Andrew Scott ‘really proud’ of global recognition Irish talent is receiving

Andrew Scott has said he is “really proud” of the recognition that Irish talent is receiving on the global stage – and said he would like to work more with other Irish actors.

The Irish actor, known for Fleabag and Sherlock, is nominated for an Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Award in the lead actor in a drama category, for his role in Ripley, a thriller miniseries based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 crime novel The Talented Mr Ripley.

He will face competition from fellow Irish stars, including Colin Farrell for his starring role in the Batman spin-off series The Penguin and Michael Fassbender for his spy thriller The Agency.

Aidan Turner has also been nominated for his part in the Disney+ series Rivals, Ciaran Hinds for comedy The Dry and Anthony Boyle for historical drama Say Nothing.

Speaking to the PA news agency on the red carpet before the award ceremony at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Friday, Scott said: “I feel really, really proud of us.

“Particularly because I’m such an admirer of all the people – Saoirse (Ronan) and Cillian (Murphy) and Colin (Farrell) and Paul (Mescal), obviously, and Jessie (Buckley) and Ruth (Negga) and Alison (Oliver) and just so many people, Jamie (Dornan), it’s incredible.

“I feel like it’s great to just be part of that gang, I hope I just get to work with them a little bit more.”

Scott, who is returning to New York in the coming weeks to perform his hit West End play Vanya, joked the actors should all come together for a “big Irish superhero movie”.

In the film categories, Irish actress Alisha Weir is nominated for the lead actress award for her starring role in 2024 vampire horror Abigail.

On the rumours that she will be taking the role of Dorothy in the next instalment of Wicked, she said: “How cool would that be? I’m such a big fan of Wicked and I’m such a big fan of Ariana Grande and Cynthia (Erivo) and (director) Jon M Chu, that would be amazing.”

Part one of Wicked, starring Oscar-nominated actress Erivo and Grammy-winning pop star Grande, was released last year, with the second half of the two-part film expected in November.

On being surrounded by top Irish talent at the ceremony, she said: “It feels so incredible, I am so honoured to be in the same room as so many incredible people from the film industry that I look up to and aspire to be like when I’m older.

“And especially, it’s such an incredible Irish event that celebrates the Irish in the film industry, which is just incredible.”

Weir will compete against Carolyn Bracken for Oddity, Buckley for Wicked Little Letters, Hazel Doupe for Kathleen Is Here, Ronan for The Outrun and Eileen Walsh for Small Things Like These.

The nominees for best actor in a film include Mescal for Gladiator II and Murphy for Small Things Like These.

Peter Coonan is up for King Frankie, while Irish language rap trio Kneecap – Naoise O Caireallain, J.J. O Dochartaigh and Liam Og O hAnnaidh – are all nominated for their film, a semi-fictionalised account of the raucous band’s formation.

They shook up the red carpet as they hugged fellow Ifta guests and answered questions from the media.

“We didn’t expect anyone in America to know what we were talking about,” Kneecap member Moglai Bap said.

“They didn’t know what we were on about, but they enjoyed it, that’s a good sign.”

He said the group would go back to “focus on the music”, “back to the language, back to the culture” in the time ahead.

The IFTA Awards celebrate Irish talent in film and television across 29 prize categories.

Actor Colm Meaney, known for playing Miles O’Brien in the Star Trek franchise, will receive the lifetime achievement award for his “extraordinary contributions to cinema and television”.

Speaking ahead of the awards, he said it was an honour to be recognised by his peers.

“It’s a lovely award, to be here in my hometown, it’s an award that comes from my peers so it’s really special.”