Éanna Hardwicke is having a defining year. Fresh from his acclaimed portrayal of Roy Keane in SAIPAN, for which he won an IFTA, he has cemented his status as one of Ireland’s most compelling talents. His impact extends beyond film—he has been captivating audiences at London’s National Theatre in THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD, one of theatre’s most iconic plays. With a major award win, a career-defining film role still resonating with audiences, and a standout turn in one of the stage’s most demanding vehicles, 2026 is fast becoming the year Hardwicke steps firmly into the spotlight.

This week, he returns to the big screen with NO ORDINARY HEIST, a gripping retelling of the infamous Northern Bank robbery that draws on a shocking true story. Director Colin McIvor explores one of the most remarkable crimes in modern Irish history: in December 2004, a criminal gang kidnapped two bank workers’ families, forcing the employees to steal £26.5 million from a Belfast vault. Remarkably, the criminals orchestrated the entire heist without ever entering the bank themselves. For the sake of the real people involved, their names and details have been changed in the film.

The film’s tension dips slightly in the middle as Barry and Richard struggle to follow the criminals’ instructions, a lull likely stemming from budget constraints rather than any fault of the performances. Eddie Marsan and Éanna Hardwicke deliver superb turns as desperate men trying to hold themselves together for their loved ones. Despite these moments, NO ORDINARY HEIST remains a gripping, claustrophobic drama that stands out for being a Belfast-set film free of politics, allowing the human story to take centre stage.