News

Colin Farrell is an Irish actor who has captivated audiences since the 1900s. He's played every type of role, earning him credits in over 64 productions.

Farrell started his acting career in Ireland, where he starred for 18 episodes in a 1998 BBC drama series called Ballykissangel.

The US got their first taste of his brooding good looks, sexy voice, great hair, and extensive talent in The War Zone in 1999.

In the following years, he racked up multiple acting credits, including some of his best works from 2002 to 2024.

Although he's more of a movie actor, that hasn't stopped him from lending his talents to several series over the years.

Along with a series to be released in 2024, and his newest work, which is first on this list of essential viewing opportunities for Colin Farrell fans.

Sugar (2024)

Role: John Sugar. Streaming on Apple+

Farrell shocked the TV world by taking on the role of Sugar,...

The first trailer for Apple TV+’s Colin Farrell vehicle Sugar has been released, putting the star in the role of detective and under the direction of City of God’s Fernando Meirelles.

Here is the official synopsis of Sugar, per Apple: “Starring and executive produced by Farrell, “Sugar” is a contemporary, unique take on one of the most popular and significant genres in literary, motion picture, and television history: the private detective story. Academy Award-nominee Colin Farrell stars as John Sugar, an American private investigator on the heels of the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of legendary Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. As Sugar tries to determine what happened to Olivia, he will also unearth Siegel family secrets; some very recent, others long-buried.”

Colin Farrell’s television output his career has been quite slim, starting off on BBC’s Ballykissangel, with his first American season the...

The actor Stephen Tompkinson has been accused of beating a father so badly he was left with a double skull fracture.

Dci Banks and Wild at Heart star Tompkinson, 56, is to stand trial in a crown court accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Tompkinson has denied the charge. The Independent has contacted his representatives for further comment.

It has been alleged that the incident followed a late evening altercation in May 2021 outside the defendant’s home of the time in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside. The victim was allegedly so severely injured that he was unable to remember much of the incident and was left unable to work.

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service told The Independent: “Stephen Tompkinson, aged 56, of Beech Grove, Whitley Bay, appeared before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 10 August to face a single charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty to the...

British actor Stephen Tompkinson, best known for his roles in Ballykissangel and Dci Banks, has been charged with grievous bodily harm (GBH) and will appear to stand trial in an English crown court.

Tompkinson has been accused of inflicting harm on another man, beating him and leaving him with a double skull fracture during an altercation that took place in May 2021, The Times reports. The actor appeared in North Tyneside magistrates’ court earlier this month where he denied the charge against him, and the case has now been referred to the higher crown court, where he will be represented by a barrister next month.

Tompkinson has been one of the UK’s most successful TV actors for decades, after getting his big break in early 1990s comedy Drop the Dead Donkey, winning a British Comedy Award for best TV actor in 1994.

He went on to appear in the film Brassed Off,...

British film and TV producer Tony Garnett, founder of “Bodyguard” producer World Productions, died Sunday at the age of 83.

His death was confirmed by the ITV Studios-backed World Productions, which released the following statement Sunday night: “After a short illness, Tony Garnett, the legendary TV and film producer and founder of World Productions, died around midday on January 12. Tony was a great man and an inspirational producer who will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.”

The Birmingham, U.K.-born Garnett began his career as an actor in the 1960s before going on to produce TV movies such as “Cathy Come Home” and “Kes” with “I, Daniel Blake” director Ken Loach – a frequent collaborator.

His work was known for a hard-nosed social realism that tackled issues such as homelessness and abortion.

Garnett worked in Hollywood in the 1980s, where he produced films such as “Earth Girls Are Easy,...

Exclusive: Irish producer ShinAwiL has launched a drama division and has set a slate that includes a crime drama from Ballykissangel writer Barry Devlin, a period drama from author Ann-Marie Casey and a tween Canadian co-pro.

The company, which is best known for producing Irish versions of unscripted hits such as Dancing with the Stars and The Voice, has tapped Vikings and The Borgias producer Aaron Farrell to run the unit with Mary Callery, former commissioning editor of drama at Irish public broadcaster Rte.

ShinAwiL is launching its inaugural scripted slate ahead of Series Mania in Lille, France, where it will talk with broadcasters and production partners about its projects.

Kill is a six-part contemporary crime drama written by Devlin, who produced a number of music videos for U2 in the 1980s and has written episodes of The Darling Buds of May, PBS and BBC co-pro My Mother and Other Strangers...

