Colin Farrell(I)
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Colin Farrell is one of Ireland's biggest stars in Hollywood and abroad. His film presence has been filled with memorable roles that range from an inwardly tortured hit man, to an adventurous explorer, a determined-but-failing writer, and the greatest military leader in history.
Farrell was born on May 31, 1976 in Castleknock, Dublin, Ireland to Rita (Monaghan) and Eamon Farrell. His father and uncle were both professional athletes, and briefly it looked like Farrell would follow in their footsteps. Farrell auditioned for a part in the Irish boy band Boyzone, unsuccessfully. After dropping out of the Gaiety School of Acting, Farrell was cast inBallykissangel (1996),a BBC television drama. "Ballykissangel" was not his first onscreen role. Farrell had previously been inThe War Zone (1999),directed byTim Rothand had appeared in the independent filmDrinking Crude (1997).Farrell was soon to move on to bigger things.
Exchanging his thick Dublin accent for a light Texas drawl, Farrell acted in the grittyTigerland (2000),directed byJoel Schumacher.Starring Farrell among a number of other budding young actors, the film portrays a group of new recruits being trained for the war in Vietnam. Farrell played the arrogant soldier Boz, drafted into the army and completely spiteful of authority. The film was praised by critics but made little money at the box office. It was Farrell's first big role on film, and certainly not his last. Farrell followed up withAmerican Outlaws (2001),where he played the notorious outlaw Jesse James withScott Caan,son of legendary actorJames Caan,in the role of Cole Younger. The film was a box-office flop and a critical failure. Immediately, Farrell returned to the war drama film that had made him famous. Co-starring in the war filmHart's War (2002)oppositeBruce Willis,Farrell played the young officer captured by the enemy. The film was another failure. Farrell struck gold when he was cast in theSteven SpielbergfilmMinority Report (2002)that same year. Set in a futuristic time period, Farrell played the character Danny Witwer, a young member of the Justice Department who is sent afterTom Cruise's character. The film was a smash hit, and praised by critics.
Farrell continued this success when he reunited withJoel Schumacheron the successful thrillerPhone Booth (2002).Farrell played the role of the victim who is harassed by an unseen killer (Kiefer Sutherland) and is made to reveal his sins to the public. 2003 was a big year for Farrell. He starred in the crime thrillerThe Recruit (2003)as a young CIA man mentored by an older CIA veteran (Al Pacino). Pacino later stated that Farrell was the best actor of his generation. Farrell certainly continued to be busy that year withDaredevil (2003),which actually allowed him to keep his thick Irish accent. The film was another success for Farrell, as was the crime filmS.W.A.T. (2003)where Farrell starred oppositeSamuel L. JacksonandLL Cool J.Farrell also acted in the Irish black comedy filmIntermission (2003)and appeared another Irish filmVeronica Guerin (2003)which reunited him withJoel Schumacheronce again. The following year, Farrell acted in what is his most infamous film role yet: the title role in the mightyOliver Stonefilm epicAlexander (2004),which is a character study of Alexander the Great as he travels across new worlds and conquers all the known world before him. Farrell donned a blond wig and retained his Irish accent, and gave a fine performance as Alexander. However, both he and the film were criticized. Despite being one of the highest grossing films internationally and doing a good job at the DVD sales, Farrell did not come out of the experience without a few hurts. Farrell attempted to rebound with his historical filmThe New World (2005).Reuniting with "Alexander" starChristopher Plummer,and also acting withChristian Bale,Farrell played the brave explorer John Smith, who would make first contacts with the Native peoples. The film did not do well at the box office, though critics praised the film's stunning appearance and cinematography.
Farrell returned to act inMichael Mann's filmMiami Vice (2006)alongsideJamie Foxx.The film was a film adaptation of the famous television series, and did reasonably well at the box office. Farrell also acted inAsk the Dust (2006)withSalma HayekandDonald Sutherland,though the film did not receive much distribution. The next year, Farrell acted alongsideEwan McGregorin theWoody AllenfilmCassandra's Dream (2007)which received mixed reviews from critics. Farrell followed up with the hilarious black comedyIn Bruges (2008).Written and directed by Irish theatre directorMartin McDonagh,the film stars Farrell andBrendan Gleesonas two Irish hit men whose latest assignment went wrong, leaving them to hide out in Bruges, Belgium. The film has been one of Farrell's most praised work, and he was nominated for a Golden Globe. As well asIn Bruges (2008),Farrell acted alongsideEdward Nortonin the crime filmPride and Glory (2008)which was not as successful as the former film. As well as working with charity, and speaking at the Special Olympics World Games in 2007, he has donated his salary forTerry Gilliam'sThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)toHeath Ledger's little daughter (who was left nothing in a will that had not been updated in time). Ledger had originally been cast in the film and was replaced by Farrell,Johnny DeppandJude Law.The film was a critical and financial success, and Farrell also played a small role inCrazy Heart (2009)which had the Dubliner playing a country singer. Farrell even sang a few songs for the film's soundtrack. As well as those small roles, Farrell took the lead role in the war filmTriage (2009).Farrell incredibly lost forty-four pounds to play the role of a war photographer who must come to terms with what he has experienced in Kurdistan. While the film was finely made, with excellent performances from all involved, the film has received almost no distribution.
Farrell's other leading role that year was inNeil Jordan's Irish filmOndine (2009).In recent years, he co-starred in the comedy horror filmFright Night (2011),the science fiction action filmTotal Recall (2012),both remakes, and McDonagh's second feature, and the black comedy crime filmSeven Psychopaths (2012).Since the mid-2000s, Farrell has cleaned up his act, and far from being a Hollywood hell raiser and party animal, he has shown himself to be a respectable and very talented actor.
