Oscar nominee Ruth Negga is set to be honoured at a special awards ceremony hosted by Star Wars director J.J Abrams.

Negga will be honoured alongside Caitriona Balfe, Glen Hansard, Zachary Quinto, and Martin Short at the US-Ireland Alliance’s Oscar Wilde Awards in Santa Monica.

Hollywood actors Chris Pine and Catherine O’Hara will join Abrams in presenting the awards.

Negga has been nominated for a host of awards for her turn as Mildred in the acclaimed film ‘loving’ - including the Oscars, Golden Globes and Critics Choice awards.

The film follows Mildred and Richard Loving, the couple behind a pivotal 1967 civil rights case.

Following the inter-racial couple’s marriage in June 1958 they were arrested and sentenced to a year in the state penitentiary- a sentence that was suspended on the condition that they be exiled from the state of Virginia.

The couple spent the next nine years fighting the verdict - determined to be together in their home state.

US-Ireland Alliance founder Trina Vargo said: “We are thrilled to honour Ruth. I watched the film several times at our various screenings and found new subtleties with each viewing.”

“The brilliance of Ruth’s performance lies in the nuances.

“It’s a role that requires the conveyance of emotion as much through a look as through dialogue.”

The Academy Awards ceremony will be held on February 26th at the Dolby theatre in Hollywood.