Exclusive: Colin Farrell is to star in the BBC’s adaptation of The North Water. Deadline understands that the Minority Report star will front the series, written and directed by Lean on Pete and 45 Years’ Andrew Haigh, and produced by Top of the Lake producer See-Saw Films.

Farrell plays Henry Drax in the drama, a harpooner and brutish killer whose amorality has been shaped to fit the harshness of his world, who will set sail on a whaling expedition to the Arctic with Patrick Sumner, a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up as the ship’s doctor. Hoping to escape the horrors of his past, Sumner finds himself on an ill-fated journey with a murderous psychopath. In search of redemption, his story becomes a harsh struggle for survival in the Arctic wasteland.

Deadline understands that the BBC is in talks with a number of A-list actors for the role of...

Exclusive: Further cast attached to soccer drama include Gary Lewis, Michael Socha and Chloe Harris.

UK-Germany co-pro Trautmann, a biopic of legendary German goalkeeper Bert Trautmann, has rounded out its cast and begun filming in Northern Ireland.

Joining the recently announced John Henshaw (Looking For Eric) and Dervla Kirwan (Ballykissangel) are: Dave Johns (I, Daniel Blake), Harry Melling (Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1), Gary Lewis (Billy Elliot), Michael Socha (Being Human), Mikey Collins (Dunkirk), Chloe Harris (Call The Midwife) and Barbara Young (Coronation Street).

Germany’s David Kross plays Trautmann and 2013 UK Star of Tomorrow Freya Mavor is the love of his life, Margaret, who was the daughter of his English coach.

The film tells the story of Bert Trautmann, the former Nazi paratrooper who became a goalkeeping legend at Manchester City, making 545 appearances and famously playing in the Fa Cup final with a broken neck.

The first image has also been released (see above...

The North Hollywood CineFest returns for another exciting edition this month and among the fantastic line-up is the intense and atmospheric thriller Red by Branko Tomovic (24, Fury, The Bourne Ultimatum), which also stars Dervla Kirwan (Ondine, Ballykissangel, The Silence, Doctor Who) and Francesca Fowler (Doctor Who, Rome, Closure). It's Branko's directing debut and tells the story of Niklas, a surgeon who lives a life of solitude and is tormented by self hatred. He performs regular illegal surgeries for the red market and works together with Mia, a young prostitute who lures her clients in and drugs them. Niklas is looking for a way out of this dark world, but owes his life to their violent crime boss Ed, who would rather kill him then let him go....

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Among the fantastic line-up of the San Diego International Film Festival 2016 was the edgy and atmospheric thriller Red by Branko Tomovic (24, Fury, The Bourne Ultimatum), which also stars Dervla Kirwan (Ondine, Ballykissangel, Doctor Who) and Francesca Fowler (Doctor Who, Rome, Closure) in the role of Mia. Red tells the story of Niklas, a surgeon who lives a life of solitude and is tormented by self hatred. He performs regular illegal surgeries for the red market and works together with Mia, a young prostitute who lures her clients in and drugs them. Niklas is looking for a way out of this dark world, but owes his life to their violent crime boss Ed, who would rather kill him then let him go. Red started the...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

The British-German thriller Red is a dark, edgy, intense and atmospheric thriller set in the underground world of illegal organ trade. It's the directorial debut of Branko Tomovic (24, Fury, The Bourne Ultimatum) and also stars Dervla Kirwan (Ondine, Ballykissangel, The Silence, Doctor Who) and Francesca Fowler (Doctor Who, Rome, Closure). It screened this week at the prestigious San Diego International Film Festival and Branko also just won the Best Actor Award at the Maverick Movie Awards 2016 (past winners include Robert Redford, Sophia Loren, Isabella Rosselini, Tom Berenger, Armand Assante) for playing the leading role Niklas, a surgeon tormented by self hatred and guilt who is looking for a way out of this dark world.    Niklas performs regular illegal surgeries for the red market and works together with Mia,...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

The San Diego International Film Festival kicked off this week and among the fantastic line-up is the intense and atmospheric thriller Red by Branko Tomovic (24, Fury, City of Tiny Lights), which also stars Dervla Kirwan (Ondine, Ballykissangel, The Silence, Doctor Who) and Francesca Fowler (Doctor Who, Rome, Closure). It's Branko's directing debut and tells the story of Niklas, a surgeon who lives a life of solitude and is tormented by self hatred. He performs regular illegal surgeries for the red market and works together with Mia, a young prostitute who lures her clients in and drugs them. Niklas is looking for a way out of this dark world, but owes his life to their violent crime boss Ed, who would rather kill him then let him go....

