Oscar win casts clarity on disability notions

James Martin, centre, shares the joy of starring in an Oscar-winning film

When James Martin was born, his parents were told he would probably never speak. He has now made Oscars history. He is the first actor with Down Syndrome to star in an Academy Award winning film, An Irish Goodbye, which won best live action short film.

The Irish Times reported that following the ceremony, he and his costar Seamus O’Hara, along with the film’s writers and directors, sang the Belfast song I’ll Tell My Ma to reporters before heading to the Elton John after-show party.

“It doesn’t matter if you have Down syndrome, as long as you’re doing what you do,” Martin told the BBC. “I do what I can to be funny.”

Martin has been attending a drama group in Belfast for almost 20 years and recently brought in the BAFTA award he received after the same comedy film won best British short film.

Frances Nelson, who teaches the group for adults with learning disabilities, said she prefers to describe it as a class for “an amazing bunch of adults who have ability and do drama and come to socialise”.

Martin says he wants to return to his day jobs as a barista at Starbucks and chef at an Italian restaurant in Belfast.

As an ambassador for the learning disability charity, Mencap – which he thanked in his post-Oscar interviews – Martin has campaigned against EU funding cuts and potential job losses, the Times reports.

He is also a keen runner and has taken part in community ‘park runs’ with The Falcons, a group of young adults with learning difficulties.

Among his acting credits are lead roles in the BBC drama Ups and Downs, and a part in the ITV and Netflix drama Marcella.

“James is an amazing independent person with dreams,” Nelson added.

Martin's father, Ivan, who stayed at home while his mother went to the Oscars, described the accolade as an “amazing feat” and reflected on the challenges they faced when his son was born.

“I feel that ultimately, the person who said to me, ‘Look Mr Martin, you’re going to have to realise that James will probably never speak… ' And here we are. James not only speaks, but once he started speaking he hasn’t shut up since,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.

Asked what the Oscars win means for people with a disability, and those with Down Syndrome, Ivan told ITV: "He has spent his life pushing the envelope.

"People are very good at saying, 'You can't do this and you can't do that'... He's done it and he does it consistently."

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