He also starred in The Lobster (2015) and The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), both directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. For The Lobster he was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Farrell was born on May 31, 1976 in Castleknock, Dublin, Ireland to Rita (Monaghan) and Eamon Farrell. His father and uncle were both professional athletes, and briefly it looked like Farrell would follow in their footsteps. Farrell auditioned for a part in the Irish boy band Boyzone, unsuccessfully. After dropping out of the Gaiety School of Acting, Farrell was cast inBallykissangel (1996),a BBC television drama. "Ballykissangel" was not his first onscreen role. Farrell had previously been inThe War Zone (1999),directed byTim Rothand had appeared in the independent filmDrinking Crude (1997).Farrell was soon to move on to bigger things.
Exchanging his thick Dublin accent for a light Texas drawl, Farrell acted in the grittyTigerland (2000),directed byJoel Schumacher.Starring Farrell among a number of other budding young actors, the film portrays a group of new recruits being trained for the war in Vietnam. Farrell played the arrogant soldier Boz, drafted into the army and completely spiteful of authority. The film was praised by critics but made little money at the box office. It was Farrell's first big role on film, and certainly not his last. Farrell followed up withAmerican Outlaws (2001),where he played the notorious outlaw Jesse James withScott Caan,son of legendary actorJames Caan,in the role of Cole Younger. The film was a box-office flop and a critical failure. Immediately, Farrell returned to the war drama film that had made him famous. Co-starring in the war filmHart's War (2002)oppositeBruce Willis,Farrell played the young officer captured by the enemy. The film was another failure. Farrell struck gold when he was cast in theSteven SpielbergfilmMinority Report (2002)that same year. Set in a futuristic time period, Farrell played the character Danny Witwer, a young member of the Justice Department who is sent afterTom Cruise's character. The film was a smash hit, and praised by critics.
Farrell continued this success when he reunited withJoel Schumacheron the successful thrillerPhone Booth (2002).Farrell played the role of the victim who is harassed by an unseen killer (Kiefer Sutherland) and is made to reveal his sins to the public. 2003 was a big year for Farrell. He starred in the crime thrillerThe Recruit (2003)as a young CIA man mentored by an older CIA veteran (Al Pacino). Pacino later stated that Farrell was the best actor of his generation. Farrell certainly continued to be busy that year withDaredevil (2003),which actually allowed him to keep his thick Irish accent. The film was another success for Farrell, as was the crime filmS.W.A.T. (2003)where Farrell starred oppositeSamuel L. JacksonandLL Cool J.Farrell also acted in the Irish black comedy filmIntermission (2003)and appeared another Irish filmVeronica Guerin (2003)which reunited him withJoel Schumacheronce again. The following year, Farrell acted in what is his most infamous film role yet: the title role in the mightyOliver Stonefilm epicAlexander (2004),which is a character study of Alexander the Great as he travels across new worlds and conquers all the known world before him. Farrell donned a blond wig and retained his Irish accent, and gave a fine performance as Alexander. However, both he and the film were criticized. Despite being one of the highest grossing films internationally and doing a good job at the DVD sales, Farrell did not come out of the experience without a few hurts. Farrell attempted to rebound with his historical filmThe New World (2005).Reuniting with "Alexander" starChristopher Plummer,and also acting withChristian Bale,Farrell played the brave explorer John Smith, who would make first contacts with the Native peoples. The film did not do well at the box office, though critics praised the film's stunning appearance and cinematography.
Farrell returned to act inMichael Mann's filmMiami Vice (2006)alongsideJamie Foxx.The film was a film adaptation of the famous television series, and did reasonably well at the box office. Farrell also acted inAsk the Dust (2006)withSalma HayekandDonald Sutherland,though the film did not receive much distribution. The next year, Farrell acted alongsideEwan McGregorin theWoody AllenfilmCassandra's Dream (2007)which received mixed reviews from critics. Farrell followed up with the hilarious black comedyIn Bruges (2008).Written and directed by Irish theatre directorMartin McDonagh,the film stars Farrell andBrendan Gleesonas two Irish hit men whose latest assignment went wrong, leaving them to hide out in Bruges, Belgium. The film has been one of Farrell's most praised work, and he was nominated for a Golden Globe. As well asIn Bruges (2008),Farrell acted alongsideEdward Nortonin the crime filmPride and Glory (2008)which was not as successful as the former film. As well as working with charity, and speaking at the Special Olympics World Games in 2007, he has donated his salary forTerry Gilliam'sThe Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)toHeath Ledger's little daughter (who was left nothing in a will that had not been updated in time). Ledger had originally been cast in the film and was replaced by Farrell,Johnny DeppandJude Law.The film was a critical and financial success, and Farrell also played a small role inCrazy Heart (2009)which had the Dubliner playing a country singer. Farrell even sang a few songs for the film's soundtrack. As well as those small roles, Farrell took the lead role in the war filmTriage (2009).Farrell incredibly lost forty-four pounds to play the role of a war photographer who must come to terms with what he has experienced in Kurdistan. While the film was finely made, with excellent performances from all involved, the film has received almost no distribution.
Farrell's other leading role that year was inNeil Jordan's Irish filmOndine (2009).In recent years, he co-starred in the comedy horror filmFright Night (2011),the science fiction action filmTotal Recall (2012),both remakes, and McDonagh's second feature, and the black comedy crime filmSeven Psychopaths (2012).Since the mid-2000s, Farrell has cleaned up his act, and far from being a Hollywood hell raiser and party animal, he has shown himself to be a respectable and very talented actor.
He also starred in The Lobster (2015) and The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017), both directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. For The Lobster he was nominated for a Golden Globe.
