“They’ve got one in Honolulu, they’ve got one in Moscow too. They’ve got four of them in Sydney, and a couple in Kathmandu.” Like the lyrics of the High Kings’ “Irish Pub Song,” wherever you go around the world you’ll find an Irish person on your screens. It’s a tale as old as whiskey. The Irish love to rise from their roots to taller branches, leaving everything from literature to bars across the globe in their path. Recent cinema has exemplified the world’s love of the Irish with countless rising talents cropping up in Hollywood. So, who are these young stars and what have they been up to of late?
Paul Mescal
If you enter his name into Google, the first question you’ll be greeted with is “Why is Paul Mescal so famous?” From a star-turning role in the BBC series “Normal People” to his most recent spearheading performance in “Gladiator II,” Maynooth-made Mescal has fast solidified himself as a heartthrob. Attesting to his cult status was, following a global trend of celebrity doppelganger competitions, a Paul Mescal lookalike contest took place in Dublin in November (which my close friend Jack Wall O’Reilly took home the gold in). On the horizon, Mescal is returning to his theatrical roots, with his days at The Lir in Dublin prepping him for his upcoming role in the film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel “Hamnet,” which follows the fictional account of William Shakespeare’s son. Mescal will also be flexing his musical muscles in the adaptation of the 1981 stage production “Merrily We Roll Along.”
Jessie Buckley
Also set to star alongside Mescal in “Hamnet” is Killarney-born Jessie Buckley, who has forged her path to stardom in the horror genre little by little with films such as “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” and “Men.” Sticking to her gothic guns, Buckley will be leading Maggie Gyllenhaal’s latest directorial venture “The Bride!” this year. She’ll be starring as the titular “Bride of Frankenstein” in a role that is sure to launch her straight into A-list territory if the recent buzz from “Nosferatu” is anything to go by. (Incidentally, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” can be viewed on Netflix, as can two or other Jessie star turns in “The Lost Daughter” and “Wicked Little Letters.”) So, whether it be musical or horrors, what is it that makes the Irish so ripe for these roles? Is it our tendency for a singsong at any occasion? Our Celtic kinship to Halloween, folklore, and all things otherworldly? Perhaps some things are just in our blood.
Barry Keoghan
Allow me to briefly compare Dublin-bred Barry Keoghan to the Irish mythological figure Abhartach; they are both short, vaguely vampiric agents of chaos. Needless to say, he is a fair and accurate representation of a Dub. From a high-profile, racy romance with popstar Sabrina Carpenter to an even racier role in “Saltburn.” Keoghan strays away from what makes his counterparts so charming - their humble and honeyed dispositions - by being crass and unpredictable. Of all the Irish actors making it big in the hallways of Hollywood, he is the troublemaker launching paper airplanes from the back of the classroom. Is it his Irishness that makes his cheekiness so endearing? Perhaps Keoghan is the litmus test that proves that a wee accent can get you away with murder. Keoghan continues his wildcard streak with an upcoming role in “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” a psychological thriller based on R&B singer The Weeknd’s album of the same name. Never let them know your next move, Barry.
Saoirse Ronan
“The Lovely Bones,” “Ladybird” and ‘Little Women’ star Saoirse Ronan, by all accounts, walked so her peers could run. Born in The Bronx but belonging to Carlow (and Dublin), Ronan is not a new face to Hollywood despite being only 30 years old. Following the likes of Cillian Murphy and Colin Farrell onto the red carpet, Ronan cemented her star power with her first Academy Award nomination by the time she was only 14 for “Atonement.” With her grounded and quick-witted demeanor shining in interviews, it makes perfect sense why Ronan is the blueprint for the new wave of Irish darlings in Hollywood. Could her upcoming role in the comedic thriller “Bad Apples” lead her to her next Oscar nomination?
A 14-year-old Saoirse Ronan is pictured with dad Paul and mum Monica at the launch of the Dublin International Film Festival in January 2009.
From Wicklow-raised Jack Reynor and Dubliner Eve Hewson, who both recently starred in Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple,” to “Bridgerton’” diamond Nicola Coughlan, there is no shortage of young Irish stars rising the ranks in modern cinema. So what’s the secret to their success? Perhaps it’s the gift of the gab. Maybe it’s just sheer raw talent. Perhaps there is no one truth, but when in doubt, blame it on the luck of the Irish.
