Gabriel Byrne to be Honoured in Dublin at the IFTA Awards

The Irish Film & Television Academy has announced that Gabriel Byrne with receive the prestigious Irish Academy’s - Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding achievement across both film and television at this years IFTA Awards.
The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins will officially present the Award at the Ceremony (which will broadcast on RTE One) which takes place on Thursday 15th February in Dublin, on behalf of the Academy, the entire Irish film industry and Gabriel’s community of peers and friends.

Responding to the news Gabriel Byrne said: “I am deeply honoured to be receiving this Award from the Irish Academy and it means a lot to me to receive it in my home town of Dublin.”

Born in  1950 Byrne began his acting career began in the Focus Theatre before he joined London's Royal Court Theatre in 1979. Byrne's screen debut came in the Irish soap opera The Riordans and the spin-off show Bracken.

He has appeared in over 75 feature films, including Excalibur (1981), Miller's Crossing (1990), The Usual Suspects (1995), Stigmata (1999), End of Days (1999) and The 33 (2015). Byrne has also produced several films, including the Academy Award–nominated In the Name of the Father (1993).

One of Byrne's most identifiable roles is that of Dr. Paul Weston in the HBO drama In Treatment (2008–2011), for which he won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for two Emmy Awards and two Satellite Awards.

He has always been a superb ambassador for Ireland and a consistent and talented actor to boot!

Here are a look at 5 memorable Gabriel Byrne performances:

5. Friedrich Bhaer (Little Women) - As expected, the female stars – Dunst, Danes, Sarandon, Ryder – got most of the attention, but Byrne was solidly sweet as the German professor who charms Jo.
4. Stewart (Jinabyne) - Director Ray Lawrence’s follow up to Lantana revolves around the discovery of a body in a remote river. Byrne owns the film as the man haunted by a subsequent bad choice.
3. Tom Reagan (Millers Crossing) - A Coen brothers classic, Byrne is front and centre as the right-hand man of big-city Irish mob boss Leo and doesn't disappoint.
2. Donald (Lies We Tell) - A firm favourite at last years Kerry Film Festival and due to be released this February this Mitu Misra directed feature sees Byrne once again steal the show in a central performance filled with heart, subtely and charm.
1. Dean Keaton (The Usual Suspects) - This plot rug pulling classic sees Byrne as one of the lead characters in a film that is on many viewers top 10 lists with the Dublin man in top form throughout!