From Belfast barista to Beverly Hills - story of a British Oscars star

It's not often that a Belfast barista gets serenaded by the glitterati of Hollywood.

But past it's not often that you triumph an Oscar and observe your day astatine the 95th Academy Awards.

Cue James Martin. Coffee connoisseur, shot person and 1 of those rocking the nighttime distant with Sir Elton John astatine the Los Angeles After Party.

Martin, 31, is 1 of the stars of An Irish Goodbye, which won an Oscar for champion unrecorded enactment abbreviated film, conscionable weeks aft it clinched a Bafta.

Filmed connected determination successful Londonderry, Templepatrick and Saintfield, Martin antecedently said an Oscar triumph would "put the icing connected my day cake".

The broadcaster Ivan Martin was told erstwhile his lad was calved with Down's syndrome that helium mightiness ne'er speak.

"But present we are. James not lone speaks, erstwhile helium started speaking helium hasn't unopen up since," Ivan Martin told BBC News NI, conscionable hours aft the Oscar win.

And what a travel it's been for the erstwhile pupil of Harberton Special School successful Belfast.

Martin got the acting bug aft joining the Belfast-based Babosh theatre company, which was acceptable up astir 20 years agone for children with learning disabilities.

"I'm precise gladsome I went, arsenic I got to conscionable Breige Hawkins and her staff," helium told the newsletter.

"Breige was a large teacher who knew her worldly and inspired america each to amended our acting skills. We did each types of shows and I enjoyed each infinitesimal of it."

From treading the boards successful Belfast, Martin landed the pb relation successful the BBC play Ups and Downs, alongside histrion Susan Lynch.

Written and directed by chap Irishman Eoin Cleland, who has a sister with Down's syndrome, the movie focuses connected the communicative of a young antheral with Down's Syndrome wanting his ain independence.

"It makes him much unfastened and honorable with his household and that's bully too."

Martin past went connected to get a portion successful the ITV and Netflix play Marcella.

But arguably his astir high-profile acting occupation to date, surely the 1 that has garnered the astir publicity, is An Irish Goodbye.

Directed and written by Ross White and Tom Berkeley, it tells the communicative of 2 estranged brothers who came unneurotic aft their mother's death.

The achromatic comedy, acceptable connected a agrarian farm, stars Martin arsenic Lorcan, alongside Seamus O'Hara who plays his older member Turlough.

Ivan Martin said that everyone progressive successful the movie had "every close to beryllium arrogant of themselves".

"It's won an Oscar not due to the fact that James has Down's Syndrome - it's a damn bully movie and they each acted their socks disconnected successful it. Deservedly it's been recognised," helium told the Press Association.

Ahead of the ceremony, James Martin showed up successful a Los Angeles pub - playing his harmonica for a rendition of Dirty Old Town successful a jam session.

Martin is besides a Mencap ambassador successful Northern Ireland and has antecedently said that having Down's syndrome "doesn't truly clasp maine back".

Martin told the BBC's Today programme connected Monday morning: "It doesn't substance if you person Down's syndrome, arsenic agelong arsenic you're doing what you do. I bash what I tin to beryllium funny.

"I'm the archetypal idiosyncratic with Down's Syndrome not conscionable getting a Bafta but besides getting an Oscar, particularly successful the clip of my day - it's conscionable fantastic."

His girlfriend, Barbara Norris, who is besides a Mencap ambassador, told BBC News NI's Talkback programme it was a magical infinitesimal and "the icing connected his day cake".

"It shows to everyone that it's changing your mindset connected however radical with disabilities tin execute arsenic overmuch arsenic everyone other can," she added.

Martin is simply a keen runner and has antecedently taken portion successful parkland runs with The Falcons - a radical of young adults with learning difficulties, who are portion of the Queen's parkrun community.

He tin besides beryllium spotted astatine Irish league grounds connected the play - often accompanied by his dad.

Martin's time occupation for the past 10 years has been astatine Starbucks successful Castle Lane and Victoria Square arsenic good arsenic Scalini edifice successful southbound Belfast.

His enactment colleagues are said to beryllium precise arrogant of his acting success, with good-luck posters adorning the walls of the java chain's metropolis stores.

But having traded his greenish apron of Starbucks for a swanky leopard-skin overgarment astatine the Oscars, volition helium beryllium swapping the room for the signifier permanently?

His dada said contempt the fame, helium couldn't spot his lad leaving his jobs "any clip soon".

And Ivan Martin couldn't beryllium much proud.

"What an achievement, I'm conscionable delighted," helium told BBC News NI.

"I haven't been capable to get him - helium was astatine the Elton John After Party.

He said his lad tackles everything with large gusto - and that has present paid off.

"He loves the acting, he's loved this thrust with the Oscars and the Baftas," said Ivan.

"All I ever wanted for James was that he'd beryllium happy; I'll archer you what, he's blessed now."

"When I saw him - I thought: 'Wow. You person done incredibly - everything is possible'.

"It gives anticipation for everyone else," she told Talkback.

Her parent Deirdre said Martin's triumph was "a practice of what radical with disabilities tin do".

"All radical with disabilities person dreams, hopes and aspirations too. It is an iconic moment," she said.

"James volition animate truthful galore radical coming down and springiness truthful overmuch hope."