The consensus at Cannes this week has been that no brighter star has emerged from Ireland in recent years than the abundantly talented - and utterly unaffected - Elaine Cassidy, the 19-year-old Co Wicklow actress who had the critics reaching for superlatives after seeing her stunning performance in Felicia's Journey, Atom Egoyan's film based on the William Trevor novel.
She is a "terrifically promising" actress, the US trade paper, Variety, noted on Tuesday morning, the day after the film's world premiere. And the writer added that "the beautiful Cassidy carries the film on her young shoulders in a flawless, highly modulated performance."
Accompanied by her mother, Elaine was dressed by Chanel for her big night, and she was the centre of attention at the lively post-screening beach party where she was congratulated by, among many others, Mel Gibson, Faye Dunawaye, Gretta Scacchi, Susan Sarandon and director Ron Howard.
Elaine is seen as a formidable contender for the best actress award at tomorrow night's closing ceremony. Her strongest competition is likely to be the American actress, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who will be accompanied by her husband, Irish director Pat O'Connor, for tonight's world premiere of her new movie, Limbo.