Colin Farrell: Banshees Of Inisherin star says film ‘teaches me how to be a human being’
Colin Farrell is swapping rural Ireland for the mean streets of Los Angeles in his new detective series, Sugar.
Oscar-nominated Farrell, 47, was a film fan before he became an actor and says he finds solace in stories told on both the big and small screens.
He told Sky News: “Films are constantly teaching me how to be a human being and how not to be a human being.”
The Irish actor said that as he was growing up, it was a visual medium that helped him learn about family dynamics, friendships and relationships.
One of his first memories was watching 1982’s E.T. with his uncle Tommy at the local cinema.
He said: “It was probably the first time I ever saw a one-parent family.
“I mean the dad was off in Mexico, there were two parents, don’t get me wrong, but the mother was at home raising the boys and there was serious drama at the heart of it, serious familial drama.”
A detective with a twist
With his passion for the visual arts, Farrell’s next project, Sugar, seems like the perfect fit.
The neo-noir Apple TV+ drama follows John Sugar, a private investigator incapable of deceit, who has a deep obsession with classic movies.
Farrell, who stars and serves as an executive producer on the show, says Sugar uses his admiration for the arts as an “experiential touchstone to learn about the human condition”.
It’s a detective series with a twist, as viewers themselves take on the role of an investigator in order to uncover the star’s deep secret.
The series also stars Oscar nominee Amy Ryan and British actress Kirby Howell-Baptiste.
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Reaching a new audience in school
In a case of life imitating art, Farrell’s work itself has become the subject of educational exploration.
In 2022, the Irish department of education announced that The Banshees Of Inisherin, for which he received his sole Oscar nomination, would be added to the 2026 school curriculum.
Farrell said: “I heard Barbie was, but not Banshees. That’s cool.”
The Oscar-nominated modern films join a list of artworks marked as “prescribed viewing” for final year secondary school exam students.
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Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, Rian Johnson’s Knives Out and Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption are also included on the syllabus.
Farrell said it’s a full circle moment for him as he never got the chance to sit the exams himself.
“Finally, I get to attend the Leaving Cert after all these years,” he said.
The first two episodes of Sugar are available to stream on Apple TV+ from 5 April with new episodes then dropping weekly.
Elijah Wood and other Lord Of The Rings cast members have paid tribute to their co-star Bernard Hill, who died on Sunday aged 79.
Hill played King Theoden in the Oscar-winning fantasy franchise directed by Sir Peter Jackson.
Wood, who played Frodo Baggins, said on X: “So long to our friend, our king. We will never forget you.”
He also shared a quote from JRR Tolkien‘s novel, on which the films are based, writing: “For he was a gentle heart and a great king and kept his oaths; and he rose out of the shadows to a last fair morning.”
Dominic Monaghan, who played Merry Brandybuck in the trilogy, wrote: “The Broken king has passed to the grey havens but he will always be remembered. #ripbernard.”
Hill joined the franchise’s cast for the second film in the series, 2002’s The Two Towers, which won two Academy Awards for best sound editing and best visual effects.
He returned to the franchise for 2003’s The Return Of The King, which picked up 11 Oscars, including best picture and best director for Sir Peter.
The actor had been due to attend Comic Con in Liverpool over the weekend but the event announced on Saturday that he had to withdraw at the last minute because of his partner becoming “very ill”.
The post on X added: “He sends his sincere apologies and thanks you all for your understanding.”
Later footage from the event shows Hill’s co-stars paying tribute to him on stage, with Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings, saying: “He was intrepid, he was gruff, he was irascible.”
Billy Boyd, who played Peregrin “Pippin” Took, said: “We were watching the movies and I said to Dom, I don’t think anyone spoke Tolkien’s words as great as Bernard did.”
Lord of the Rings stars (L to R) Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, Bernard Hill and Elijah Wood in 2003. Pic: Reuters
Hill first made a name for himself as Yosser Hughes in Alan Bleasdale’s BBC drama series Boys From The Blackstuff, about five unemployed men, which aired in 1982.
The role earned him a BAFTA TV nomination in 1983, the same year the show picked up the BAFTA for best drama series.
