{"id":64845,"date":"2024-02-28T13:40:28","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T13:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stories.starbucks.com\/emea\/?post_type=story&p=64845"},"modified":"2025-02-11T18:15:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T18:15:01","slug":"starbucks-has-always-been-very-supportive-of-me-an-exclusive-conversation-with-james-martin-the-oscar-winning-starbucks-partner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.starbucks.com\/emea\/stories\/2024\/starbucks-has-always-been-very-supportive-of-me-an-exclusive-conversation-with-james-martin-the-oscar-winning-starbucks-partner\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cStarbucks has always been very supportive of me\u201d: An exclusive conversation with James Martin, the Oscar-winning Starbucks partner\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBehind the Green Apron<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u201cStarbucks has always been very supportive of me\u201d: An exclusive conversation with James Martin, the Oscar-winning Starbucks partner\u00a0\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 28, 2024\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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    • \n\t\t\n\t\t\t4 min read\t\t<\/time>\n\t<\/li>\n\t\t
    • \n\t\t\n\t\t\tFebruary 28, 2024\t\t<\/time>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<\/ul>\n

      When James Martin first donned his green Starbucks apron in Belfast back in 2010, he could have never imagined that 13 years later he\u2019d be the very first Green Apron Partner to win an Oscar. \u201cBeing the first person with Downs Syndrome to win an Oscar was a great feeling,\u201d he adds. \u201cIt made history, and more importantly, it showed others with a variety of disabilities that it was possible. That really means something to them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>\n\n

      After showing a keen interest in acting, James joined a local drama group in 2007 and appeared in a number of theatre shows before being cast in his first film, Ups and Downs <\/em>in 2019. \u201cI\u2019ve always enjoyed my job at Starbucks and just carried on as normal until the filming for An Irish Goodbye <\/em>started. When that ended, I went back to Starbucks and picked up where I left off.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>\n\n

      Set in rural Northern Ireland, the short 2022 film follows James\u2019 character, Lorcan, as he reconnects with his estranged brother Turlough after the untimely passing of their mother. He landed the role after one of the directors, Ross White, heard James on the radio with his dad, broadcaster Ivan. \u201cRoss saw me in Marcella <\/em>with Anna Friel in 2021 and then he approached me about the film,\u201d James says. \u201cThe rest, as they say, is history.\u201d The film went on to pick up the BAFTA Award for Best Short Film and the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film a year later in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>\n\n

      \u201cMy Starbucks partners couldn\u2019t believe we were nominated at first, they were over the moon for me! They gave me a big send off from both the Castle Lane and Victoria Square stores and ended up on TV and in the newspapers,\u201d James says.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>\n\n

      But what was it like jetting off to the other side of the world for the biggest night in Hollywood? \u201cIt was a great experience. It\u2019s the most important night of the year for the movie industry. It was also lovely that my mum, Suzanne, and my uncle, Damian, were there with me. We couldn\u2019t believe it when it was announced that we\u2019d won.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>\n\n

      Although the night was unforgettable for obvious reasons, it was also special for James for another \u2013 it was his 31st<\/sup> birthday. So, during the team\u2019s acceptance speech, Tom Berkley took a moment to encourage the crowd of A-listers \u2013 which included Janelle Monae, Florence Pugh and Barry Keoghan \u2013 to sing him happy birthday. \u201cIt was totally unexpected. A birthday treat like that was a lovely moment, and to have Colin Farrell give me a thumbs up is a very special memory!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body>\n\n

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