Colin Farrell talks about the rise of Irish actors in Hollywood

Colin Farrell

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Colin Farrell has nothing but love for his country, saying this week that he is proud of the Irish actor’s recent rise in success in Hollywood.

“I mean we punch way above our weight,” said Farrell, a native of Castleknock, Ireland. Entertainment tonight. “We are a country of only five million people, and I don’t know Irish people – just whether that’s through music, whether it’s the written word, whether it’s prose poetry, film, theatre.

He added that he feels his fellow citizens share an appreciation for “the importance of story” and “a penchant for stories and the meanings by which we understand ourselves and the world around us.”

Last month, Oppenheimer Cillian Murphy has become the first Irish-born actor to win Best Actor at the Academy Awards. “I’m so proud to have an Irishman standing here tonight,” Murphy said from the stage.

Elsewhere in Hollywood, Irish actors such as Barry Keoghan, Andrew Scott, Kerry Condon and Paul Mescal have reached stardom in recent years, joining a cast of talent that includes Saoirse Ronan, Liam Neeson, Michael Fassbender, Brendan Gleeson, Domhnall Gleeson and Farrell himself. .

“Barry is off to the races,” Farrell continued Kill the sacred deer And Panchayat Incherin Co-star. “He’s killing it, he’s doing a great job. I saw him last week for the first time in almost a year, and he looked like he was in great shape, so it was great to see him.”

In addition to its wealth of on-screen talent, Ireland is also a thriving hub for Hollywood films. After years of growth, Screen Ireland began 2024 with a record budget of $42 million, launching production on a slate of 40 projects in January.

“I won’t talk about it, but there’s something culturally unique about doing business in Ireland and that experience that you have,” said Eileen Geraghty, managing director of two of Ireland’s top film studios. Hollywood Reporter Last month. “That comes with being an island nation. It’s a tight community – everyone in the screen industry knows each other. That’s really helpful when you’re trying to get started and make sure people get the best experience.”