Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke has been presented with a European Shooting Star Award at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), which honours ten of the most promising up-and-comers of the year in the European film industry.

Known for his roles in the TV series Smother and Normal People, the actor follows in the footsteps of Irish talents such as Ruth Negga, Andrew Scott and Domhnall Gleeson, each of whom are past recipients of the award.

The European Film Promotion made up the jury panel for this year's festival. In choosing Hardwicke for the award last December, the jury commented: "Immediately after graduating from The Lír Academy in Dublin, Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke plunged into the film world and starred alongside Jesse Eisenberg in the feature film Vivarium; with Seána Kerslake and Ayoola Smart in the TV series Smother; and with Isabel Huppert in Laurent Lariviere's feature film Joan Verra.

"For his role as a Gaelic footballer in the nominated film Lakelands directed by Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney, the jury recognises Éanna's star quality and lauds his performance, which is nothing short of gripping, skilfully revealing layers of sensitivity beneath a seemingly tough exterior."

Earlier this year, the actor received high praise for his performance in the BBC true-crime miniseries The Sixth Commandment. His next role will be in the upcoming three-part series from Amazon Studios A Very Royal Scandal.

Following widespread acclaim for the debut of Small Things Like These starring Cillian Murphy, and now Hardwicke's 'shooting star,' this year's Berlinale Film Festival has shed a spotlight on Irish brilliance in the film and television industry.