When James Martin was born, doctors told his parents that he might never speak. However, he did not only learn to speak, but 31 years later, on his birthday, he walked on Hollywood’s biggest stage to collect his Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, An Irish Goodbye. James became the first actor with Down syndrome to win an Academy Award. And, as icing on the cake, the entire audience sang “Happy Birthday” to him.
James Martin never let his condition hold him back.
James Martin’s father, Ivan Martin, is very proud of his son and revealed that he does everything with great gusto, and he’s very glad that his efforts have paid off.
“He has spent his life pushing the envelope. People are very good at saying, ’You can’t do this, and you can’t do that’… He’s done it, and he does it consistently,” he said.
Martin is the first person with Down syndrome to win not just a BAFTA but an Oscar too, and he’s very proud of himself. “It doesn’t matter if you have Down syndrome, as long as you’re doing what you do. I do what I can to be funny,” he said.
His girlfriend also supports him and says the win was a magical moment. “It shows to everyone that it’s changing your mindset on how people with disabilities can achieve as much as everyone else can,” she declared.
For the past 10 years, Martin has been working at Starbucks.
His co-workers and manager at Starbucks are very proud of Martin and his acting success, and to support him, good-luck posters were placed in the coffee chain’s city stores.
However, Martin’s dad revealed that despite the fame, he doesn’t see his son quitting his job as a barista anytime soon.
Martin caught the acting bug after he joined the Belfast-based Babosh theatre company for children with learning disabilities.
There, Martin did all types of shows, and he enjoyed every moment spent there. This was a stepping stone for him, as he later managed to land the lead role in Ups and Downs, starring alongside actress Susan Lynch.
Martin then went on to land a role in the series, Marcella, but his role in An Irish Goodbye, which won him both a BAFTA and an Oscar, is his most high-profile role to date.
Preview photo credit MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/East News, An Irish Goodbye / First Flights and co-producers
SEAN HANNITY’S SHOCK DIVORCE AFTER 20+ YEARS — FIND OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
Sean Hannity, the well-known TV personality from Fox News, has come a long way from his early days to becoming a big name in media. Even though he is a public figure, he has kept a lot of his personal life private.
Sean was born on December 30, 1961, in New York City to Irish immigrant parents.
Sean Hannity grew up in Franklin Square, a suburb of Long Island. From a young age, he worked hard, starting with delivering newspapers and then taking various jobs in restaurants.
In 1989, Hannity started his career in radio by hosting a talk show on a college station. His early career hit a bump when he made a controversial comment about a lesbian mother, which led to his departure from the station. But he didn’t give up. He moved to Alabama and continued working at conservative AM radio stations.
In 1996, Sean Hannity’s career took a big leap when Fox News launched, and he was hired as one of their political commentators. Even though some doubted whether he was right for TV, Hannity pushed through and became a key figure on the network. He first co-hosted *Hannity & Colmes* with Alan Colmes before eventually getting his own show, *Hannity*.
Over the years, Hannity has been a strong voice in conservative media, receiving both praise and criticism for his views. Despite the early doubts, he became one of Fox News’s top stars, reportedly earning $25 million a year.
Sean Hannity was married to Jill Rhodes for over 20 years before they divorced in 2019. They have two children, Sean Patrick and Merri Kelly Hannity. After the divorce, rumors started about Hannity’s relationship with Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt. While they initially denied it, they were later seen together at various events and even quarantined together during the pandemic.
Despite the attention on his personal life, Hannity remains focused on his career and raising his children. He continues to be a major figure in American media, shaping political conversations and influencing public opinion.
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