Barry Keoghan has revealed that he felt ‘beautiful’ baring his naked body during Saltburn’s viral final scene, as he graced the cover of Vanity Fair’s star-studded Hollywood issue.
The actor, 31, admitted that he had fears about ‘putting himself out there in the most vulnerable state,’ but felt he demonstrated an ‘act of maturity’ by being open to reaction to the scene.
In Saltburn’s final scene, Barry’s character Oliver dances naked around the titular estate to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Murder On The Dancefloor, having gained ownership of the Catton family fortune.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Barry explained that he was more concerned by his dancing skills then appearing naked on screen.
He said: ‘I was afraid to move my hips and move my body in a certain way, but the set was made quite comfortable for me. Once the camera goes up, I always feel a bit safe, and I have the license to kind of waltz in that environment.’
![Barry Keoghan embraces feeling 'beautiful' while baring his naked body in THAT Saltburn scene, overcoming fears of vulnerability 1 Barry Keoghan has revealed that he felt 'beautiful' baring his naked body during Saltburn's viral final scene](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/21/15/81535771-13109237-image-a-21_1708529029200.jpg)
Barry Keoghan has revealed that he felt ‘beautiful’ baring his naked body during Saltburn’s viral final scene
![Barry Keoghan embraces feeling 'beautiful' while baring his naked body in THAT Saltburn scene, overcoming fears of vulnerability 3 The actor has graced the cover of Vanity Fair's coveted annual Hollywood issue, (L-R) with Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo, Jodie Comer, Lily Gladstone, Greta Lee, Charles Meltonda'vine Joy Randolph, Jenna Ortega](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/21/15/81534129-13109237-image-a-20_1708529024518.jpg)
The actor has graced the cover of Vanity Fair’s coveted annual Hollywood issue, (L-R) with Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo, Jodie Comer, Lily Gladstone, Greta Lee, Charles Meltonda’vine Joy Randolph, Jenna Ortega
Discussing the public’s reaction to the final scene, Barry added: ‘It’s crazy. It can be detrimental to the mind and your mental state if you read into it too much or you look at too much stuff being said. But I wouldn’t go there if I wasn’t prepared for that, or if I wasn’t open to receiving what people want to say.
‘You’re really kind of putting yourself out there in the most vulnerable state. It’s beautiful to look at. I’m not saying it’s because of my body, but it’s freeing to see that body move around in the way it does. It’s like a moving painting, almost.’
The hottest actors of the moment have come together for Vanity Fair’s 30th annual Hollywood issue.
This year’s captivating spread assembles 11 vibrant, wildly different stars seizing their moment in 2024, as the entertainment industry emerges from the most profound work stoppage in its history.
Making the cut for this edition were Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Pedro Pascal, Colman Domingo, Jodie Come, Lily Gladstone, Greta Lee, Charles Melton, Da’vine Joy Randolph, Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, who came together over two days to shoot the spread.
Explaining how she settled on the stars, editor in chief Radhika Jones revealed: ‘The 11 stars on this cover represent a vibrant selection of our onscreen faves.
‘A group of actors—also moonlighting as directors, producers, writers who are joyfully seizing the moment, changing their paths and charting new ones.’
Barry previously revealed that his role in the psychological thriller, which also stars Australian actor Jacob Elordi, helped people stop looking at him as just a ‘freak child-man.’
![Barry Keoghan embraces feeling 'beautiful' while baring his naked body in THAT Saltburn scene, overcoming fears of vulnerability 5 Barry admitted that he had fears about 'putting himself out there in the most vulnerable state,' but felt he demonstrated an 'act of maturity' by being open to reaction to the scene](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/21/15/79562481-13109237-Barry_31_discussed_his_famous_naked_scene_in_Saltburn_admitting_-a-22_1708529113604.jpg)
Barry admitted that he had fears about ‘putting himself out there in the most vulnerable state,’ but felt he demonstrated an ‘act of maturity’ by being open to reaction to the scene
![Barry Keoghan embraces feeling 'beautiful' while baring his naked body in THAT Saltburn scene, overcoming fears of vulnerability 7 Speaking to Vanity Fair, Barry explained that he was more concerned by his dancing skills then appearing naked on screen](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/21/15/81535777-13109237-image-a-23_1708529149476.jpg)
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Barry explained that he was more concerned by his dancing skills then appearing naked on screen
Speaking to GQ about audiences seeing him in a different light, he said: ‘It’s nice, man. It’s nice not just being looked at as the weird-looking guy, the unique f*****g freaky little freak man-child, freak child-man, whatever you want to call it.’
He continued: ‘My prettiness didn’t get me this far,’ but admitted he realises being someone audiences want to look at ‘opens up other lanes for me – it’s part of the leading man thing’.
He added: ‘Little freak child-man era, as we call it. And now I’m just Man. Freak-Man. Man-Freak.’
Despite being 31, Barry plays an Oxford University student who becomes obsessed with his wealthy classmate, Felix, and heads to Saltburn to stay with Felix’s family for the summer.
Barry’s acting career began in 2011 when he applied for a role in Between the Canals – an Irish film following the life of three hardened criminals.
He then went on to study acting at The Factory in Dublin before appearing in the Irish soap Fair City at the age of 18.
His major breakthrough came when he landed a role in the second world war film Dunkirk in 2017 where he portrayed the character George Mills.
Since then he has appeared in a string of famous films including The Batman, Eternals, American Animals, the TV series Chernobyl, and the Golden Globe winning The Banshees of Inisherin.
View the full portfolio, Vanity Fair’s 2024 Hollywood Issue Unites 11 Spectacular Stars, photographed by Gordon Von Steiner and styled by George Cortina in Vanity Fair’s March issue and on VanityFair.com