He went on to play Captain Edward Smith in the Oscar-winning 1997 epic Titanic, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
Hill as Captain Edward Smith in Titanic. Pic: Shutterstock
In the 2015 BBC adaptation of the Hilary Mantel novel Wolf Hall – about the court of Henry VIII – he played the Duke of Norfolk, uncle to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
He can currently be seen in the second series of BBC drama The Responder starring Martin Freeman, which began on Sunday night.
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Bernard Hill dies aged 79
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, described him as an “incredible talent” who “blazed a trail across the screen” during his career.
“From Boys From The Blackstuff, to Wolf Hall, The Responder, and many more, we feel truly honoured to have worked with Bernard at the BBC.
“Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this sad time.”
Hill in Return of the King. Pic: Shutterstock
Actress and singer Barbara Dickson, who starred with him in a musical based on The Beatles, described him as a “marvellous actor”.
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Alongside a picture of them together, she wrote on X: “It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill.
“We worked together in John, Paul, George, Ringo and Bert, (by) Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975.
“A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.”
Meanwhile, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “Boys from the Blackstuff was massive in my early life. God love you, Bernard Hill.”
Actor Bernard Hill, who played roles in Lord Of The Rings and Titanic, has died aged 79, his agent has confirmed.
Hill also featured as Yosser Hughes in the iconic drama series Boys In The Blackstuff.
He was given a number of awards for his role as King Theoden in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and played Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic.
The actor was born in Blackley, Manchester, in 1944 and graduated with a diploma in theatre in 1970.
He was married to fellow actor Marianna Hill, with whom he shared a son. His agent Lou Coulson said he died in the early hours of Sunday.
Hill will return to TV on Sunday night starring in the second series of Martin Freeman’s The Responder.
Fans have already started to pay tribute to him on social media.
Scottish musician Barbara Dickson wrote of their time working together: “It’s with great sadness that I note the death of Bernard Hill. We worked together in John Paul George Ringo and Bert, Willy Russell marvellous show 1974-1975.
“A really marvellous actor. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with him. RIP Benny x.”
In London in 2005. Pic: PA
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Madonna has played her biggest-ever gig to an estimated 1.6 million people on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.
It was the last show in her Celebration tour and she performed hits such Like A Prayer, Vogue, Hung Up, Into The Groove and Like A Virgin.
The Brazil city was buzzing ahead of Saturday’s free two-hour show, with hotels and Airbnb’s packed and about 170 extra flights expected into the city.
Pic: Reuters
The famous Rio beach was packed with fans. Pic: AP
Helicopters and drones buzzed over the beach as the Queen of Pop took to the stage at 10:37pm, nearly 50 minutes late.
“Here we are in the most beautiful place in the world,” Madonna told the crowd as she pointed out Rio’s famous mountains and Christ the Redeemer statue.
The 65-year-old opened up with Nothing Really Matters from 1998’s Ray of Light album.
Eighteen speaker towers were dotted along the beach to ensure everyone could hear the US star’s vocals.
Brazilian musicians and people from local samba schools were involved in the show – with many fans dressing up in Madonna-themed outfits.
Pic: AP
Pic: Reuters
“Since Madonna arrived here, I’ve been coming every day with this outfit to welcome my idol, my diva, my pop queen,” said Rosemary de Oliveira Bohrer, 69, who wore a version of Madonna’s iconic gold cone bra.
Many fans had staked out a spot many hours – or even days – before the show, while others took in the spectacle from yachts or apartment balconies.
Madonna’s website said it was the biggest she had ever done – more than 10 times the 130,000 she played to in Paris in 1987.
However, Rio is used to huge shows – The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart have played to similar-size crowds there.
Pic: AP
Pic: Reuters
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Thousands of police were on duty for Saturday’s show, which city authorities estimated drew a crowd of 1.6 million and would earn the local economy about 293 million reals (£46m).
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For Madonna, it was the culmination of an 81-date retrospective tour that began in London in October and moved across Europe and North and South America.
The singer embarked upon the tour a few months after being admitted to intensive care with a serious bacterial inaction in June 2023.
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