Barry Keoghan, the Irish movie star who has set up home in Dundee, has won best supporting actor at the Baftas.
The 30-year-old picked up the award for his performance in The Banshees of Inisherin.
The announcement came just before the British Academy Film Awards – held at London’s Royal Festival Hall – screened on the BBC at 7pm on Sunday night.
Keoghan’s thanks
Dedicating the award to children from the area he comes from – Summerhill in Dublin – Keoghan said he “should have planned this, really” before thanking his co-stars and Ireland.
He also paid tribute to his late mum.
The screen star later added: “I’m going to go home now and cuddle my son.”
Reflecting on what the prize means for Ireland, Keoghan told the PA news agency in the Bafta winners’ room: “It encourages the arts at home and we are an island of storytelling and great actors and poets and writers.
“And this helps the industry massively at home and encourages people to send the scripts in and go for what they want to do.”
The film favourite added that he will keep his award under a picture of his mother, who struggled with drug addiction before her death when he was 12.
Keoghan – nominated for an Oscar in the same category ahead of next month’s Hollywood ceremony – lives in Broughty Ferry with partner Alyson Kierans and their son Brando.
Alyson, an orthodontist, grew up in the City of Discovery.
They relocated from London in November and recently bought their own house in The Ferry.
His Banshees Of Inisherin co-star Kerry Condon won the best supporting actress gong at Sunday night’s London ceremony.
The black comedy, directed by Martin McDonagh, also took the awards for outstanding British film and original screenplay.
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