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

“Ballykissangel” (1998-99) Colin Farrell‘s big break came playing villager Danny Byrne in the Irish TV series “Tigerland” (2000) In his first U.S. starring role, Farrell played a draftee in 1971 going through Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk, aka Louisiana’s infamous Tigerland, the last stop for soldiers heading to Vietnam. “American Outlaws” (2001) The Dublin-born actor got his first big exposure with American audiences playing Jesse James in 2001’s “American Outlaws” “Minority Report” (2002) Farrell sealed his movie star status when he co-starred with Tom Cruise in 2002 Steven Spielberg film, “Minority Report” “Daredevil” (2003) He went on to shave his head for...

House Films are currently in pre-production with the short film Red, a thriller set in the underground world of illegal organ trade. It's the directorial debut of Branko Tomovic (24: Live Another Day, Fury, The Bourne Ultimatum) and stars Francesca Fowler (Doctor Who, Rome, Closure) and Dervla Kirwan (Ondine, Ballykissangel, The Silence, Doctor Who).

For a crucial scene we are looking for a child actor, could be boy or girl, any ethnicity, age 8-10, with set experience.

Filming for this role would be one day only on January 10th 2016 in central London.

More info on the film can be found on: http://redshortfilm.weebly.com

Please email submissions to thefilmred@gmail.com...

Book author El James has tightened her iron grip over the creative direction of Fifty Shades Darker, the green-lit follow-up to this year’s hit erotic romance, now that her husband Niall Leonard has closed a deal to pen the script for the sequel.

Rumor had it that James herself wanted to scribe the adaptation of her bestselling book, after being dissatisfied with the experience of working with director Sam Taylor-Johnson and screenwriter Kelly Marcel on Fifty Shades of Grey. Leonard, though obviously still close enough to his wife that she’ll be able to have the final say over every aspect of the sequel, may be better-qualified. He’s a novelist with titles like Crusher, Incinerator and Shredder, but he’s also written scripts in the past, for shows like Ballykissangel, Holby City, Monarch in the Glen and Wild at Heart. He landed the job after writing an outline for the sequel,...

The Vaughnaissance starts here! HBO has finally confirmed the news that everyone already knew - Vince Vaughn will star in the second season of True Detective. Expect to see a darker side to the big screen comedy star, who'll play a career criminal alongside Colin Farrell's compromised cop in Nic Pizzolatto's drama.

The duo aren't familiar faces on the small screen (Farrell's last recurring TV credit was Ballykissangel in the late '90s!), but here are 7 essential Vaughn and Farrell film to watch to get you ready for season two.

1. Swingers (1996)

Vince Vaughn burst onto the scene in the mid-'90s as Swingers' fast-talking cool cat Trent Walker. His character, a charismatic extrovert, stood in sharp contrast to Jon Favreau's more contemplative Mike. After Swingers put Vaughn on the map, he bagged roles in Jurassic Park: The Lost World and the Psycho remake - but...

Over the weekend, the Irish magazine The Sunday World featured an interview with Colin Farrell in which he confirmed that he will be in the next season of True Detective.

“I know it will be eight episodes and take around four or five months to shoot. I know very little about it, but we’re shooting in the environs of Los Angeles which is great. It means I get to stay at home and see the kids,” Farrell said.

Neither HBO nor Creator Nic Pizzolato have yet to confirm Farrell’s addition to the cast, but he was one of many names in the rumor mill, which includes Taylor Kitsch, Vince Vaughn Elisabeth Moss, Rachel McAdams and the debunked rumor of Jessica Chastain. One other rumor has involved the choice of Fast & Furious director Justin Lin to take the place of Cary Fukunaga from last season.

This would be Farrell...

