Naomi Watts found huge success on the big screen but is now among the female A-listers who are discovering better roles on TV, writes Laura Harding.

ONE of my favourite things to do around Oscar season is to read The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘Brutally Honest Oscar Ballot’ in which anonymous members of the Academy admit who they voted for and explain their reasons why.

An encounter between French filmmaker Francois Trauffaut and Alfred Hitchcock in 1955 helped persuade the English speaking world of his genius. Gerry McCarthy savours a reissue of the book that followed.

The Munster Junior team took another big step towards the Junior Interprovincial Championship title with an 11-10 win over reigning champions Ulster at Clonakilty.

Oscar-nominated celebrities have been urged to skip a $55,000 (€50,000) trip to Israel offered as part of an awards gift bag.

“WE all dream in gold,” says the official 2016 Oscars poster. The dreaming may be in gold, but the nominations are most definitely in white, while the boycotts are in black. It’s as if that other dream, the one Martin Luther King had, never happened, writes Suzanne Harrington

The Film Academy is pledging to double the number of female and minority members by 2020, and will immediately diversify its leadership by adding three new seats to its board of governors.

Ever since the Oscar 2016 nominations were announced last Thursday a serious issue has been hitting the headlines, and that's one of diversity.

Connacht Academy players Sean O’Brien and Peter Robb have secured senior contracts with the province.

Amid speculation surrounding the future prospects of Irish drivers Kris Meeke and Craig Breen, both will start out today’s Rally GB, the final round of the World Rally Championship, with the ambition of achieving impressive results.

The agriculture and food minister said he expects October’s budget to include new taxation measures which will make it easier for sole traders and small businesses to hire new staff.

St. Patrick’s, Cavan 2-12, St. Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon 0-8:

John Daly says PriceWaterHouseCoopers accountants Brad Oltmanns and Rick Rosas know who has won the Oscars days before the world does. They count the ballots by hand in a windowless room before being escorted by police to the awards ceremony.

Head Coach Pat Lam has named his team for the opening round of the Guinness PRO12 against Newport Gwent Dragons at the Sportsground at 5pm tomorrow.

Andrew Garfield treated Batkid to a day at Disneyland on Monday.

Connacht scrum-half Kieran Marmion is one of several young players looking to prove a point against his more illustrious Leinster opponents in tonight’s Sportsground fixture.

Didn't stay up late to watch the Oscars? Here's what you missed…

The American Civil War saga Lincoln leads the Academy Awards with 12 nominations, including best picture, director for Steven Spielberg and acting honours for Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, and Tommy Lee Jones.

Craig Breen is on the verge of a second World Rally Championship title in two years as he heads to Spain this weekend for the Rally de Espana, the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

The Oscar-winning and nominated stars of 'The Artist' and 'The Help' have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The angry exchanges on the fourth day of the trial of two men for the murder of Michaela McAreavey developed after police Sergeant Govinder Ramasawmy told the court that he gave a “sex guide” manual to husband John three days after his wife was killed, along with 12 other possessions from their room in the luxury hotel.

Patrician Academy (Mallow) were deserving winners over Ballincollig CS at Mahon yesterday.

Academy Awards season has officially started, after nomination ballots for the 84th Oscars were posted.

Billy Crystal has agreed to host the 2012 Academy Awards.

Billy Crystal says he is hosting the Academy Awards.

CROSSHAVEN will defend their All-Ireland Junior Cup with a long trip to Belfast where they face Cooke tomorrow.

FOR lager lovers worldwide, it is probably the most prized micro-organism in the world.

THE Joanna Morgan-trained Brough Academy should be worth waiting for in tonight’s bumper in Kilbeggan.

THESE are busy times for Craig Breen, yet another emerging Irish rallying star.

Leinster rugby have announced today that flanker Rhys Ruddock and centre Eoin O’Malley have agreed new one-year and two-year deals respectively.

THE impending closure of Newbridge cast a gloom over the Irish greyhound industry this week but there is strong reason to hope it can rise from the ruins of this development.

Screen star Brendan Gleeson and his two actor sons, Domhnall and Brian, have been shortlisted in separate categories in the Irish Film and Television Awards.

Academy out half Paddy Jackson has been called into the Ulster squad ahead Saturday's Magners League clash with Munster at Thomond Park Stadium in Limerick. (kick-off 7.30pm)

NEANDERTHAL cuisine was far more sophisticated than previously thought, experts have learned.

Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract with the midlands club.

Sharpened Edge showed she was over her problems when opening her account for the season at Nottingham today.

TWO scientists working at Manchester University won the 2010 Nobel Physics Prize for their pioneering work on a form of carbon touted as the wonder material of the 21st century.

The producer of 'The Hurt Locker', Nicolas Chartier, has been banned from the Oscars.

THE Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considering action against a producer of The Hurt Locker who sent multiple emails urging academy members to vote for his movie in the Oscar best-picture race and “not a $500 million film” – an obvious reference to close-competitor Avatar.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considering action against a producer of 'The Hurt Locker' who sent multiple e-mails urging academy members to vote for his movie in the Oscar best-picture race and “not a 500 million dollar film” – an obvious reference to close-competitor Avatar.