Depp favourite for top actor accolade

Hollywood actor Johnny Depp is hot favourite to scoop a prestigious Irish film award after his wacky portrayal of on-screen favourite Willy Wonka, bookies predicted today.

Boylesports said Depp was in the lead at 11/8 to win the Avica Best International Actor Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards after his box-office hit Charlie and the Chocolate Factory wowed Irish audiences.

However, come-back kid Mickey Rourke is hot on the heels of the Pirates of the Caribbean star, at 7/4, for his role in cult hit Sin City.

The category is one of the People’s Choice Categories in the glitzy Irish awards which will be voted for by the public.

Film-lovers can celebrate the talent in the film industry by voting for their favourite performance by an international male actor in 2005.

The winner of all the categories will be announced at the awards ceremony, which takes place on November 5, 2005.

After the male actors for the international award were announced, bookmakers placed Christian Bale third in line at 9/2 for his part as the caped crusader in Batman Begins, while Brad Pitt was considered the outsider at 5/1 for his role in Mr and Mrs Smith.

Damien O’Donnell’s Inside I’m Dancing is also favourite to scoop the AIB People’s Choice Award for Best Irish Film.

Aine Moriarty, the chief executive of the Irish Film and Television Network, which organises the awards, said: “Following on from the success of the awards in 2004, this year’s awards ceremony promises to be a highly prestigious and glamorous event with a host of film stars, TV personalities, directors, producers and distinguished guests in attendance to celebrate the undisputed talent that exists within the film and television industries in Ireland and around the globe.”