Actor who played Bert Lynch in BBC police drama Z-Cars and appeared in shows ranging from Doctor Who to Nightingales

The actor James Ellis (also known as Jimmy), who has died aged 82, was the longest-serving original cast member of the hugely popular BBC television series Z-Cars. When Z-Cars began in 1962, it represented a major change in the way the police were characterised in fiction. The BBC police series Dixon of Dock Green had been running for seven years, with Jack Warner playing the understanding, avuncular police constable Dixon. Z-Cars, by contrast, had the actors Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor making cynical remarks about the death of a murdered police colleague whose funeral they were attending, and Ellis, as Constable Bert Lynch, hearing from a colleague how he beats up his wife, without doing anything about it. Z-Cars attempted to show how moral anarchy in the rundown industrial area of the...

As the BFI celebrates his 50 years' work, the man behind Cathy Come Home reveals the tragedy that changed his world

Television has treated Tony Garnett well over the past 50 years. He lives in an apartment close to the Ritz Hotel, where Margaret Thatcher died, a far cry from his working class childhood roots in Erdington, Birmingham. His local cafe is Fortnum & Mason, where he wields a silver teapot with aplomb, but he still declares: "I am a revolutionary socialist. I think our society would benefit from fundamental change."

Charming, kindly, but still angry after all these years, Garnett, 77, was a leader of the generation of radical TV creatives who addressed big social and political issues in their influential BBC dramas of the 1960s and 70s. His work is about to be celebrated in a two-month season, Seeing Red, at London's BFI.

The season opens with his explosive dramas for the BBC's Wednesday Play,...

Sky Living HD and NBC have announced that Katie McGrath (Merlin), Victoria Smurfit (Bulletproof Monk) and Nonso Anozie (Game of Thrones) will join Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors) as series regulars in the much anticipated new drama series Dracula coming to Sky Living HD later this year.

McGrath will play Lucy Westenra, aristocratic London’s sexy, social butterfly who has a penchant for gossip, flirting and all things glamorous. A best friend to Dracula’s muse, Mina Murray (played by Jessica De Gouw), Lucy gradually becomes entwined in a web of lies, lust and temptation that challenges the boundaries of their relationship. McGrath recently completed her series regular role of Morgana on BBC’s hit television show Merlin.

Victoria Smurfit is no stranger to the small screen, having appeared in the likes of Ballykissangel and Cold Feet. She’s the latest in a string of strong and stunning female talent to commit to the series,...

No longer the drug-taking, whisky-swilling loudmouth, actor Colin Farrell has cleaned up his act and discovered yoga

Colin Farrell is giving someone a right ticking-off, gesticulating with one hand and prodding him in the chest with the index finger of the other. The fellow, a reporter, seems embarrassed but doesn't object; several pokes later he retreats into another room. Farrell follows him, maintaining a frown and daggering the man with suspicious glances. We're both here, in a Mexican hotel, to interview the actor, who is promoting his new film. Farrell has been chipper all day. I wonder what's got his goat.

A while later, when I sit down with him, he looks at me aghast. "Can you fuckin' believe what he said?" he asks with eyebrows arched. I presume he's referring to the poking scene and confess I don't know what was said. What is it, Colin? "Well, I couldn't believe it,...

Colin Farrell has secured himself a reputation as a bit of a bad boy. With the smouldering good looks, the twinkle of trouble in his eye and his lady-killing Irish drawl he’s inadvertently found himself in a bit of a Marmite situation – you either love him or you hate him.

However you feel about this native Dubliner, the fact remains that he’s here to stay. And it’s not all teen heart-throb drivel. Admittedly some of it might be, but much of his body of work is actually stellar stuff. He’s found himself in several huge roles since his tenure on the BBC Ireland-set soap Ballykissangel and has consistently displayed the type of range that’s required to operate as a Hollywood leading man.

In August, he’ll have the chance to show that range again. Stepping into Arnold Schwarzenneger’s comedically over-sized boots to play Total Recall’s Douglas Quade,...

BBC The Fuse

Kieran Kinsella

Click here to friend Best British TV on Facebook or here to follow us on Twitter.

We have heard plenty about Titanic and the new series of Doctor Who but what are the other shows to watch out for in 2012?

Line of Duty. Our Friends in the North star Gina McKee seems to pick her parts carefully and Line of Duty is already receiving rave reviews from critics at advance screenings. The drama centers around an investigation involving corrupt cops. The writer claims that members of the Metropolitan Police Force were less than helpful when he was researching the show and their actions have only served to heighten the excitement surrounding Line of Duty.

Savage. 2012 is already proving to be a good year for Warren Brown thanks to his role in the critically acclaimed Inside Men. The Luther actor plays a troubled cop in this...

