COUNCILLORS have encouraged residents to back a Holywell-born actor who is in the running for a major film award against the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Adam Driver.

At the recent meeting of Holywell Town Council, mayor Cllr Paul Johnson said: “We celebrate Holywell in many ways, and I think anyone walking through Holywell on January this year will notice some significant changes from last year. We have the new High Street works completed and the Greenfield Valley to name just a few.

“However, because so many things are going on, sometimes things that Holywell should be proud of things that are happening thousands of miles away.”

The mayor referred to Holywell-born Jonathan Pryce, who stars in ‘The Two Popes’ as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio in a film which tells the story of how behind the Vatican walls, conservative Pope Benedict and the liberal future Pope Francis must find common ground to forge a new path for the Catholic Church.

The 72-year-old star is up against Joaquin Phoenix for the ‘Joker’, Leonardo DiCaprio for ‘Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’, Antonio Banderas ‘Pain and Glory’ and Adam Driver ‘Marriage Story’.

Co-star Anthony Hopkins is also in the running for an award on the night as Best Supporting Actor.

He continued: “Some of you will know that he comes from the local area, having attended Holywell Grammar School [now Holywell High School], and I would like to propose that the town council sends a letter of support and appreciation because anyone checking his Wikipedia page out - or anything else like that - will see Holywell prominently featured in his early life and help draw some attention to the town.

“I think that we should be proud that someone from Holywell has achieved the honour of these award nominations and I would like to urge the whole town to get behind him and show their support. I think it is something quite unique for a small town like Holywell.”

Members of the council backed the mayor’s words and wished Pryce the best of luck for when the awards are set to be aired from in Los Angeles, in California to the UK on February 10 at 1am.