Colin James Farrell (born May 31, 1976) is a
Golden Globe and IFTA-winning
Irish actor, who has appeared in
Hollywood films including
Tigerland,
Daredevil,
Miami Vice,
Minority Report,
Phone Booth,
Alexander,
In Bruges, and
S.W.A.T.
Early life
Farrell was born in
Castleknock,
Dublin, the son of Rita, a housewife, and Eamon, a
footballer who played for
Shamrock Rovers FC.
[Colin Farrell Biography (1976-)][Colin Farrell: People.com] His uncle
Tommy Farrell also played for Rovers. Farrell has three siblings: two sisters, Claudine (who is his personal assistant)
and Catherine; and a brother, Eamon jnr. Farrell was educated at
St. Brigid's National School Castleknock followed by
Castleknock College and
Gormanston College. Farrell auditioned for the Irish group
Boyzone when he was still unknown, but was unsuccessful.
Farrell attended
The Gaiety School of Acting, but dropped out and was cast in the part of Danny Byrne on
Ballykissangel, a
BBC television drama. Farrell appeared on the show from 1998 to 1999.
Career
Farrell had small parts in television shows and films, including the BBC drama
Ballykissangel in 1998 and his film debut in
Tim Roth's
The War Zone.
[Colin Farrell Biography & Filmography] Then in 2000, he was cast in the lead role of Private Roland Bozz in
Tigerland, an
American film directed by
Joel Schumacher. Farrell's next American films,
American Outlaws (2001) and
Hart's War (2002), were not commercially successful, but his 2003 films, including
Phone Booth,
S.W.A.T., and
The Recruit were well-received box office successes. Although he has a pronounced Irish accent, Farrell uses an American accent in some of his films including
American Outlaws and his breakthrough role,
Tigerland. Farrell is also a proven supporting actor, given his performances as an ambitious cop who chases after a potential criminal, played by actor
Tom Cruise in
Minority Report (2002), and as the skilled villain
Bullseye in
Daredevil (2003).