It was a proud homecoming moment for Ruth Negga this week as she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Limerick (UL).
The Oscar-nominated actress was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree during a special ceremony at UL’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, a particularly meaningful honour given her deep roots in the city.
“This is my family’s home town so I felt very humbled by the honour,” Ruth said, admitting she was “humbled, surprised and very fortunate” when she learned of the recognition.
Born in Addis Ababa to an Irish mother and Ethiopian father, Ruth moved to Limerick at just four years old before later studying acting at Trinity College Dublin.
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Her breakthrough role came in Breakfast on Pluto, before she became a household name in Ireland for her role as Rosie in Love/Hate.
From there, her star only continued to rise, with standout performances in Loving, which earned her an Academy Award nomination and Passing.
Not to mention her Tony-nominated Broadway debut in Macbeth.
During the ceremony, Acting UL President Professor Shane Kilcommins praised Ruth’s global success, noting that she shows students, especially those from Limerick, that “their stories, their talent, and their heritage have a place on the world stage.”
Also honoured on the day was two-time Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens, who has made Limerick her home in recent years and serves as artist-in-residence at the university’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.
“What I do with American music and the stories that I tell, there’s a lot of echo, there’s a lot of rhythm and rhyme with the story of Ireland, so it feels really incredible to make those connections with students who come here to learn the Irish story,” she said.
Named as one of the 25 Most Influential Women Musicians of the 21st Century, the musician has dedicated her career to amplifying voices that have been erased from the historical record.
Go on the girls!
