Today saw the announcement of the BAFTA Film Award nominees for 2012. Among acting and craft talent nominated of the awards was some Irish talent including Irish actor Michael Fassbender and Irish director John Michael McDonagh.
Irish actor Michael Fassbender (Hunger, Fishtank) was nominated for the ‘Leading Actor’ Award along with Brad Pitt for ‘Moneyball’, George Clooney for ‘The Descendents’, Gary Oldman for ‘Tinker Tailor Solider Spy’ and Jean Dujardin for ‘The Artist’. Fassbender is nominated for his role in British director Steve McQueen’s latest film ‘Shame’ about a sex addicted New Yorker. The film is also nominated for ‘Outstanding British Film’ at the awards.
Irish director John Michael McDonagh has been nominated in the ‘Original Screenplay’ category for his breakthrough feature film ‘The Guard’ starring Irish actors Brendan Gleeson, Fionnuala Flanagan and International talent Don Cheadle. ‘The Guard’ is a black comedy which tells the story of detective Gerry Boyle, played by Gleeson, who is a small town Irish cop with a murky moral code. The film was the most successful independent Irish film to date, taking over €4.3 million at the Irish box office. McDonagh shares the category with ‘The Artist’ writer Michel Hazanavicius, ‘Bridesmaids’ writers Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, Abi Morgan for ‘The Iron Lady’ and legendary Hollywood director Woody Allen for his latest film ‘Midnight in Paris’
Irish actor Chris O’ Dowd (The Crimson Petal and the White, Bridesmaids) is also up for a nomination as the BAFTA Orange Wednesday Rising Star. The award shortlist was announced last week and sees O’Dowd pitted against British acting talent such as Adam Deacon (Kidulthood, Adulthood), Tom Hiddleston (War Horse, Midnight in Paris), Eddie Redmayne (My Week With Marilyn, The Miraculous Year) and International talent like Australian actor Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Star Trek).
O’Dowd is currently at Ardmore Studios Co. Wicklow filming his new comedy series ‘Moone Boy’ for Sky.
The BAFTAs take place on 12th February 2012 at London's Royal Opera House.
