Barry Keoghan has received further praise for being a “fantastic role model”.
The actor’s career continues to go from strength to strength, having been nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the film The Banshees of Inisherin directed by Martin McDonagh.
Keoghan also scooped up an BAFTA Award for his role in the film.
However, it’s the Dublin native’s ability to face adversity which has been the subject of major plaudits recently.
“It’s amazing, it’s so positive”
The type of adversity faced by Keoghan includes being placed in as many as 13 different foster care homes, following the death of his mother from a drug overdose, when he was 5 years old.
Eventually, Keoghan and his brother were placed in the care of their grandmother.
The actor subsequently enrolled at Belvadere Youth Club, starring in their 2010 production of Hairspray – The Musical as Link Larkin.
“It’s amazing, it’s so positive. It’s great that the north inner city is out there in the media for positive news for a change, not all the negativity. the school’s operations manager Gillian Collins said. “It’s so inspiring”,
“He was a charmer,” she continued. “He had the little gift to the gab, the little glint in his eye and was full of energy”.
Collins also called Keoghan “a normal lad from the inner city who had a dream, and put his head down and worked hard and followed that dream, and he’s a fantastic role model. I’m very proud of him”.
“shown some sort of interest”
The school are currently preparing for their latest production of the show, and Collins feels that Keoghan’s exploits have inspired a new generation of acting talent.
“The girls are always interested in dancing and singing, and it’s only the last couple of weeks that the boys have shown some sort of an interest”, Collins revealed.
“I have a little chap that I just happened to pass by in a corridor and said ‘Oh yeah, you got the main part, that’s brilliant. You know, (Barry Keoghan) was the main part when we did Hairspray back in 2010 and now he’s nominated for an Oscar?’ and it was like ‘He is?’”, she added.
“It’s like a snowball has started now and is gathering momentum”.
Collins also compared Keoghan’s achievements to that of boxer Kellie Harrington, when she won Olympic Gold in 2021.
She said, “Even to be nominated, you’re putting yourself out there on the whole world stage – little Barry from the flats, that’s amazing”.
It was also confirmed that Keoghan is to star in a new film, directed by Trey Edward Shults. More here.
