Austin Butler quotes Ronan Keating after emotional BAFTA win as Irish dominate
Austin Butler is one of the biggest stars of the moment, with the Elvis actor scooping Best Actor at the 2023 BAFTA Awards on Sunday night.
The Elvis star, 31, teared up as he said he hoped he made all the Presleys proud with his portrayal of the music icon as he collected the award at the BAFTAs ceremony in the Royal Festival Hall in London.
After winning the coveted gong, Austin thanked a string of people involved in the film including director Baz Luhrmann before going on to thank his own family and the Presley family - with his epic win coming just a few weeks after the tragic passing of Lisa Marie Presley, who Austin had grown close to alongside the whole family during production of the critically acclaimed movie.
Speaking at the ceremony, he said: "I want to thank my family. You are my everything and last thing, I want to thank the Presley family. I can't thank you guys enough for the love, thanks for sharing with me who Elvis truly was.
Austin Butler won a BAFTA for Best Actor (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f)
The Elvis star quoted Ronan Keating after his big win (Getty Images for BAFTA)"I hope I made you proud. This means the world to me. Thank you so much."
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In the winners conference after his emotional speech, Austin went on to share some further snippets of inspiration as he was asked burning questions about his career and catastrophic rise to success.
When asked what the BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated actor would tell his younger self now that he has reached the pinnacle of his career, Austin appeared to quote Ronan Keating - unbeknownst to himself.
Given that the 2023 BAFTA Awards were dominated by Irish talent thanks to the Banshees Of Inisherin, Paul Mescal's stellar performance in Aftersun, and short film An Irish Goodbye, Austin's inspiring comment wasn't missed by the many Irish journalists who were waiting on every word the actor said as they likened his speech to Ronan Keating's 2000 hit, Life Is A Rollercoaster.
Answering the question, Austin said: "If I had wanted to have given up, and I have felt that before. But if I was going to tell anyone that felt like giving up on their dreams, I'd say hang in there, you know.
"Life is a rollercoaster - sometimes you're down, other times you're up - just keep riding... just keep going."
Austin speech was likened to Ronan Keating's 2000 chart-topping hit (Getty)After winning the BAFTA for Best Actor, Austin found himself in good company with the many Irish stars who were nominated on the special night.
Austin was nominated in the same category as three Irish men, Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin), Daryl McCormack (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) and Paul Mescal (Aftersun).
However, Kerry Condon won the gong for Best Supporting Actress, with Barry Keoghan taking home the award for Best Supporting Actor.
Austin delivered an emotional speech after winning Best Actor (Getty Images for BAFTA)In her acceptance speech, Condon thanked Martin McDonagh for the part and 'for all the parts you gave me throughout my career'.
"You make me so proud to be an Irish woman," she said.
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She said winning the best supporting actress Bafta award for her role in The Banshees Of Inisherin is 'really surreal'.
Meanwhile, Barry, 30, dedicated his BAFTA to his baby son, his late mother and 'the kids that are dreaming to be something from the area that I came from' - in Dublin's north inner city.
The Banshees Of Inisherin was honoured at the BAFA Awards (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f)
Barry picked up the gong for Best Supporting Actor (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f)Barry thanked Ireland and the film's cast and crew during his acceptance speech.
And reflecting on what the prize means for Ireland, Barry said: "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."
Talented Barry added that he plans to keep his coveted BAFA award under a picture of his late mother, who sadly passed away when he was a child.
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