Arts and Culture
Chris O’Dowd will be honored by the US-Ireland Alliance at the 14th Annual Oscar Wilde Awards, which will be held at J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot in Santa Monica on 21 February 2019. He joins fellow honorees Glenn Close and Aidan Gillen. Abrams will emcee, Melissa McCarthy will present, and Irish band VINCI will perform.
Trina Vargo, founder and president of the US-Ireland Alliance, noted: “Chris’ well-deserved reputation as a great comedic actor belies his versatility, evident across a range of roles in television, theater and film, including a Tony Award nomination.”
Chris currently stars opposite Ray Romano in the EPIX series Get Shorty. He also stars in State of the Union opposite Rosamund Pike, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and will air on Sundance TV.
Chris appeared in Aaron Sorkin’s MOLLY’S GAME opposite Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, and Kevin Costner in 2017 and in Jesse Peretz’s JULIET, NAKED, with Rose Byrne and Ethan Hawke, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. In addition, Chris lent his voice to the animated character of “Shamus the Coachman” in Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS.
Chris is well known for his starring role in BRIDESMAIDS opposite Kristen Wiig. For his role in the film, Chris was nominated for a BAFTA “Rising Star Award,” a Screen Actor’s Guild Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture” and won the Irish Film and Television Award for “Best Supporting Actor – Film.” BRIDESMAIDS, directed by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, received two Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe Award nomination for “Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical,” and was recognized by AFI as “Movie of the Year.” The film also won a Critics’ Choice Movie Award for “Best Comedy Movie,” a People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Comedy Movie,” and was recognized by individual critics’ groups throughout the country for “Best Acting Ensemble.” BRIDESMAIDS was a box office success making almost $300 million worldwide.
Chris’ other feature film credits include: Julius Onah’s THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX, produced by J.J. Abrams; Jim Strouse’s Netflix film, THE INCREDIBLE JESSICA JAMES; Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman’s LOVING VINCENT; Wayne Blair’s THE SAPPHIRES which broke Australian box office records and garnered Chris the AACTA Award for “Best Lead Actor;” Russell Harbaugh’s LOVE AFTER LOVE; Christopher Guest’s Netflix mockumentary MASCOTS; Tim Burton’s MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN; Stephen Frear’s THE PROGRAM; Theodore Melfi’s ST. VINCENT with Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy; James Griffiths’ CUBAN FURY; John Michael McDonagh’s CALVARY; Marvel Production’s THOR: THE DARK WORLD; Judd Apatow’s THIS IS 40 with Paul Rudd; Jennifer Westfelt’s FRIENDS WITH KIDS with John Hamm and Kristen Wiig; Jay Roache’s DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS with Paul Rudd and Steve Carrell; Rob Letterman’s GULLIVER’S TRAVELS; Richard Curtis’ FOX, THE BOAT THAT ROCKED opposite Phillip Seymour Hoffman; and Gareth Carrivick’s FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TIME TRAVEL. He also starred in FESTIVAL which was nominated for two BAFTA Awards including “Best British Film” and won him a BAFTA Scotland Award for “Best Actor in a Scottish Film.” Additionally, he lent his voice to Chris Wedge’s animated blockbuster EPIC alongside Beyonce, Amanda Seyfried and Jason Sudeikis.
On television, Chris is well known for his roles in the cult comedy series THE IT CROWD, Lena Dunham’s GIRLS (HBO), Christopher Guest’s FAMILY TREE (HBO), CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE (BBC) and MOONE BOY (Sky One, Hulu). Chris wrote, directed, and starred in MOONE BOY which is a semi autobiographical comedy based on Chris’ Irish childhood in 1990s Boyle. Chris played the imaginary friend of young boy Martin Moone and the show won an Emmy Award for “Best Comedy” in 2013, was nominated for “Best New Comedy Programme” at The British Comedy Awards, and won the IFTA for “Best Entertainment Programme” in the same year. In 2014, MOONE BOY won the British Comedy Award for “Best Sitcom,” earned the IFTA for the second consecutive year, and received a BAFTA Award nomination in 2015 for “Best Sitcom Comedy.”
On stage, Chris’ performance as Lennie in John Steinbeck’s OF MICE AND MEN, starring opposite James Franco, earned him a Tony nomination for “Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role,” a Drama Desk Nomination for “Outstanding Actor in a Play and Theatre,” and a World Award for “Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance.” Prior to OF MICE AND MEN, he starred in Anna Mackmin’s UNDER THE BLUE SKY in 2008 opposite Catherine Tate and Francesa Anis at the Duke of York Theatre in the West End.