Ten Biggest and Best Irish Actors

This is such a long hub I’m going to split it into two… but it is based around my Beloved Homeland so that makes me ramble on a bit, hopefully in a good way…

I’d been thinking of doing a best Irish films hub, but to be honest there weren’t ten that I could really put my heart behind. There have been some superb films made and or filmed in Ireland, In The Name of the Father, My Left Foot, The Field, to name but a few. And I’m sure there’s a host of independent films but unfortunately I haven’t seen them to judge – Eamon (2009) is an entertaining and quirky film (my sister’s company Tootsweet did the music, bit of a plug there). Adam and Paul comes highly recommended but again I haven’t seen it myself. Although I did see another film by the same Director, Lenny Abrahamson, called Garage (2007) based in rural Ireland which was excellent.

So instead here’s focusing on what we Irish do best – Emigrating and Exporting our talents.

We may be a small nation, but like an airborne virus we sure get about, and Irish people are found throughout the film industry. In honour of these kinfolk of mine (artists, writers, producers etc.) here’s a top ten of some of our biggest names in Movie Land. What I reckon would be classed their biggest roles, and what are my favourite of the films they were in, obscure as many of my choices may be.

Ten Biggest and Best Irish Actors - Part 1

Daniel Day Lewis - Mad Man
I first became aware of Daniel Day Lewis when he played Christie Brown, a young Dublin boy with severe Cerebral Palsy in the Irish film My Left Foot (1989), an adaptation of the inspiring book written by Christie himself, typed with his left foot. This was a prime example of Daniel Day Lewis’ extreme devotion to the method acting style. So much so that even when he broke his ribs whilst wheelchair bound and mimicking the spasms and contortions of his study, he was not dissuaded from continuing in character on and off set. He has shown this intense dedication to his roles throughout his brilliant career.

Biggest: Gangs of New York (2002) – Bill ‘The Butcher’ Cutting

But my favourite is… My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
This British film was very well received on its release. It tackles the conflicts of culture-clash in eighties Thatcherite Britain as the growing Asian community merged with the British way of life, by way of a simple story revolving around a laundrette. Omar is the hero, a young British Pakistani man, trying to find his feet in a community that is materialistic, family-orientated and often corrupt and ruthless. He finds a companion when he reunites with his old school friend Johnny (Day Lewis) who has since become a neo-nazi of few words and with plenty of clout. Omar's confident easy smile and manner is enough to bring Johnny round, and they join together in the enterprise of running the laundrette, and in more intimate ways too. A great film for the period, with a refreshingly original perspective.

Richard Harris - Drinking Man
I remember as a teenager walking into the kitchen and finding my mother (who is not at all soppy) crying to a song about a green cake in the rain ‘ I don’t think that I can take it, cos it took so long to bake it, and I’ll never have that recipe again….. oh no!!!’ This I was soon informed was “the Gorgeous” Richard Harris singing McArthur Park. I still slag her about it, and she still sings it back to me with such sincerity I’m almost won over… but it’s just too funny a metaphor for me (the green cake is a symbol of their love y’see). I’ve seen very few of the Limerick born actor’s films and so am probably not best equipped for this homage. But no list of best Irish actors would be acceptable without this multi-award winning man whose career spanned from 1959 to his death in 2002.

So with my meagre knowledge here is my very humble opinion on the great man, who was also a great character! – he was staying at The Savoy Hotel in London at the time of his passing, and rumour has it as he was being stretchered from there to his hospital deathbed he humorously warned the other guests “It was the food!”

Biggest: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) – Albus Dumbledore

But my favourite is… Orca – The Killer Whale (1977)
Yes, believe it or not out of all Harris’ many years of memorable and frequently award winning roles, this, classed as an outrageous B Movie, is my favourite. Firstly because I’ve seen it (and haven’t seen most of the others) and Secondly because I genuinely loved it! I feel the need to defend it, since it went down like a lead-filled beluga whale in the box office and has been tainted by being released not long after Spielberg’s Jaws. But forget that, I saw it when I was probably about twelve, and learnt a vast amount about the intelligence and fascinating existence of whales from it, that has remained with me ever since. It has a great, if at times unlikely, storyline, is visually beautiful and is even emotionally stirring at times. And unlike the horror films of this genre that it is compared to, your sympathies are completely with the hard done by Whale, which experiences a heart-wrenching loss during the course of the film. Oh and the legendary Ennio Morricone did the soundtrack.

