Oscars crowd sing happy birthday to An Irish Goodbye star James Martin

Star of An Irish Goodbye, James Martin, marked his 31st birthday last night with an Oscar win and a song from a Hollywood audience.

The Northern Irish actor's birthday fell on the night of the 2023 Academy Awards, where his film was named Best Live Action Short Film - and the audience of A-List actors celebrated the occasion in style.

“It is this man’s birthday,” Tom Berkeley told the star-studded audience, pointing to Martin in a leopard print blazer.

“He is out here in Hollywood wearing a leopard print suit jacket. We would love to use the rest of our time up here to sing for James.”

An unexpected moment of wholesomeness at the #Oscars: The entire audience singing 'Happy Birthday' to James Martin from 'An Irish Goodbye' moments after the film won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film pic.twitter.com/m3gKt7XStS

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 13, 2023

An Irish Goodbye director Ross White described James Martin as “the beating heart of our film”, after winning the Oscar for best live action short film.

Ross White and fellow director Tom Berkeley led a chorus of Happy Birthday for the film’s star after it was announced as the winner of best live action short film in LA last night.

Speaking backstage in the winners’ room, Berkeley told the PA news agency that he had wanted to create an “extra special moment” for Martin.

“Our man James Martin who is the beating heart of our film, it’s his birthday today (and) this was always the second most important thing of the day,” he explained.

“We just wanted to make sure he had an extra special moment so it was amazing to have everyone singing for him at the Dolby Theatre – how ridiculous!”

An Irish Goodbye traces the story of two estranged brothers, played by Martin and Seamus O’Hara, who reunite after their mother’s death to fulfil her bucket list.

Fellow Irish star Colin Farrell was seen joining in the song, which was followed by a round of applause.

Martin previously told the PA news agency that having the two big events coincide was like “a Cinderella story”.

“The timing of it has been just perfect. You know, you can’t plan somebody’s birthday to be on the Oscars,” he said. “So it’s a big day, (but) I just want to enjoy it really, just enjoy the experience.

“I mean, it’s not every day that you go to LA for the Oscars.”

#LATEST ☘️🇺🇸

“I am the first person with Down syndrome going over to America to pick up these Oscars”

-James Martin

The entire #Oscars audience sang happy birthday to the actor as he stood on stage to accept Best Live Action Short film for “An Irish Goodbye”.@VirginMediaNews pic.twitter.com/v8go0M6uKS

— Zara King (@ZaraKing) March 13, 2023

The film was shot all across Northern Ireland including in Templepatrick, Derry and Saintfield.

James has been lighting up the United States during the past week, raising the roof in LA Irish pub O’Briens with a harmonica rendition of ‘Dirty Old Town’.

An Irish Goodbye was long considered the front-runner in the category, having picked up the BAFTA equivalent last month in London.

Multiverse epic Everything Everywhere All At Once dominated the Oscars yesterday, taking home seven awards from its 10 nominations.