Paul Mescal's Oscar nomination today was bittersweet for his family as his mum is preparing to go into hospital for chemotherapy.
The Irish actor, 26, who rose to fame after starring in the hit drama Normal People, was nominated for the Best Actor award at the Oscars, getting the nod for his role in Aftersun.
He is up against fellow Irish actor Colin Farrell who has been nominated in the same category for his role in Banshees of Inisherin.
READ MORE: Oscar nominations 2023: Paul Mescal, Colin Farrell and Kerry Condon among Irish Oscar nominees
Pau's family were overjoyed at the news, with his sister Nell Mescal sharing a picture of their reaction to the news on a group video call, captioning it with a crying emoji.
However, the incredible news of Paul's achievement comes at a difficult time for the Mescal family as Paul's mother Dearbhla Mescal is currently battling cancer.
Nell revealed on Twitter: "My mum got a haircut today in prep for her chemotherapy and then paul got nominated for an oscar life is so crazy."
Dearbhla previously shared with her own followers on Instagram that she was diagnosed with Multiple myeloma - a type of bone marrow cancer - in July last year.
She took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday to update her followers about her pre-chemo haircut as she said she is preparing to go into hospital in the next two weeks.
Dearbhla 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 hospital I’m only concentrating on that battle.
“This is the final stage for me to start living with this cancer.”
She later shared the results of her haircut, showing a short cropped cut with a longer fringe.
Following her son's Oscar nomination, Dearbhla spoke to Ray D'Arcy on RTE One and revealed that she had been doing some housework when the news was announced to distract herself from the nerves.
“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."
Dearbhla broke down in tears as she became emotional speaking about how proud she is of her son Paul and what he has achieved.
"For everybody who has children away, family WhatsApp is just the business, and you do that video call and everyone can be on it.
"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 what ever they are doing.
“You just want them to be as happy as they can be."
Radio host Ray also read out a quote from Paul Mescal on the show, saying: "This is truly a special moment for everyone involved in Aftersun. To be recognised by the Academy is such an insane honour and I'm so utterly grateful.
“I want to dedicate this nomination to my two friends Charlotte and Frankie who I love dearly! This is bananas, thank you!"
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