Brendan Gleeson is an Irish actor. His best-known films include the Harry Potter films, Braveheart, Gangs of New York, 28 Days Later, and the role of Michael Collins in The Treaty. He won an Emmy award in 2009 for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in the film Into the Storm.
Before the glitz and glamour of Hollywood red carpets, Brendan Gleeson taught Irish and English to school kids from north Dublin. As part of the Irish wave taking over the Oscars this year, Brendan and Barry Keoghan was nominated for best supporting actor for their roles in The Banshees of Inisherin.
Gleeson won an Emmy Award for his performance. Gleeson played Barty Crouch Jr impersonating Hogwarts professor Mad-Eye Moody in the fourth, and Alastor Moody himself in fifth and seventh Harry Potter films. His son Domhnall played Bill Weasley in the seventh and eighth films.
Mary and Brendan Gleeson have been married since 1982 and have four children together — Domhnall, Brian, Fergus and Rúairí. While he tends to keep their relationship private, Gleeson did once say that it was his wife who encouraged him to start acting. "My wife Mary is very level-headed, and she encouraged me.
Brendan Gleeson is a beloved actor, but you might have heard of some of his sons, too. Brendan — who was nominated for best actor at the 2023 Oscars for his performance in "The Banshees of Inisherin," though he lost to Brendan Fraser — is dad to Domhnall, Brian, Rory, and Fergus.
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Does Brendan Gleeson speak Gaelic?
Brendan Gleeson, a well-known Gaeilgeoir, or fluent Irish speaker, also gave an interview in Irish, while Colin Farrell, his co-star in “Banshees of Inisherin,” slowly backed away and was relieved to quickly find someone who would ask him questions in English.
Gleeson has subsequently acted in more than 60 films including Braveheart, I Went Down, Michael Collins, Gangs of New York, Cold Mountain, 28 Days Later, Troy, Kingdom of Heaven, Lake Placid, Artificial Intelligence: AI and The Village.
He was a teacher for 10 years before becoming an actor. He is a fine fiddle player and can be seen playing it in Michael Collins (1996), Cold Mountain (2003) and also in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022). He taught English, Irish & Physical Education at Belcamp College Secondary School in Dublin.
The Banshees Of Inisherin was filmed on Achill Island. Situated off the west coast of Ireland, the Aran Islands were also used for filming – contrary to the film's single island setting. This compilation of destinations was part of director Martin McDonagh's vision for the film.
Gleeson was born 12 May 1983, the eldest of four boys, in Dublin, Ireland. He was raised in Malahide, County Dublin, the eldest son of Mary (née Weldon) and actor Brendan Gleeson. He has three brothers: Fergus, Brian (also an actor), and Rory.
In the late '90s and early noughties, Brendan wowed crowds in hit flicks such as The Mummy and George of the Jungle. But soon enough he found work dried up and discovered he had been "blacklisted" by Hollywood. The alleged shun came after he bravely opened up on claims of past abuse.
He has also received nominations for two BAFTA Awards (In Bruges (2008), and Into the Storm (2009) and five Golden Globe Awards (In Bruges (2008), Into the Storm (2009), The Guard (2011), The Comey Rule (2020), and The Banshees of Inisherin (2022).
While the answer to "what are the banshees of Inisherin?" may remain elusive, many are curious whether the film is based on a true story. Turns out the Golden Globe winner is a complete work of fiction, however, Martin McDonagh did draw from a lot of real-life history to craft its setting.
It is intended as an allegory for the Irish Civil War ('Inisherin' translates to 'Island Ireland'), which was in full rage at that time. Colin Farrell plays Pádraic Súilleabháin, a small farmer, and Brendan Gleeson plays Colm Doherty, a fiddle player who scores traditional Irish music.
Gleeson is an Irish surname. It is an anglicisation of the Irish name Ó Glasáin or Ó Gliasáin. The name is most common in County Tipperary but originates in East County Cork, in the once powerful Uí Liatháin kingdom, where the Gleesons were great lords and sometimes kings.
Hadelich enjoyed a blossoming career as a wunderkind violinist, pianist, and composer in Germany. In 1999, Hadelich was injured in a fire on his family's farm in Italy, and was airlifted to be treated in Germany.
Brendan Gleeson is an Irish actor accustomed to working in Hollywood films. Her talent and charisma have enabled her to star in such major feature films as Braveheart, Harry Potter, Kingdom of Heaven, Troy, Gangs of New York and Inisherin's Banshees.
Brendan Gleeson star in the film “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Photo by Jonathan Hession. Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Irish actor Brendan Gleeson has received his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for playing Colm Doherty in the black tragicomedy “The Banshees of Inisherin.”
