It’s often thought that being the son of a hugely successful and celebrated actor would make it difficult to step out of their shadow. But for actor Domhnall Gleeson, it’s been the complete opposite and is making a name for himself in his own right. Though the name may not seem familiar yet, you will ave surely seen him star in some of the biggest films and franchises to hit the big and small screen during the last 5 years. This year, he plays the part of General Hux in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, making him one of the most talked about names in Hollywood and fandom right now.
So, what is there to say about him?
What’s his story?
Domhnall Gleeson was born on 12 May 1983 in Dublin Ireland, and is the oldest son of triple-time Golden Globe-nominated actor Brendan Gleeson (‘In Bruges’, ‘Into the Storm’, ‘The Guard’, and ‘Brave Heart’), and mother Mary Gleeson.
He has three brothers, Fergus, Rory, and Brian, who is also an actor who starred in 2012’s ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’, and in 2014’s ‘Standby’. After graduating from Dublin Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Media Arts, he began directing and writing for both stage and film. But, in 2004, he played the simple role of a cashier in a short called ‘Six Shooters’ that went on to win an Oscar, and from there on he starting meddling in the world of acting as much as writing.
Where have we seen him before?
This guy has been on our screens since 2001 but it’s only in the last five years that we’ve seen this talented actor really making a name for himself. Many know him as Bill Weasley from the final two installments of the Harry Potter franchise, ‘The Deathly Hallows’ parts one and two, both released in 2010.
Then in 2012 he with Karl Urban and Lena Headey in the revival of Judge Dredd, playing the part of Clan Techie. In the same year, he played Levin in ‘Anna Karenina’, sharing the screen with his future Ex Machina co-star Alicia Vikander, the film which helped both of them truly break into Hollywood as serious actors.
In 2014 he played the wonderful Phil in Angelina Jolie’s ‘Unbroken’ and also in indie film ‘Frank’ with Michael Fassbender and Maggie Gyllenhaal. But, if there is one film of Gleeson’s I suggest you to see, it is 2013’s romantic comedy ‘About Time’… have lots and lots and LOTS of tissues at the ready.
What you think is first about a man’s endeavours to create a perfect life with his girlfriend, soon turns out to be an emotionally charged story about a father than loves his son and family. A must see.
Has he ever acted with his father Brendan Gleeson?
Yes of course! Most notably, and perhaps most famously, is the time they shared on screen in the Harry Potter films. While Domhnall played Bill Weasley, I am sure you’ll remember the wonderfully sharp Mad-Eye Moody? Yes, well that is his father Brendan. Then, in 2014, they starred together in the wonderful Irish drama ‘Calvary’, about parishioner Father James (Brendan) who, during a confessional, is told that he will be killed to highlight the sexual abuse in the Catholic church. Domhnall plays Freddie Joyce in the film. Check it out.
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In 2004 they shared the screen in Oscar-winning short ‘Six Shooter’ but the first time that they shared the big screen though was in 2006’s feature film ‘Studs’, a sport comedy that was released throughout UK and Ireland.
Is there anyone special on the scene?
Though many have been quick to highlight the charming tension and onscreen chemistry between himself and actress Alicia Vikander in Ex Machina, it is rumoured that he is in fact dating his close friend Juliette Bonass, who just also happens to be a very talented Irish producer. They’ve worked on projects together, including 2012’s fundraising project ‘Immaturity for Charity’, which he wrote and she produced.
What’s next for Gleeson?
As we all know, he is bringing the part of General Hux alive in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, a First Order commander who is said to be a nasty piece of work. In recent photos we see him interacting with characters known as Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, and Captain Phasma, a female Stormtrooper that dons a chrome outfit played by Gwendoline Christie. Captain Phasma is employed by General Hux to help him track down Luke Skywalker’s missing lightsaber that is being held by a droid known as BB-8.
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Anyway, that’s enough of Star Wars, the geek came out for a moment there. Ok, so what else is Gleeson up to?
Well, before Star Wars we have ‘Brooklyn’ with Saoirse Ronan and Michael Zegen, based on Nick Horby’s book and directed by John Crowley who brought us 2007’s brilliant ‘Boy A’.
Set in 1950s Ireland and New York, young woman Eilis Lacey (Ronan) must choose between two countries and two men, Jim Farrell (Gleeson) and Antonio “Tony” Fiorello (Emory Cohen).
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When it screened at the Sundance Film Festival in the USA earlier this year it was a hit with critics, roll on almost a year later and it will be released in early November.
Then, there is the Oscar-tipped film ‘The Revenant’ with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy that is about 1820s frontiersman Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) who sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead.
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Gleeson will play Andrew Henry, who is rumoured to be a fur trader with a reputation for honesty, but we will have to wait to find out more details. It’s due out January 6 2016.
Then, finally, we have ‘Mena’ that is set for release in 2017 and is a true-life crime thriller with Tom Cruise and Jayma Mays. It’s about a pilot, Barry Seal, that picks up a job with the CIA as a drug runner in the south during the 1980s between Mexico and the city Mena, Arkansas. As to the part that Gleeson is playing, we are still looking for more details. We’ll keep you posted.