Dublin actor David Kelly passed away on Sunday following a short illness. He was 82-years-old. For over 50 years, working right up until last year, Kelly worked in theater, television, and film. His most famous role was in the 1980s Rte series “Strumpet City”. A piece of work he also singled out as one of his favorite. His role as O’Reilly the builder in 1975 made him recognizable all over the world. According to the Irish Times he often remarked on how those nine minutes in John Cleese’s comedy made him recognizable. Born in Dublin, 11th July 1929, he started acting at the age of eight in the Gaiety Theatre. His friend, Director of the Gate Theater, Michael Colgan, speaking to Rte, also remarked on what an excellent artist Kelly was. He was a trained calligrapher and a talented watercolour artist. In the 1960s and 70s he played eccentric characters in...

The distinctive and beguiling Irish actor David Kelly, who has died aged 82, was as familiar a face in British television sitcoms as he was on the stage in Dublin, where he was particularly associated with the Gate theatre. But he was perhaps best known in recent years for playing Grandpa Joe in Tim Burton's movie adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), an engaging performance that was honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Film and Television Academy; Johnny Depp, who played Willy Wonka, paid a touching tribute on a video link from Hollywood to Dublin.

Kelly was a tall and flamboyant figure who was often cast as a comic, eccentric Irishman, notably as Albert Riddle, an incompetent, one-armed dish-washer in the late 1970s British sitcom Robin's Nest; he...

Irish actor David Kelly has died in hospital after a short illness. The Dubliner, who was best known for his roles in Waking Ned and as Grandpa Joe Bucket in Tim Burton's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, was 82. Kelly's first break on the screen came with two small role but noteworthy roles: the vicar presiding over Great Aunt Nelly's funeral in The Italian Job and inept builder O'Reilly in Fawlty Towers. He went on to combine work on the stage with stalwart TV turns in Ballykissangel, On The Buses and Emmerdale Farm. Samuel Beckett's one-man play Krapp’s Last Tape, in which Kelly played the title role to great acclaim, was a high-water mark for his career in theatre. Kelly also scored notable sucesses on the big screen. As elderly chancer Michael O'Sullivan in Kirk Jones' knockabout comedy Waking Ned, he landed a SAG award nod and...

One of Ireland’s best known Hollywood exports, Colin Farrell is the reason why so many women find Irish men appealing. Here are ten random facts about the Dubliner: 1. Attended Dublin’s Gaiety Drama School but eventually dropped out to play Danny Byrne on the BBC series Ballykissangel. 2. Colin once auditioned for the Irish boy band ‘Boyzone’. 3. Has been named one of People's "50 Most Beautiful People." 4. According to IMDb his mother persuaded him to take dancing lessons with his brothers. 5. An avid footballer, Farrell wanted to a be a soccer player as a child just like his father Eamon Farrell. ___________ Read More: Colin Farrell’s profile page Colin Farrell plays Santa Claus at Dublin’s children’s hospital Alec Baldwin, “Boardwalk Empire” and “Game of Thrones” big winners at the SAG Awards - Video ___________ 6. One of his favorite actors is Al Pacino. 7. His sister Claudine Farrell is also his personal assistant.

When he wants to be, Colin Farrell is the most accomplished male film star of his generation. But one of the interesting facts about his career is that he clearly hasn’t always wanted to be. As well as an A-list actor he’s also been, at various times, a playboy and party animal, and at all times a proud dad of two sons. In recent years he starred in some big budget turkeys, of which director Oliver Stone’s Alexander and Michael Mann’s Miami Vice are probably the most infamous examples. Instead of copper fastening his stardom, those two big budget duds almost sunk it completely, but then Farrell emerged victorious in small budget winners like In Bruges and Cassandra’s Dream. Along the way he’s made it pretty clear that he hasn’t always enjoyed life in the public eye or the trappings of celebrity. In fact,...

And so it came to pass that in October 2008 that the end of the road was in sight for the Tenth Doctor. The edict came from the man himself, David Tennant, speaking via a video link (and inexplicably flanked by two grim-faced reapers of death) at an awards ceremony. Yes, he'd stick around for a clutch of one-off specials but after that he'd be bidding adieu. And so, countless Tennant girly fans wept into their Tenth Doctor action figures. TVs were thrown out of windows. Riots broke out. Well, I exaggerate, but the feeling at the awards megillah was so full of disappointment that you could almost sense that some rogue fan would go up to Tennant and take his award away from him.

