Organized annually by the US-Ireland Alliance, the star-studded event is scheduled to take place on March 11 at the historic Ebell in Los Angeles. Traditionally held just three days before the Academy Awards, the gala serves as a prominent celebration of the creative contributions made by Irish talent—alongside select international honorees—to the global worlds of film, television, and music.
Graham joins a growing lineup of celebrated names for the 21st installment of the event. Irish American actor Jack Reynor was previously announced as an honoree last month, highlighting the strong presence of cinematic talent from the region. In addition to the awards presentation, guests in attendance will be treated to a live musical performance by rising Irish synth-pop singer Shobsy, whose recent career milestones have drawn significant acclaim across the United Kingdom and Europe.
At 29 years old, Graham will accept the coveted Wilde Card Award. Trina Vargo, president of the US-Ireland Alliance, described the honor as an accolade "presented to someone we expect you’ll hear a lot more from." The distinction places Graham among an impressive cohort of past recipients who have gone on to achieve major international stardom, including Academy Award nominees Saoirse Ronan and Barry Keoghan, as well as actress Sarah Bolger and Bad Sisters co-star Eve Hewson.
The recognition arrives during a remarkably busy and high-profile phase of Graham’s career on the silver screen. Last year, the actress appeared alongside a stellar ensemble cast featuring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, and Michael Stuhlbarg in Luca Guadagnino’s feature After the Hunt. Furthermore, Graham has reunited with the acclaimed Italian director for the upcoming, highly anticipated film Artificial, which stars Garfield in the role of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
In addition to her work with Guadagnino, Graham played the personal assistant to George Clooney’s character in Noah Baumbach’s 2025 project Jay Kelly, cementing her status as a sought-after presence in major studio features alongside some of Hollywood’s most legendary directors and actors.
Graham’s personal journey to the screen is as remarkable as her professional rise. She was discovered as a baby on the steps of a building in Changsha, China, when she was only a few days old. Adopted at 13 months, she was brought by her adoptive parents to County Down, making her one of the first Chinese-born children to be adopted in Northern Ireland.
Reflecting on her early beginnings in an interview with The London Times in April, Graham shared deep gratitude for her upbringing. "I always say I would not be here had it not been for the kindness of strangers," she told the publication. "From the earliest days of someone stopping and seeing I’d been left, picking me up and looking after me, I’ve seen that kindness throughout my life, from my parents, who are wonderful, through school and the support of my teachers. My primary-school teacher introduced a Chinese New Year celebration, which she continues even though I’m not there anymore."
Over the years, Graham has steadily built an impressive resume across television and streaming platforms. In 2021, she captured international attention by portraying the leader of Sherlock Holmes’ band of street urchins in the Netflix series The Irregulars, and she also made memorable recurring appearances on the long-running BBC sci-fi institution Doctor Who.
Her momentum continued to build in 2023 when she took on the role of the therapist O during the final, emotional season of Netflix’s hit comedy-drama Sex Education. Following that success, she sparkled in 2024 as the stubborn, determined detective Una Houlihan in the second season of Apple TV’s dark comedy Bad Sisters. Most recently, she appeared as the roommate to Elle Fanning’s character in the adaptation Margo’s Got Money Troubles.
The impact of her diverse roles and distinct background has not gone unnoticed by audiences. Following an FYC Emmy event held last year for Bad Sisters, Graham recounted to The London Times a touching encounter with fans who resonated deeply with her presence on screen. "I had a lot of people coming up to me from Asian backgrounds saying, ‘It’s amazing seeing you in this show. It’s amazing seeing you as one of the lead characters. We so admire the kind of representation people are taking over there. And also for you to have a different accent—for you not to have the accent people might expect,’" she shared.
As preparations continue for the Oscar Wilde Awards, the entertainment lineup promises to deliver a vibrant evening celebrating modern Irish culture and international artistry. Musical guest Shobsy arrives at the event following a successful year that included completing a U.K. and European tour with his SO Recordings labelmates MY BABY, followed by a standout performance at the annual SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.
Shobsy’s profile has continued to soar on home turf as well. In July, he performed at an exclusive Irish music industry showcase hosted by Ireland’s president, Catherine Connolly, at her official Dublin residence. He recently released his latest EP, titled The World Will Not Remember, alongside a fresh single, "Perfect," further establishing his footprint in the contemporary synth-pop landscape.
With honorees like Thaddea Graham and Jack Reynor representing the vanguard of contemporary acting talent, and musical performances from artists like Shobsy, the 21st annual Oscar Wilde Awards at the Ebell in Los Angeles are poised to highlight the dynamic and ever-expanding influence of Irish creatives on the global stage.