Colin Farrell Biography

Born in Dublin, Ireland this Irishman has risen quickly through the ranks in Hollywood and is one of the most popular actors of today’s times. Colin is known for his off-screen antics as much as his on-screen roles. Colin was born in a humble family of six, his mother Rita was a housewife and his father Eamon was a professional football player for Shamrock Rovers. Colin was the youngest of the four children. His brother Eamon Jr. was followed by his sisters Catherine and Claudine.

Catherine was the one who got him hooked onto films, she would make watch tapes of Hollywood films. Colin earlier wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and play football but later changed his decision. His family moved to a suburb called Castleknock in Dublin from where Colin finished his schooling in St. Brigid’s National School Castleknock. He did his high-schooling in Castleknock College and attended Gormaston College for further studies, but dropped out of the college to join The Gaiety school of Acting to study acting. He dropped from this college too after he landed a role in BBC’s Ballykissangel.

Colin continued to work in films and TV shows, but his big break was just around the corner. He made his big screen debut in Tim Roth’s The War Zone. He got noticed for his role and made his North American debut when he was cast as Private Roland Bozz in Tigerland directed by Joel Schumacher. The movie was not a commercial success but Colin got favorable reviews for his portrayal of authority-hating private Bozz probably because he too was similar in nature.

Colin then tried a different role as the famous outlaw Jesse James in American Outlaws (2001).The movie was a commercial failure. He went back to his patented army roles when he did Hart’s War with Bruce Willis. This movie too failed. Colin so far had not delivered a single hit but the tide was about to turn in his favor. Colin landed a role in Steven Spielberg’s futuristic sci-fi film Minority Report starring Tom Cruise. The film was a huge hit and Colin got rave reviews for his role of a member of the Justice Department who is sent to arrest Tom Cruise. He followed it up with another success in Phone Booth, where he played Stuart Shepherd a Publicist held at gun-point by a Sniper played by Kiefer Sutherland.

By now, Colin had established himself as an actor worth his salt in Hollywood and was getting some really meaty roles. In 2003 he got a chance to star with screen legend Al Pacino in The Recruit (2003). So impressed was Al with Colin’s performance that he even went as far as to say that he was the best actor of his generation. In the same year Colin landed the role of Bullseye in Daredevil (2003) where he completely stole the spotlight from Ben Affleck.

Not turning his back on the Irish film industry he did a bank heist comedy Intermission (2004) which went on to become the highest grossing independent film in Ireland. Colin then landed the biggest role of his career as Alexander the Great in Alexander. The film was directed by Oliver Stone. Alexander received a lot of mixed reviews because the movie portrayed the character of Alexander being bi-sexual. Many historians disputed this fact whereas some agreed with it. Nevertheless the film was not a success and only managed to recover its cost. But Colin was unperturbed.

Colin’s next film The New World (2005) was also a box-office dud. But his next release Miami Vice (2006) with Jamie Fox was a smash hit. Colin followed this success with the Woody Allen directed Cassandra’s Dream (2008). Colin then acted in the hilarious film In Bruges (2008) where he played an Irishman who along with his partner, has to hide out in Bruges Belgium when the assignment they were given goes wrong. The movie was a hit and Colin got lots of praise for his work.

While his career was going well, his personal life was getting a lot of attention for all the wrong reasons. He had married actress Amelia Warner in 2001 but divorced from her that very same year. He openly admitted that he indulged in casual sex and hired prostitutes. His extravagant and liberal lifestyle resulted in him fathering a child with Kim Bordenave. In 2005 Colin checked into a rehab centre for addiction to prescription drugs. Colin had once propositioned Dame Eileen Atkins for a night of no-strings attached sex, she promptly declined the offer as he was 42 years her junior.

Colin continued to make tabloid headlines when a sex tape he had made with his ex-girlfriend Nicole Narain was to be released on the internet. Nicole denied having anything to do with the leaking of the tape. Colin sued the company trying to release it and won, but the movie still made it to net on the named dirtycolin.com. If all of this wasn’t enough Colin then had to face two lawsuits filed by Desserae Bradford. Desserae was a phone sex worker and claimed Colin had verbally abused her. The lawsuits were dismissed and Colin obtained a restraining order against her.

After years of failed relationships and casual flings Colin seems to have settled with Alicja Bachleda with whom he has his second child. Colin did a few movies after In Bruges including Ondine (2010). He also completed the role of Tony in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus left incomplete by Heath Ledger because of his tragic death. Colin is currently working on the remake of Fright Night and another comedy called Horrible Bosses.