Meet James Martin, the First Actor With Down Syndrome to Win an Oscar

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

My Husband Disappeared Shortly After Our Marriage — 17 Years Later, I Encountered Him at a Church Service

As the congregation dispersed, a laugh halted me in my tracks— a laugh hauntingly familiar. Turning around, I saw him. Richard’s silhouette was unmistakable, his hair now touched with grey. His eyes met mine, wide with shock, mirroring my own astonishment. It was unequivocally him.

A woman at his side asked if he was ready to leave. He briefly conversed with her before telling her to meet him at the car, and then he turned to me, setting a meeting at Tom’s Cafe on River Street.

An hour later, at the cafe, Richard, fraught with nerves, began to unravel the story of his disappearance. He confessed that an old flame, his high school sweetheart, had returned, confessing her enduring love. Caught in a tempest of past emotions, he realized he still loved her. This confession crushed me, as I had clung to his memory and the hope of his return.

Stunned, I confronted him about my unwavering loyalty. “You know that I didn’t remarry and waited for you all these years?” The shock in his expression was palpable. Overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions, I stepped outside, Richard trailing behind, apologizing profusely. I left him there, just as he had once left me.

In the aftermath, as I processed the betrayal and heartache, I resolved to forgive Richard for my peace. I reached out to Jake, opening myself to the possibility of new beginnings. But, I vowed to live for myself above all, a promise etched deep within my heart.

This story, while deeply personal, reflects the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unexpected trials and the journey towards self-discovery and forgiveness. It serves as a reminder of the strength we harbor within, capable of overcoming even the deepest of wounds.

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