Don't forget, by 2008, Tennant was regarded by a good number of fans as one of the most popular Doctors ever, winning Best Doctor polls and earning numerous accolades for his portrayal.

In this week’s column, James gets his teeth into Fright Night, and asks whether we’re now officially bored with vampires…

Colin Farrell is a vampire! I like the sound of this supernatural scenario. Indeed, this is a case of inspired casting that allows a talented and adaptable actor a juicy role he can really get his teeth into.

It’s just a shame that the Irishman is only becoming a seductive bloodsucker now for Fright Night, and not at the beginning of his career when he spent some time in Ballykissangel. It would have been fun to see young Farrell terrorising BBC primetime TV, worrying the sheep and spreading unholy terror through the County Kerry countryside.

Ah well, never mind. Farrell has finally got fangs for his appearance as Jerry Dandridge in the 3D remake of the 1985 flick. I’m going to naively pretend that the new Fright Night...

It’s a comedy, gangster picture, moody drama, and a masterpiece of filmmaking. Paul looks back at Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges...

Ken: You know, I'm not sure it's really his thing.

Harry: What do you mean it's not really his thing? What's that supposed to mean? It's not really his thing. What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

Ken: Nothing, Harry.

Harry: It's a fairytale town, isn't it? How's a fairytale town not somebody's fucking thing?

One of the most noticeable sea changes in movies over the years has been the ever-narrowing time span between a cult film’s initially underwhelming reception and the eventual reappraisal it receives from a dedicated fan following.

An increased emphasis on the box office numbers provided on an opening weekend means that it takes less than a week for a film to be adjudged as a success or a failure. This, coupled...

Yesterday it was the royal hunks, today's "The Hobbit" dwarf pictorial (via Stuff.co.nz) features three more dwarves who represent a quite different background - the rougher and life loving working class trio of Bombur (Stephen Hunter), Bofur (James Nesbitt) and Bifur (William Kircher). Here's the description of their characters:

"Born and bred in the West, descendants of coal miners and iron workers, they have joined the Quest for the Lonely Mountain partly to seek their fortune and partly because they were told the beer was free."

Hunter is a familiar face on Australian and New Zealand television with a role in several episodes of the acclaimed "Love My Way" along with guest starring roles on "All Saints," "Spirited," "Mercy Peak" and "Street Legal".

Irish actor Nesbitt is an outright legend of British television with memorable leading role turns in "Jekyll," "Cold Feet," "Ballykissangel," "Playing the Field," "Murphy's Law,...

Zonad is from space, and is a brilliant idea. I received the DVD eagerly as I was keen on the idea from the cover notes and the trailer. It had all the ingredients needed to make a new classic Irish comedy: the wonderful location, a different take on the classic 50‘s sci-fi movies, mistaken identity and some good lines. It should make a great DVD release...

An Irish family full of stories of aliens see a meteor, and then return home to find what they believe to be just such an alien. Zonad soon finds that he is popular with the men and even more so with the rather busty women in the village. We soon learn, however, that there is a darker side to our hero Zonad: he is, in fact, on the run from enforced alcoholic rehabilitation. That should make this movie a perfect example of how...

Now we know they are famous forever but once they were unknowns. So how did some of Ireland's biggest names actually get their start in movies? The answers will surprise you. Colin Farrell Colin Farrell tries to give the impression of being a working-class Dublin boyo – but in fact he comes from the posh Dublin suburb of Castleknock. Some have fallen for the image he projects – the on-line magazine, “Askman,” for example, once wrote that Farrell is “the kind of guy you want to knock back a few pints with. He oozes working-class heroism.” His father Eamon, was a former soccer player with an Irish club called Shamrock Rovers, and currently runs a health food store in Dublin. He has said that his mother, Rita, collects newspapers clippings of him for her scrapbook. Although his accent makes him sound like someone who grew up in a tough Dublin neighborhood of Dublin,...

Veteran Irish James Nesbitt and newcomer Adam Brown have officially joined Peter Jackson.s "The Hobbit" as the dwarves Bofur and Ori respectively reports The One Ring. Nesbitt had been linked to the project a few weeks back, but today came word on which role in particular along with confirmation of his involvement. His role will be that of Bofur, a "disarmingly forthright, funny and occasionally brave Dwarf". Having consistently been in work since 1991 on British television and in features, Nesbitt has delivered memorable character turns in shows like "Ballykissangel","Murphy's Law", "Cold Feet" and Steven Moffat's "Jekyll" mini-series. In film he's worked in strong efforts from some of the great filmmakers of our time including Michael Winterbottom's "Welcome To Sarajevo", Danny...

