Oscar nomination for Co.Derry-born author Maggie O'Farrell

O’Farrell shares the nomination with Chloe Zhao, who is also nominated in the Best Director category.

The writer was born in Coleraine in 1973 and it is understood her father, who is from Dublin, was an academic in what was then the new University of Ulster in Coleraine.

She then grew up in Dublin, Wales and Scotland.

‘Hamnet,’ an adaptation of the novel written by Maggie O’Farrell and released in 2020, received eight Academy Award nominations when they were announced on Thursday.

They included Best Picture, Best Actress for Irish actor Jessie Buckley, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and Best Casting.

Hamnet is an historical fiction story about William Shakespeare (played by Paul Mescal) his wife Anne Hathaway (Agnes Hathaway in the film and portrayed by Jessie Buckley) following the death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet.

It has won numerous awards and been widely acclaimed by critics and move-goers.

The book, Hamnet, has also won many awards, including the Women’s Prize for Fiction.

President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, congratulated all the Irish Oscar nominees.

She said: “Congratulations to Jessie Buckley, John Kelly, Richard Baneham, Maggie O’Farrell, Element Pictures and Wild Atlantic Pictures on their Oscar nominations and to all involved in the Irish film industry for its continued international recognition.”

The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, March 15.