LIVE POLL: Oscars 2023 — Irish Oscar-Nominated Characters

@dan_dassow​ Obviously, one film had an huge impact in the proportion of character nominees. Although, it is a higher than would randomly occur. What is unique here is how clear cut it is to prove the movie character's ethnicity. So, the actual percentage may be even higher than 30%, since many of the nominees do not have ethnicity backstories.

But, considering most U.S. states rank Irish heritage as a top three ethnicity and between 16-24% North Americans have Irish roots, it is not stretch. Plus, 90% of the world's Irish live outside Ireland; so it is easy to understand how so many people have Irish roots and why the Irish diaspora is so widespread worldwide.

@dan_dassow​ Again, I think the number is higher this year and maybe double what one reasonable can expected based on historical averages. But, I don't think it is shocking given 1) most non-Irish are not going to notice the bump, 2) Irish ancestry is more widespread than one would think 3) I think they produce a disproportionate amount of elite actors and have more in the pipeline 4) six in one year might have been more common in Hollywood's Golden Age (or at least closer). When both the American general population and casts were of even higher proportion Irish than today or least had clearer links.

@rubyfruit76​ The poll is about the character's roots, not the actors themselves. While, Paul Mescal is undeniably Irish; unless I missed something, I am pretty sure his Aftersun character, Calum is Scottish. It is briefly, but firmly established in Scottish director Charlotte Wells semi-autobiographical film. Plus, Calum is a Scottish name, although Scotland and Ireland share similar Celtic roots. So, I suppose it is possible his character is part Irish, but I don't know anything in the film's script that supports it. 

@rubyfruit76​ Plus, you are right that Marilyn Monroe (of the Irish clan Munro) and Elvis Presley (Pressley) have weaker and less established Irish ties than the other four first generation Irish characters in the answer pool. But, it is not unusual for Americans to have mixed heritage, in fact it is the norm (ie Barack Obama). Those character's ancestral links are well-documented through DNA evidence and genealogical research for these real-life characters. Therefore, both are within the scope of the question, as part of both character's backstory.

Which of these Irish movie characters*, whose portrayal is nominated at the 95th Academy Awards in an acting category, is most likely to convert their nomination into a 2023 Oscar win? * fictional or real-life movie characters of proven Irish descent

Oh, oops -- or maybe oops, since that source looks like it's Wikipedia, which I or anyone could go on and edit to say that they're Greek. But you're definitely right that there doesn't seem to be any evidence of the characters' nationality one way or the other. (I know that the actor isn't counted in this poll.) 

"Calum" is a Celtic name, which includes both Scottish and Gaelic origins. I have a friend from Dublin whose name is Calum, for example, (and we know a Callum in Wales) and that may be part of the reason I assumed that they were from Ireland. I also thought that their accents sound Irish, although many of those accents have a lot of overlap and I don't have the best ear for them. 

But you're right, there's no obvious evidence that they're of Irish nationality (or from Northern Ireland). And the "Irish descendancy" can of monkeys is very messy when speaking of the Scottish -- well, the whole genetic can of worms (why did I change from monkeys to worms? Lol) is messy, anyway, because much DNA is pretty random so, for example, even if DNA revealed that my mother was 100% of some ethnicity, my DNA is unlikely to be 50% of that. Of course, with the Scottish and Irish, it's messier, because even though, genetically, the two groups share a lot of common ancestry just because they're so close to each other geographically, "Scotch-Irish" is not a common term in the UK and Ireland. Also, my understanding is that most Scottish in the UK would define "Scotch-Irish" as Scottish whose ancestors lived in a portion of Northern Ireland for a time, but I believe that they don't usually identify as being of any Irish descent. The whole "descent" thing, in terms of identity, is so different in the States than in the UK. I'm from the States and my friends from the UK don't get it when I say "I'm of part Irish descent." 

After this whole novel I've written, I agree that it's probably prudent not to include Calum in the list, although I dig my heels in about Elvis' possible little sliver, lol. : ) 

@rubyfruit76​ I based my decision to not include him, based on having seen Aftersun and hearing the two main characters discuss him call home and his work in Scotland during the film (theorically, his character could be an Irishman working and residing in Scotland). I agree using Wikipedia is not definitive, but it doesn't mean its wrong. Again, I can't say with 100% certainty Calum wasn't Irish, but that I don't have anything to support it. Plus, since the film based on the director own childhood and I have never heard her being described as anything other than Scottish, I would be inclined to lean the other way.

Again, with 90% of the world's Irish living outside of Ireland, mixed heritage is a common attribute. Yes, Elvis Presley is only small part Irish among having other ancestral heritages, but it is undeniably part of his heritage. I stand by the claim, after all I am not claiming he is 100% Irish. Plus, he has roots through both his mother's and father's families, including ones that are direct and not Scotch-Irish. Elvis's heritage includes Irish, English, Norman, Scots-Irish, Scottish, German and Cherokee ancestry.  All said, with all those heritages coming into play, he is as much Irish, as he is anything else.

An 18th-century legal document, discovered in 2016, shows the music legend Elvis Presley’s ancestors left County Wicklow, for a new life in America around 1775. Source: Irish Central

The paper, which dates from 1775, shows that William Presley, the singer’s great-great-great-great-grandfather, left Leinster for a new life in America, the Irish Times reports. .....

Presley's set sail for New Orleans

Later that year, Presley left Ireland for America with his son Andrew, settling first in New Orleans. He later moved to Tennessee, where he died in 1802. The historical paper will be auctioned in Dublin in Whyte’s Auctioneers Eclectic Collector sale on May 14. The document has an estimated value of €500-700.