Oscar nominees, and one thing was clear: Ireland’s rightfully on the movie map. From Best Picture nominees to lead acting awards, Irish creatives graced every major list. While Irish men were bestowed with the most accolades (classic Academy), Banshees of Inisherin star Kerry Condon snagged her own nom for Best Supporting Actress, too.
Ireland’s not just taking over our movie screens. Our favorite Irish musicians’ names are on everybody’s lips, as well. One Direction’s Irish beau Niall Horan recently released his first single in over two years, “Heaven.” Same goes for beloved crooner Hozier, set to release the lead single off his new EP, All Things End, on March 17.
Derry Girls may have ended, but the Irish boys are continuing their country’s pop culture reign.
On Sunday, March 12, all eyes will be on the boy squad taking over the Oscars red carpet, and we’re here to offer you our comprehensive look at the main characters.
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The Center of the Multiverse of Sadness, Paul Mescal
Nominated for the Best Actor (Aftersun)
No one would ever pretend not to know Paul…
Credit: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images
Other essential works: Normal People, “Scarlet” music video(Opens in a new tab), Denny sausages ad(Opens in a new tab)
Indie daydream, Mescal, came into our lives when we needed him most with his gold chain swinging. We are of course referring to his role as Connell in Hulu’s adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People. He has since honed his craft of playing men in crisis — so much, in fact, that Vulture aptly dubbed him “Our Disappointment Heartthrob.”(Opens in a new tab)
His performance as Calum in Aftersun was a testament to his subtle, painfully naturalistic acting. Between his role as Connell and his very public (former?) relationship with singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers, he’s become a true internet boyfriend and central figure in the Multiverse of Sadness(Opens in a new tab), a fan-created map tracing the connections between “sad girl” favorites like Taylor Swift, Normal People, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag. The fanfare around Mescal is also due in part to his tender relationship with his child co-star Frankie Corio. He’s just so lovely! (I hope you win, Paul! — Elena)
The Leading Man, Colin Farrell
Nominated for Best Actor (The Banshees of Inisherin)
His feckin’ charisma!
Credit: Rich Polk / NBC via Getty Images
Other essential works: In Bruges, The Gentlemen, Killing of a Sacred Deer, After Yang
King of the eyebrows, Farrell captured hearts as innocent, kind Pádraic Súilleabháin in Martin McDonagh’s Banshees of Inisherin. It was a year-defining character, which has spawned TikTok trends and existential musings on compassion and kindness, mirroring the message of other Oscar front-runner Everything Everywhere All At Once. Farrell isn’t new to the scene, of course. He’s a Hollywood name known for a breadth of roles which also included 2022’s After Yang and his take on the comic villain “The Penguin” in The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson (Mashable’s #1 British Boyfriend). What’s really sold Farrell in the eyes of many, though, is just how charming and seemingly lovable he is, from cheek-rubbing moments with his fellow actors, his love of animal co-star Jenny the Donkey, and those heart-bearing interviews(Opens in a new tab) with other legends, like Jamie Lee Curtis. (I hope you win, Colin! — Chase)
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The Tragically Fated Lad, Barry Keoghan
Nominated for Best Supporting Actor (The Banshees of Inisherin)
There’s something so personal about a man who was in “Dunkirk.”
Credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / BAFTA / Getty Images for BAFTA
Other essential works: Dunkirk, Eternals, Killing of a Sacred Deer, Chernobyl
Keoghan is a slow burn. Nominated for his role as Dominic Kearney in Banshees of Inisherin, Keoghan has been gradually building a resume of incredible films stacked with big names, including multiple projects with Farrell — and Harry Styles. The actor first started stealing hearts in Christopher Nolan’s 2017 film Dunkirk (RIP), and a few years later, the internet was duped upon entering the theater for Chloe Zhao’s 2021 Marvel epic Eternals, as Keoghan took the movie’s heartthrob crown from co-star Richard Madden. Viewers (us) left those films forever changed.
Spoiler alert: He’s going to be having 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)
Mad about his Moody portrayal of Colm.
Credit: Joe Maher / BAFTA / Getty Images for BAFTA
Other essential works: 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 of them teamed up again for The Banshees of Inisherin, depicting the friend breakup of the century. Gleeson’s Colm Doherty is an apt portrayal of the desire for notoriety at the expense of connection, a finger-maiming menace.
The actor’s career is long and storied, and many will know him best for his entry into the Harry Potter universe as Mad-Eye Moody, but he’s having a renewed moment online. There’s something about those eyes…
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The Mastermind, Martin McDonagh
Nominated for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture (The Banshees of Inisherin)
Everybody say “Thank you, Martin!”
Credit: Marilla Sicilia / Archivio Marilla Sicilia / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
Other essential works: In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Variety‘s “Directors on Directors” with Taylor Swift(Opens in a new tab)
The King to our Phoebe Waller-Bridge Queen, McDonagh is the ringmaster of this year’s Irish Oscars takeover. And while he was technically born and raised in England to Irish parents, the British-Irish director still counts: Ireland is his muse. McDonagh has previously been nominated and won an Oscar for his filmography, not to mention what feels like a million BAFTAs and other international awards, and he’s a renowned playwright. He had a truly remarkable 2022, getting to live 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 both his connections to Waller-Bridge and Swift. (Watch out, Paul, you’re next.)
The 95th Academy Awards is happening March 12 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Here’s how to watch the Oscars and here’s all the nominees.
