These movie stars made in Dublin
In addition to the many international films that have passed through the Irish capital, Dublin has seen the birth of great actors and actresses, many of whom are still very active today. Among the most famous names, there is of course Colin Farrell. Born in 1976 in Castleknock, a suburb of Dublin, he became known in the early 2000s with action films such as S.W.A.T. or Daredevil (2003), before being revealed by successes such as Alexander (2004) or Miami Vice (2006), in front of the camera of great directors such as Oliver Stone, Steven Spielberg or Michael Mann. In 2003, he turns in Dublin in Intermission, the Irish director John Crowley. In this police comedy where several small-time criminals cross paths in the streets of Dublin, he plays opposite Cillian Murphy, another world-famous star thanks to the series Peaky Blinders, among others. You will recognize the locks of Dublin, as well as the beautiful mountains that border the city. Today, Colin Farrell has become one of the most important actors in independent cinema in Europe, America and elsewhere. If he turns of course in blockbusters such as The Fantastic Animals (2016), his best performances are to be found in The Lobster (2015), by the Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, or After Yang (2021), where his game both fragile and captivating is revealed in all its subtlety.
Before him, Brendan Gleeson is probably the Irish actor who was the most sought after by Hollywood in the early 2000s. After several roles in TV series and minor films, he appeared as Hamish alongside Mel Gibson in Braveheart (1995), then with Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible II (2000). In 2005, he appeared for the first time as Alastor Maugrey, the new teacher at Hogwarts School in the fourth installment of the Harry Potter saga. Notably, his son Domhnall Gleeson also plays the character of Bill Weasley, and father and son share the screen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2010. The two actors then pursue a varied career between cinema d'auteur and big Hollywood productions. Downhall Gleeson is Caleb in Ex Machina (2014), while playing the sanguine General Hux in the new Star Wars trilogy. Brendan Gleeson, meanwhile, alternates between small productions like Calvary (2014) and big popular hits like Paddington 2 (2016). After having played a first time with Colin Farrell in Good Kisses of Bruges (2008), the two Dublin actors reunite in the recently released The Banshees of Inisherin (2022), presented at the Venice Film Festival.
On the director side, it is Lenny Abrahamson who is undoubtedly the Dubliner best known internationally, through esteemed successes like Frank (2014) and Room (2015). Michael Fassbender plays a musical genius perpetually hidden under a papier-mâché head in the first, while the second confirms the talent of Brie Larson to the general public, before she becomes Captain Marvel in the studio saga of the same name.
In the series, two names stand out: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, star of the series The Tudors (2007-2010), is also of Dublin origin. And this is not the only link that this fictionalized story of the life of Henry VIII has with the Irish capital. Several key parts of the series were filmed in the city, including the impressive Dublin Castle, which stands in for the Vatican City. You will also find Dimnagh Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, or the People's Flower Garden, a beautiful place nestled in the heart of Phoenix Park. If you have the opportunity, you can also visit Kilmainham Gaol, which also makes an appearance in the second season.
More recently, another Dublin actor, Liam Cunningham, has played one of the main roles in the Game of Thrones series (2011-2019). Playing the character of Ser Davos Seaworth (Mervault), Cunningham appears in the second season as an advisor to King Stannis Baratheon. A performance that occupies him throughout the decade 2010, he had already been noticed previously with Ken Loach in The Wind R ises (2006), or in Hunger by Steve McQueen (2008).
Dublin and its castles, stars of the small and big screen
Beyond these famous actors, Dublin is also a city where many film shoots have stopped. And the magnificent alleys of the Trinity College Library are no stranger to it. This mythical library appears notably in Foundation (2021-), the latest SF series signed by AppleTV+, and featuring the masterpiece of Isaac Asimov. But it is also used in the mini-series Normal People (2020), in Ripper Street (2012-2016), or in the film Byzantium (2012), by Irish director Neil Jordan. Dublin's medieval past also makes it a city of cinema, hosting many mythical films such as Braveheart (1995) at Dunsoghly Castle, the Penny Dreadful series (2014-2016) at Dublin Castle and the King's Inn, or great classics such as Barry Lindon (1975), also partly shot at Dublin Castle.
On a completely different note, fans of romantic drama can relive one of the cult scenes from P.S. I Love You (2007) at Whelan's Pub. And, if you're familiar with the film about Hillary Swank's epistolary relationship with her late husband, Gerald Butler, you'll be able to sing along to Galway Girl with a pint of Guinness in hand.
Living the cinema in Dublin
Want to see a good movie in a high quality theater? Opt for one of the Stella Cinemas in the city! These luxury cinemas will welcome you in a cosy atmosphere, in front of an art house production or a blockbuster, depending on the situation. And if your schedule takes you to Dublin in February, avoid the rain by taking refuge in the Dublin International Film Festival, which delights local moviegoers every year at this time.
