Ruth Negga’s family in Limerick ‘Loving’ her Oscar nomination
Her uncle Ger Malone said the phones had been hopping the minute the news came through.
“We’re all delighted for her. There is pride in all the family here in Dooradoyle, and we’ll probably have a glass of something to celebrate.
“We’re all absolutely so proud of her. WhatsApp is whopping away now in the family (text message) group, from as far away as Australia; she’s a cousin in Australia, she’s cousins in Canada, and she’s obviously cousins here at home.
“They’re all WhatsApping, so the group is bursting here with pride at her nomination.”
Mr Malone said all the family in Limerick will be watching with “total anticipation” on Oscar night on February 26.
She will be up against Merly Streep for the best actress gong; Streep, who got the nod for her titular role in Florence Foster Jenkins, is the first star to be nominated for 20 Oscars.
Hollywood musical La La Land has tied with Titanic and All About Eve to become one of the most nominated films in the Academy’s history, racking up 14 nods.
Aside from Negga, Irish eyes will also be looking to The Lobster — which was co-produced by Irish company Element Pictures — which scored best original screenplay and Consolata Boyle who is up for best costume for her work on Florence Foster Jenkins.
This is Boyle’s second time being nominated — she was first nominated for best costume for her work on The Queen in 2006.
Streep, described as “over-rated” by Donald Trump after she criticised him at the Golden Globes earlier this month, is nominated in the best actress category for her role as a tone-deaf opera singer, alongside Negga, French star Isabelle Huppert for Elle, Natalie Portman for Jackie, and Emma Stone for La La Land.
Andrew Garfield, who received a nod for best actor for his performance as a US army medic in Mel Gibson’s war drama Hacksaw Ridge, will go up against Ryan Gosling, who is nominated for La La Land, and Casey Affleck, nominated for Manchester By The Sea.
They are joined by Denzel Washington, who is recommended for Fences, and Viggo Mortensen for Captain Fantastic.
Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel is nominated for best supporting actor alongside Mahershala Ali for Moonlight, Jeff Bridges for Hell Or High Water, Lucas Hedges for Manchester By The Sea, and Michael Shannon for Nocturnal Animals.
The best supporting actress category sees Naomi Harris (Moonlight) alongside Viola Davis, who has been recognised for her role in Fences, Michelle Williams for Manchester By The Sea, Nicole Kidman for Lion, and Octavia Spencer for Hidden Figures.
La La Land has become the most nominated musical of all time, beating the 13 nods racked up by Mary Poppins.
It is one of nine films shortlisted for best picture, taking on Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell Or High Water, Hidden Figures, Lion, Manchester By The Sea, and Moonlight.
The film’s writer and director, Damien Chazelle, is nominated for best director and best original screenplay.
After the #Oscarssowhite controversy last year, when the acting categories were comprised of only white stars, the voting body was expanded to include more diverse voices.
The Academy will hope the inclusion of talent including Patel, Ali, Harris, Spencer, Negga, and Washington abate some of those criticisms.
Instead of the customary dawn press conference at the Academy in LA, the nominations were announced via a livestream, with previous winners and nominees reading out lists of contenders.
The Oscars will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel in LA on February 26.
