Paul Mescal has received his first Oscar nomination, joining the likes of Colin Farrell and Austin Butler in the prestigious Best Actor category.
However, nomination day appeared bittersweet for the 26-year-old who celebrated the news on a family FaceTime call later shared online by his sister Nell.
Paul's nod comes following his portrayal of Calum Paterson in the 2022 drama film, Aftersun, written and directed by Charlotte Wells.
But after the family celebrations ended, Paul's sister Nell took to social media to share her joy as well as some heartbreaking news about their mum, Dearbhla.
The singer-songwriter penned: "My mum got a haircut today in prep for her chemotherapy and then paul got nominated for an oscar life is so crazy."
Fans later flocked to the replies section of Nell's post, with one writing: "Oh the roller coaster that is life! Wishing all the best to Mammy Mescal with her treatment and congrats to Paul."
"Good luck to your brother Paul @nellmescal_ but even more so best wishes to your Mam as she starts her treatment," said a second.
Before a third went on to type: "Thinking of your Mum. This must be a great boost for her."
"Chemo haircut: that hits hard. She'll rock it. This news will carry her so far. Well done to the family. Making the parish proud," tweeted a fourth.
While another commented: "Thinking of your mum and family, and congrats to dear Paul."
Ahead of being informed of his Oscar nomination, Dearbhla took to social media to inform her followers that she was starting to "live with cancer", having been diagnosed with Multiple myeloma – a type of bone marrow cancer in July 2022.
The primary school teacher said: "I have decided that I am going to cut my hair short today – as a first cut and then the next cut will be the short, short, short cut – the hospital short cut.
"I know what's ahead because I have been informed by my wonderful team and I want to be ready so that when I'm in the hospital I’m only concentrating on that battle. This is the final stage for me to start living with this cancer."
Following Paul's jaw-dropping news, Dearbhla revealed that ahead of the announcement she was keeping her mind preoccupied by doing housework.
During an appearance on The Ray D'Arcy Show, she said: "I don’t watch them [the announcements] because I find them way too stressful, I was folding washing.
"I just waited for the WhatsApp. We have this WhatsApp group and there were shocked faces and crying eyes – nobody knows before it's announced so it is just this nerve-wracking five hours of waiting when you wake up."
She added: "For me, to see his face and to see him so shocked and so joyous, I'm so grateful. I'm very grateful. I'm going to get emotional.
"I'm very very proud. But I think people who have children doing anything, you move mountains for them because you want them to achieve in whatever they are doing."
