Meet James Martin, the First Actor With Down Syndrome to Win an Oscar

When James Martin was born, doctors told his parents that he might never speak. However, he did not only learn to speak, but 31 years later, on his birthday, he walked on Hollywood’s biggest stage to collect his Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, An Irish Goodbye. James became the first actor with Down syndrome to win an Academy Award. And, as icing on the cake, the entire audience sang “Happy Birthday” to him.

James Martin never let his condition hold him back.

James Martin’s father, Ivan Martin, is very proud of his son and revealed that he does everything with great gusto, and he’s very glad that his efforts have paid off.

“He has spent his life pushing the envelope. People are very good at saying, ’You can’t do this, and you can’t do that’… He’s done it, and he does it consistently,” he said.

Martin is the first person with Down syndrome to win not just a BAFTA but an Oscar too, and he’s very proud of himself. “It doesn’t matter if you have Down syndrome, as long as you’re doing what you do. I do what I can to be funny,” he said.

His girlfriend also supports him and says the win was a magical moment. “It shows to everyone that it’s changing your mindset on how people with disabilities can achieve as much as everyone else can,” she declared.

For the past 10 years, Martin has been working at Starbucks.

His co-workers and manager at Starbucks are very proud of Martin and his acting success, and to support him, good-luck posters were placed in the coffee chain’s city stores.

However, Martin’s dad revealed that despite the fame, he doesn’t see his son quitting his job as a barista anytime soon.

Martin caught the acting bug after he joined the Belfast-based Babosh theatre company for children with learning disabilities.

There, Martin did all types of shows, and he enjoyed every moment spent there. This was a stepping stone for him, as he later managed to land the lead role in Ups and Downs, starring alongside actress Susan Lynch.

Martin then went on to land a role in the series, Marcella, but his role in An Irish Goodbye, which won him both a BAFTA and an Oscar, is his most high-profile role to date.

Preview photo credit MICHAEL TRAN/AFP/East News, An Irish Goodbye / First Flights and co-producers

Carville Foresees Trump’s Downfall, Warns White House Is “Hanging by a Thread”

Carville Predicts Trump’s Downfall: “The White House Will Collapse in Weeks”

James Carville isn’t mincing words—he’s convinced Donald Trump’s presidency is on the brink. The longtime Democratic strategist believes the combination of plummeting approval ratings, abrupt firings, and a flurry of executive orders will lead to an imminent meltdown in the administration.

Why Carville Thinks Trump’s Days Are Numbered

At 80 years old, Carville has seen political storms before, and he’s certain this one is different. He points to Trump’s approval rating, which he says has nosedived from the low 50s to the upper 30s in record time. More importantly, he predicts that key Republican allies will start distancing themselves—especially if economic turmoil follows the budget-cutting policies of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to Carville, Democrats don’t even need to push—the White House could crumble under its own weight if moderate Republicans begin to waver.

Trump Fires Back

Unsurprisingly, Trump isn’t letting Carville’s comments slide. Taking to Truth Social, he dismissed the strategist as a “loser” who refuses to acknowledge his supposed “best polling numbers.” But Carville isn’t backing down. He doubled down in follow-up interviews, insisting that the administration is in free fall and could hit rock bottom within a month.

So, is the White House really on the verge of collapse, or is this just another heated political exchange? One thing’s for sure—Carville’s prediction is fueling intense debate across cable news and social media.

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