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Seven Oscar nominations for two movies based on novels by UCD graduates

Posted 15 January 2016

Room, the movie based on UCD graduate Emma Donoghue’s (2010) novel of the same name has received (opens in a new window)four Oscar nominations including best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay and best actress in a leading role.

While Brooklyn, the movie based on UCD graduate Colm Tóibín's (2009) novel of the same name has achieved (opens in a new window)three Oscar nominations for best picture, best adapted screenplay and best actress in a leading role.

Emma adapted her novel Room for the big screen, so she is competing in the best adapted screenplay category against English novelist Nick Hornby, who adapted Brooklyn for the screen.


The 88th Academy Awards, hosted by Chris Rock, will take place on Sunday, February 28.

Emma's father, Denis Donoghue was Professor of Modern English at University College Dublin before he accepted the Henry James chair at New York University.

Colm Tóibín is an adjunct professor in the UCD School of English, Drama and Film.

University College Dublin is very proud of our distinguished graduates, Emma and Colm.

In recognition of their outstanding contributions to literature, they have both recently been awarded honorary degrees of Doctor of Literature by their alma mater.

Another UCD graduate, Benjamin Cleary has also been nominated for an Oscar in the category of best live action short film. His debut short film, Stutterer is the story of a man with a severe speech impediment who must face his worst fear. Cleary completed his BA in Business and Legal Studies at UCD and MA in Screenwriting at the London Film School.

By: Dominic Martella, UCD University Relations

Images front: Emma Donoghue © Nina Subin, 2010. From EmmaDonoghue.com
Colm Toibin © Princeton University