Veteran Irish thesp James Nesbitt and newcomer Adam Brown have officially joined Peter Jackson‘s “The Hobbit” as the dwarves Bofur and Ori respectively reports The One Ring.

Nesbitt had been linked to the project a few weeks back, but today came word on which role in particular along with confirmation of his involvement. His role will be that of Bofur, a "disarmingly forthright, funny and occasionally brave Dwarf".

Having consistently been in work since 1991 on British television and in features, Nesbitt has delivered memorable character turns in shows like "Ballykissangel," "Murphy's Law," "Cold Feet" and Steven Moffat's "Jekyll" mini-series. In film he's worked in strong efforts from some of the great filmmakers of our time including Michael Winterbottom's "Welcome to Sarajevo", Danny Boyle's "Millions", Woody Allen's "Match Point" and Paul Greengrass' "Bloody Sunday".

Brown will play Ori, another of the Dwarf Company which sets...

James Nesbitt has been offered a role while David Tennant and Michael Fassbender are being pursued for two other roles in the upcoming "The Hobbit" reports Deadline.

The $500 million dual films finally got the green light by New Line, Warner Bros. Pictures and MGM last week with production slated to begin in February next year. Ian McKellen is set to return as Gandalf, Andy Serkis as Gollum, and though not officially yet it seems set that Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins.

Irish actor Nesbitt is a staple on British television, rising to fame on such shows as "Cold Feet," "Ballykissangel," "Murphy's Law" and "Jekyll" along with films like "Match Point," "Millions," "Bloody Sunday" and "Five Minutes of Heaven".

Fassbender has found his name quickly rising in Hollywood thanks to key roles in blockbusters like "300," "Inglourious Basterds," "Centurion" and "X-Men: First Class" along with art house features like "Hunger" and...

Mick Lally one of Ireland’s best-known actors, has died. He was a founder of the Druid Theater and best known to Irish television audiences as Miley Byrne in the long running series ‘Glenroe’ and in the BBC hit series ‘Ballykissangel’. He was aged 64. Lally’s other roles included voice work on the Oscar nominated feature animation, ‘The Secret of Kells’ as Brother Aidan and roles in ‘Circle of Friends’ and ‘Alexander’. He was born in Tourmakeady, Co Mayo, and began his career as a schoolteacher before moving to acting.He became a founder member of the world acclaimed Druid Theatre Company with Garry Hynes and Marie Mullen In 1979. He was a fluent Irish speaker and a strong supporter of the language, appearing in the Irish language series ‘Ros na Rún’.. Mary Hanafin Td Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport extended her heartfelt sympathy on the death of Mick Lally,...

Shooting has just completed on, 'Blood Coloured Moon', the first Filmbase/Rte short film to be shot on the much talked about Red format. Written by established playwright, Barry McKinley, the romantic comedy features Ronan Leahy (The Catalpa Rescue), Olga Wehrly (Speed Dating, The Clinic) and Frankie McCafferty (Middletown, Ballykissangel). Director Marc-Ivan O'Gorman, who's previous credits include the Fuji Film award-winning short 'Trick or Treat' and the feature 'Black Magic', is delighted with what he has to work with: 'This is as good a short script as you'll come across, we've managed to get a wonderful, experienced cast, and from what I've seen of the Red it is a stunning format'.

Hollywood actor Colin Farrell is glad he failed an audition for Irish pop group Boyzone - because he wouldn't have "lasted too long" in the band.

Farrell tried out for the boyband in the 1990s while he was a struggling actor in Ireland, but he was rejected during the audition phases for his lack of vocal talent.

Boyzone went on to score a string of chart successes in the U.K., returning last year for a reunion tour.

Farrell eventually landed a role in British drama series Ballykissangel in 1998 and went on to forge a high profile career in Hollywood.

And the star admits he is pleased he was never accepted into Boyzone - because it would have sent his life off on a very different path.

He says, "I don't think I would have lasted in the band too long. Life would have been very different, very different.

"I certainly wouldn't have lasted a reunion I don't think."...