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
You won’t believe what’s in this man’s house, it’s made from an old airplane!
The interior of this plane is truly breathtaking! 64-year-old Bruce Campell, a retired electrical engineer, has always had a remarkable flair for creativity. In his twenties, he took a leap of faith and invested $23,000 in a 10-acre plot of land near Hillsboro, Oregon, with a vision in mind.
He decided to build an extraordinary mansion out of an old airplane on this sprawling property. Stay tuned for the upcoming reveal of the interior! Scroll down to find out more.
Campbell has always enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together into something new. He envisioned his property as a canvas for building a unique home, using a collection of decommissioned cargo planes. Although he thought he was developing a completely original concept, he later discovered that a similar creation already existed.
About two decades after he came up with his plan, Campbell learned of Joanne Ussery, a Mississippi hairdresser who had converted a Boeing 727 into her home. After a fire destroyed her previous residence, Ussery decided to rebuild it in the shape of an airplane and move it to a quiet riverfront. After some thought, Campbell decided to change his original plans.
He made significant changes in several aspects. Read on to learn more about Campbell’s plane whereabouts and see more photos. In 1999, Campbell invested a staggering $100,000 to purchase a Boeing 727 from Olympic Airways. Transporting the massive plane from Athens, Greece to his property in Oregon was a major challenge. Including transportation costs, the total expense for the plane was about $220,000.
However, Campbell felt that every penny spent on the jet was worth it. The aircraft is equipped with the bare necessities of life. Campbell kept the original toilet and some seats and also added a washing machine and sink.
Despite the spaciousness of the Boeing 727, Campbell doesn’t spend much time in his unconventional abode. His kitchen is equipped only with a microwave and a toaster, and he usually subsists on cereal and canned goods.
While living in an aircraft like Campbell may not be for everyone, we can’t help but admire his incredible achievement! Just take a look at this remarkable aircraft. Accomplishing such a feat must be immensely rewarding. Watch the video below to explore the entire interior of this extraordinary aircraft home:
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