Actress Saoirse, 13, nominated for BAFTA

CARLOW actress Saoirse Ronan’s dizzying rise in the film world continued yesterday when she was nominated for a BAFTA gong for her role in the acclaimed film Atonement.

Already nominated for a Golden Globe in America earlier this month, the 13-year-old is nominated in the Best Supporting Actress in the BAFTA roll of honour for 2008.

Hers is one of 14 nominations received by Atonement, the film of Ian McEwan’s novel, this year. The news will fuel speculation about a possible Oscar nomination when the American list is announced.

Wicklow resident Daniel Day-Lewis is also up for an Orange British Film Academy Films Award, for his role in There Will be Blood. Armagh-based cinematographer Seamus Garvey has been nominated for his work on Atonement, while short film, The Crumblegiant, was nominated for Best Short Animation.

John McCloskey wrote and directed The Crumblegiant, which premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh last summer. It was funded by the Irish Film Board, the Arts Council and RTÉ.

Saoirse Ronan plays the part of young Briony Tallis in Atonement which is directed by Joe Wright. Keira Knightly was nominated as best actress.

Saoirse has three films due out this year, Death Defying Acts; City of Ember and The Lovely Bones, which is directed by Peter Jackson of The Lord of the Rings fame.

In the Golden Globes Supporting Actress category Saoirse lost out to Cate Blanchett for her part in the Bob Dylan-inspired film, I’m Not There.

Cate Blanchett is also nominated in the same category for the BAFTAs, along with Samantha Morton (Control), Kelly MacDonald (No Country for Old Men) and Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton).

BAFTA winners will be announced on February 10.