O'Kane has been a regular at the awards, garnering 6 nominations since the IFTAs were established back in 2003. Now the Academy have instilled their trust in her as they announce her as the host of the 2016 IFTA ceremony.
O'Kane has remained at the forefront of Irish film, television and comedy and she still draws audiences in wherever she goes. Her performance as Christiana Noble in 2014's biopic Noble is the pinnacle of her career so far as she was lauded with worldwide praise and admiration. She is known to others as Debra Moone in Chris O'Dowd's much loved Moone Boy and amidst all this activity has travelled nationwide performing stand-up comedy.
In the Press Release, CEO Aine Moriarty celebrated the news saying; “The Academy is delighted to introduce Deirdre O'Kane as the host of the 2016 IFTA Film & Drama Awards. Not only is she one of Ireland's most successful stand-up comedians but also an acclaimed dramatic actress, as she indelibly proved last year with her IFTA win for her mesmerizing performance in Noble. In what has been a phenomenal year for Irish film and drama, we look forward to a great night of acknowledgement and celebration of this work and some great fun too with Deirdre at the helm.”
O'Kane too relished the opportunity and expressed her pride and joy; What an honour to be asked to host the IFTA Awards especially on such a fantastic year for Irish film and drama. All the success abroad in this golden year means that it is especially important to recognise and reward these accomplishments at home and I am delighted to be a part of such a prestigious and significant event.”
It will be a night of celebration in the incredible year that Irish cinema has achieved. Among the nominees O'Kane will be giving out the gongs to include Saoirse Ronan, Ben Cleary, Michael Fassbender, Sarah Greene, Lenny Abrahamson, Barry Keoghan, Domhnall Gleeson...the list goes on!
The 2016 IFTAs will taken place on April 9 at Dublin's Mansion House. It will be broadcast the following day at 9pm on TV3.
To read a complete list of the 2016 IFTA nominees, click here.