Irish actor Éanna Hardwicke, known for his roles in the TV series Smother and Normal People and the film Lakelands, has been chosen as one of the European Shooting Stars of 2024.
Organised by the European Film Promotion (EFP) agency, Shooting Stars was established to promote acting talent across the continent.
Cork actor Hardwicke will be one of 10 up-and-coming actors to be presented to the industry, press, and public as part of EFP's European Shooting Stars programme at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.
His fellow Irish actor and former Shooting Star honoree Moe Dunford is among the 2024 Shooting Stars jury.
In selecting Hardwicke, the jury said: "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, Hardwicke received acclaim for his performance in the BBC true-crime miniseries The Sixth Commandment. He will next be seen in the Amazon Studios miniseries A Very Royal Scandal.
In receiving the Shooting Stars honour, Hardwicke follows in the footsteps of the likes of Daniel Craig, Carey Mulligan, Alicia Vikander, and Rachel Weisz, and fellow Irish actors Elaine Cassidy, Clare Dunne, Aisling Franciosi, Domhnall Gleeson, Ruth Negga, Fionn O'Shea, and Andrew Scott.
Watch Smother on the RTÉ Player.
