Posted: 11 September 2008
Jeremy Irons honoured by UCD Law Society
In recognition of his lifetime achievements on screen and stage, Jeremy Irons has received honorary lifetime membership of the UCD Law Society. Before accepting the award, Irons took part in a live interview about his life and career with RTE Presenter, Ryan Tubridy, in front of several hundred students in a packed lecture theatre at Belfield.
“The lifetime membership is the highest honour that the UCD Law Society can bestow,” said Niall Ó hUiginn, Auditor of the UCD Law Society. “It is awarded to individuals who have truly excelled in their chosen vocation or walk of life.”
Born in Cowes, the Isle of Wight, Irons divides his time between his homes in Watlington, Oxfordshire, and Kilcoe Castle in County Cork. He has recently acquired a house in Dublin.
Irons truly made his mark on the map through his portrayal of Charles Ryder, the archetypal Englishman, in Brideshead Revisited in 1981. He made his Broadway debut in 1984, in The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard playing alongside Glenn Close. He won an Oscar for best actor and a Golden Globe for his role in Reversal of Fortune (1990); a New York Film Critics Circle Award for his role in Dead Ringers (1987); a Tony for his role in The Real Thing on Broadway (1984) and a Best Supporting Actor Emmy and a Golden Globe for his role in Elizabeth I where he played alongside Helen Mirren (2006). Throughout his film career, Irons has continued to perform classical roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
“Does lifetime membership of the Law Society entitle me to discounted legal bills?” Irons quipped, accepting the award. Previous recipients of the award include: Former US President, Bill Clinton; Author, Jung Chang; and ‘Lord of the Dance’, Michael Flatley.
