It's only early January, but 2017 is already looking to be a year to remember for Mel Gibson.

In an unexpected comeback, the Australian star is nominated for two categories at this Sunday's Golden Globes.

And he's also set to welcome his ninth child - something he is just as proud of, if his behaviour at Friday's AFI Awards is to be believed.

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Oh baby! Mel Gibson, 61, pats pregnant girlfriend Rosalind Ross, 26, on the bottom at the AFI Awards in Los Angeles on Friday

The pair posed happily together on the red carpet, with father-of-eight Mel, 61, proudly patting his 26-year-old girlfriend on the behind.

Rosalind, an ex-equestrian vaulter, looked lovely in a red dress which highlighted the mother to be's growing bump.

She smiled as Mel kept his arm around her waist, while facing the cameras.

Mel sported a new fresh-faced look, having publicly shaven off his beard on live TV the previous evening.

The pair posed happily together on the red carpet, with father-of-eight Mel, 61, proudly patting his 26-year-old girlfriend on the behind.

Rosalind is the first love interest to emerge publicly with Mel since his infamous 2010 split with his former flame, Oksana Grigorieva.

Oscar winning director and actor Mel was at the AFI Awards thanks to his latest movie - Hacksaw Ridge - which was named one of the ten outstanding films of the year by the American Film Insistitute.

It was just one of many expected honours for the movie, which stars Mel as Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat as a medic during World War II.