Saoirse Ronan attends the W Magazine celebration of the 'Best Performances' Portfolio and The Golden Globes in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty

Saoirse Ronan may be an award-winning actress with the world of Hollywood and beyond at her feet, but the 21-year-old actress is obsessed with tea: Barry's Tea in particular.

In interviews, she inevitably brings up her love of the amber nectar, referencing how it helps her feel less homesick, when she's away from Carlow.

Last month, Saoirse was nominated for her second Golden Globe by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), for her luminous role as Eilis, in 'Brooklyn', the screen adaptation of Colm Tóibín's novel.

As an expression of her gratitude and ongoing love of Irish breakfast tea, she sent a box of Barry's Gold Tea to each of the 84 members of the HFPA, along with a very touching, hand-written letter, replete with drawings describing how to make the perfect cup of tea.

"There is nothing that reminds me of home more than Barry's Tea," she wrote. "So as a gesture of my sincere gratitude (to the HFPA), I wanted to share a piece of my home with you."

She also talks of becoming an immigrant herself and how happy she is "to be celebrating an accolade from a group of people who made the very same journey themselves".

Tomorrow night, Saoirse will be drinking Moet and Chandon at the Beverly Hilton alongside some very exalted company that will include Jim Carrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Lawrence, Denzel Washington, Leonardo DiCaprio, Olivia Wilde and many more.

Several other Irish Golden Globe nominees will also be there, including Michael Fassbender who has a Best Actor nomination for 'Steve Jobs'. Lenny Abrahamson's adaptation of Emma Donoghue's novel 'Room' is competing in the Best Drama category and the lead actress in that movie Brie Larson is competing with Saoirse in the Best Actress category. Emma Donoghue was also nominated for her screenplay. Caitriona Balfe is up for her first nomination as Best Actress in a TV drama for 'Outlander', as is Eva Green who stars in 'Penny Dreadful' which is filmed at Ardmore Studios.

The Golden Globes has been described as "the party of the year" ever since it began 73 years ago. The huge cadre of A-list actors are always more relaxed and have more fun than they do at the Oscars. After the show, the entire campus of the Beverly Hilton is party central with lavish after parties where the stars really do come out to play.

Meanwhile, Saoirse has also been nominated for a Bafta award. 'Brooklyn' grabbed six nominations, including Outstanding Film, and Saoirse is up against Alicia Vikander, Brie Larson, Cate Blanchett and Maggie Smith for Best Actress.

Irish Independent