Barry Keoghan on Acting with Cillian Murphy and Switching from Boxing to a Beatles Film

He’s become one of the most sought after upcoming actors in the film industry having starred in Dunkirk, The Batman and Top Boy in recent years. 

Now Barry Keoghan, 32, is gearing up for the release of the new and highly anticipated Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man. 

The feature film, which is likely to come out with the next year, will see the infamous Shelby family of cut-throat gangsters transition into the Second World War. 

Described as ‘one for the fans’ to conclude the much-loved series, Barry is set to feature alongside Dune actress Rebecca Ferguson, Adolescence writer Stephen Graham and of course star of the show Cillian Murphy. 

And in a recent interview with The Mirror, the Saltburn actor revealed exactly what it takes to live up to Cillian’s high standards.

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Irish actor Barry Keoghan, 32, is gearing up for the release of the new Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man

In a new interview, the Saltburn star revealed exactly what Thomas Shelby actor Cillian Murphy expects on set

‘There is no slacking for him,’ Barry said: ‘And it’s not in an intimidating way. It is in a way that he does not settle for less. He has an athlete’s approach to it. Cillian is such a legend.

‘He does not say anything, but you feel it.’ 

Recalling the moment he first pulled his Peaky Blinders costume on, Barry told of Cillian’s reaction: ‘He (Cillian) was more excited to see me in my costume. He was like, “Ah man, look at you.”‘

The Immortal Man isn’t all Barry has to look forward to however, with it recently being confirmed that the 32-year-old will star in four upcoming biopics about The Beatles. 

With the movies planned for release in 2028, Barry will be playing Ringo Starr – who he was so nervous to meet that he couldn’t look at the drummer. 

After being asked by Jimmy Kimmel whether he was able to ‘study’ Ringo when they met, Barry replied: ‘I was.. and when I was talking to him, I couldn’t look at him.  

‘I was nervous, like right now. But he’s like, “You can look at me.”‘

Despite his nerves, Barry did stress that Ringo was ‘absolutely lovely’ and that they sat in the garden ‘chatting away.’

During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, Barry spoke about his experience meeting Ringo Starr

The Saltburn actor is playing The Beatles drummer in four upcoming biopics 

The Top Boy actor is about to go into 15 months of filming for the movies, but has had to sacrifice one of his true passions for the role – boxing. 

Barry, who has ‘boxed for years’, revealed he’s been forced to give up his beloved sport because the film’s producers ‘will kill him’ if he breaks his hand and can’t play the drums during filming. 

Despite all of his success in the film industry, the Irish actor suffered a particularly difficult upbringing. 

He lost his mother when he was just 12 to a heroin addiction and spent the following years in foster care before being brought up by his grand mother. 

Both Barry and his brother have also struggled with addiction, with the actor admitting he has spent time in rehabilitation. 

In a poignant interview with Hollywood Authentic, he spoke about an old diary of his mother’s which he cherishes.

Quoting one entry, he said: ‘Well, tonight went okay for me so I hope I have the strength to not touch anything tomorrow.’ 

He added: ‘I got to read that at Christmas. I sent a picture to my brother, because he was in rehab over Christmas. I sent him that picture of her last page. I said “Just look at that. You’ve got a chance now.” You can feel the pain in this.’

As well as losing his mother at a young age, Barry’s uncle passed away after battling a drug addiction, while various other family members including his father also suffered with the vice.

Barry said: ‘I had an uncle, Alan – he passed away. Heroin.

‘He was my nannie’s boy. He was very present for us for a good few years. He was my mum’s brother. But he passed away. He was only 40, he had an overdose.

‘I’m not in denial anymore. I understand that I do have an addiction, and I am an addict. You know, when you accept that, you finally can move on, and learn to work with it. 

‘My father passed away as a result of similar and I lost my mum to it. I’ve lost two uncles and a cousin to drugs.’