Liam Neeson - Big Man
This ruggedly handsome Northern Irish actor is in everything! In order to have avoided this man you will have had to have steered well clear of the likes of – The Mission, Darkman, Nell, Rob Roy, Gangs of New York, Love Actually, Batman Begins, The Chronicles of Narnia, The A-Team and even Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and more. If you haven’t seen at least one of these films I suspect you are either under the age of five or possibly from another planet? And of course his biggest role of all was…

Biggest: Schindler’s List (1993) – Oscar Schindler

But my favourite is… Lamb (1985)
This film that fails to raise a mention in his Wikipedia biography is one that I’ve seen once, not long after its release, and have never forgotten. In this modern climate the story of a Catholic Priest (Neeson) abducting a twelve-year-old boy that he loves, would certainly raise a few eyebrows! But this is a tale of a man attempting to protect a vulnerable ill-equipped epileptic child from the horrors of the world, including the cruel bullying of his holy peers. The Catcher in the Rye springs to mind. It’s a sensitive drama, with powerful acting performances and a tragic message.

The Mission (1986) is my other better known favourite Liam Neeson film, set in a Jesuit Missionary in South America in the Eighteenth Century, with Robert DeNiro, Jeremy Irons and the most mystical soundtrack from Ennio Morricone. It also features our Aidan Quinn.

Aidan Quinn - Quiet Man
Brought up in both Chicago and Ireland, actor Aidan Quinn’s roles over the years have been mostly in support, making him something of a nearly man. He almost played Jesus, in Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ, but the film got scrapped because of the controversy surrounding it. The film was ultimately made but by a different studio and the role went to Willem Dafoe. Which is probably just as well for Quinn because I remember the massive scandal the film caused in devoutly Catholic Ireland, and how it was initially banned there – a lynching may not have been out of the question. It was a very brave move on his part to take it on, and in my opinion a shame that it never happened, as it may have opened many doors for him… if he survived the fallout. Nonetheless he has certainly never rested on his laurels, has an impressive filmography under his belt and his piercing blue eyes have certainly left an impression on Tinsel Town.

Biggest: Legends of the Fall (1994) – Alfred Ludlow

But my favourite is… Desperately Seeking Susan
I don't think Aidan Quinn would necessarily thank me for choosing this one, as he has played a number of less frivilous acting roles... but I haven't seen many of them, apart from his great part in The Mission. This is one of his lighthearted fun roles and is a film that I always enjoy. But I’ve already done a slot on it in my best New York films hub. All I'll add is that Quinn plays Madonna's boyfriends friend Dez and the chemistry that he brings with him, is vital to the film's success for me. Yes he looks only gorgeous!

Glen Hansard - Music Man
How the hell did he get in my list the chancer? My sister used to knock about with this lad in her teens on the Dublin busking scene! He may not be exactly Colin Farrell in Hollywood stature, but he has been involved in two Oscar winning films and has been immortalised appearing in an episode of The Simpsons! Yes, The Simpsons! Wow!! Hailing from Ballymun, one of the dodgiest areas in Dublin, he is more naturally regarded as the front man of The Frames, a band that’s been massive in Ireland for years. But he’s ended up in my two absolute hands down no competition favourite Irish films.

Biggest: Once (2006) – Dublin Busker

But my favourite is… The Commitments (1991)
When this film was released in 1991 myself and my family and friends were on holiday in Paris, France, and a gang of us teenagers went to see it in the cinema, where it was shown in English with French subtitles. The whole comical experience was given an extra level of mirth for us, because after each long winded thoroughly inventive typically North Dublin string of quick fire vulgarities just one word would appear in the French subtitle “Merde!” Well we Irish do have a way with curse words that is difficult to emulate… ha ha! Roddy Doyle’s novel adapted by Director Alan Parker tells the tale of a group of youngsters who decide to make something of themselves and form a Soul band. Hilarious entertainment from start to finish and the music throughout is stunning. (And I went to school with some of the extras!)

Another five to follow soon...