Carlow schoolgirl Saoirse Ronan (13) has been nominated as best supporting actress in the Golden Globe nominations announced in Los Angeles yesterday.
She was chosen for her pivotal role in the Ian McEwan adaptation, Atonement, the film which led the field with seven Golden Globe nominations.
Irish citizen and Co Wicklow resident Daniel Day-Lewis was nominated in the best actor (drama) category for his performance as a greedy US oil prospector in There Will Be Blood.
Presented annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Golden Globe film awards are seen as an indicator of the Oscar nominations that follow a month later.
In the Golden Globe television categories, Irish actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was shortlisted as best actor (drama) for his portrayal of the young King Henry VIII in the series The Tudors.
He won a Golden Globe last year for his portrayal of the young Elvis Presley in the TV mini-series Elvis.
Filmed entirely on location in Ireland, The Tudorswas also nominated as best TV series (drama).
James Nesbitt, from Coleraine, was nominated as best actor (TV miniseries or movie) for his dual role as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the BBC series, Jekyll.
The daughter of actor Paul Ronan, Saoirse Ronan made her acting debut four years ago in the RTÉ series, The Clinic, featuring in four episodes as Rhiannon Geraghty.
She is now working on The Lovely Bones, based on the Alice Sebold novel and directed by Peter Jackson, who made the Lord of the Ringstrilogy.
In the best supporting actress category, Ronan is shortlisted with Julia Roberts ( Charlie Wilson's War), Amy Ryan ( Gone Baby Gone), Tilda Swinton ( Michael Clayton) and Cate Blanchett (for her portrayal of Bob Dylan in I'm Not There).
In the best actor (drama) category, Daniel Day-Lewis is nominated along with George Clooney ( Michael Clayton), Denzel Washington ( American Gangster), Viggo Mortensen ( Eastern Promises) and James McAvoy ( Atonement).
Atonementis one of seven films nominated for best film (drama).
The others are Let There Be Blood, Eastern Promises, The Great Debaters, American Gangster, Michael Claytonand No Country for Old Men.
The nominations for best film (musical or comedy) are Across the Universe, Hairspray, Charlie Wilson's War, Sweeney Toddand Juno.
In addition to her best supporting actress nomination, Cate Blanchett is nominated in best actress (drama) for Elizabeth: The Golden Age, as is Jodie Foster for the latest Neil Jordan film, The Brave One.
Their rival nominees are Julie Christie ( Away From Her), Angelina Jolie ( A Mighty Heart) and Keira Knightley ( Atonement). The nominees for best actress (musical or comedy) are Ellen Page ( Juno), Amy Adams ( Enchanted), Helena Bonham Carter ( Sweeney Todd), Nikki Blonsky ( Hairspray) and Marion Cotillard ( La Vie en Rose).
Shortlisted for best actor (musical or comedy) are Johnny Depp ( Sweeney Todd), John C Reilly ( Walk Hard), Philip Seymour Hoffman ( The Savages), Ryan Gosling ( Lars and the Real Girl) and Tom Hanks ( Charlie Wilson's War).
Surprisingly, John Carney's Dublin musical, Once, which has received rave reviews since it opened and a number of awards in the US, did not get nominated in the categories of best original song and best original score.
Another surprise is that actor/director Clint Eastwood, wearing his composer's hat, is nominated in both those categories for his music in the film Grace is Gone.
The 65th Golden Globe awards will be presented at a televised ceremony in Los Angeles on January 13th.
And the nominees are...
Best Picture:
American Gangster
Atonement
Eastern Promise
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Best actor:
George Clooney -
Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis -
There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy -
Atonement
Viggo Mortensen -
Eastern Promises
Denzel Washington -
American Gangster
Best actress:
Cate Blanchett -
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie -
Away from Her
Jodie Foster -
The Brave One
Angelina Jolie -
A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightley -
Atonement