Brendan Gleeson brings warmth and depth to the role of Alisdair Macdonald in the 2025 biographical drama H IS FOR HAWK, a film that marks another significant chapter in the Irish actor’s recent career resurgence. Based on Helen Macdonald’s acclaimed 2014 memoir, the film stars Claire Foy as Helen and explores the profound bond between daughter and father through the lens of grief and memory. When Helen loses her beloved father suddenly, she turns to an unlikely source of solace: training a goshawk named Mabel. Through this unusual act of mourning, the film weaves together present-day scenes of Helen’s struggle with loss and tender flashbacks of Alisdair sharing his passion for nature and birding with his daughter, moments that Gleeson imbues with genuine tenderness.
What makes Gleeson’s performance particularly resonant is the personal connection he brought to the material. During the film’s promotional tour, he opened up about how the role allowed him to portray something he felt had become increasingly rare in contemporary cinema: a father who is emotionally present, loving, and nurturing. Gleeson didn’t hold back in expressing his frustration with the current landscape of on-screen fatherhood, admitting he had grown tired of seeing fathers consistently depicted as toxic or emotionally stunted. His comments struck a chord with many viewers who recognized the same pattern, and he advocated passionately for more celebratory representations of fatherhood in film. For Gleeson, playing Alisdair wasn’t just another role but an opportunity to honor the kind of father he believes deserves to be seen more often on screen.
This performance comes at a time when Gleeson has been carefully selecting projects that showcase his range beyond the intense, often darker characters that defined much of his earlier work. H IS FOR HAWK allows him to demonstrate the subtlety and emotional intelligence that have always been hallmarks of his craft, proving once again why he remains one of the most respected actors of his generation. The film itself has resonated with audiences precisely because of performances like Gleeson’s, which ground the story’s more fantastical elements in genuine human emotion. His Alisdair becomes not just a memory but a presence that lingers throughout the film, shaping Helen’s journey and reminding viewers of the lasting impact of paternal love.
Galway`s own @nicolacoughlan is trading Derry classrooms for something darker 👀
She`s joining Naomi Scott, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton in Netflix`s new drama pulling from the short stories Roald Dahl wrote for ADULTS — think conmen, adulterers, murderous mothers and a couple trying to outrun their own fate in a faded seaside town 🌊🔪
Full details via link in bio 🔗︎
Two Northern Irish friends. One ceasefire summer.
SKINTOWN just won the £50,000 Sean Connery Prize at Edinburgh International Film Festival 🏆 — beating nine other world premieres to take the top feature prize, voted by festival audiences themselves.
Directed by @kieron3016, this is 1994 Northern Ireland like you haven`t seen it on screen: hopeful, restless, and searching for a way out.
Full details via link in bio 🔗︎
Saoirse Ronan, the Bond girl?
The Irish actress says her dream role is a Bond villain, now husband Jack Lowden is reportedly in the running to be the next 007 - could 2026 give us Bond`s first husband-and-wife pairing?
We`re here for it. 🎬🖤
He came, he saw, he conquered!
Brendan Gleeson just landed on the 2026 Stage Debut Awards shortlist for THE WEIR - public voting for Best West End Debut Performer closes 13 September, winners announced 27 September in London.
Get your votes in for one of Ireland`s acting treasures!
Full details via link in bio 🔗︎
🏝️ Domhnall Gleeson is on an absolute roll — and THE INCOMER might be his most charming turn yet!
Gleeson`s performance in THE INCOMER is earning rave reviews - another win for one of Ireland`s most versatile actors right now🎬
Full details via link in bio 🔗︎
Colin Farrel just became the voice of @f1 `s biggest campaign of the year!
FIVE LIGHTS, a 90-second cinematic film narrated by Farrell and set to UNKLE`s Reign, launches F1`s return from summer break ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, and it`s a perfect pairing given how well known his love of racing is.
Full details via 🔗︎ in bio!
Caitríona Balfe has joined Disney`s live-action TANGLED as Queen Arianna, Rapunzel`s long-lost mother.
She joins a growing cast that includes Teagan Croft, Milo Manheim, Kathryn Hahn with the film set for cinemas on March 31, 2028.
Full details via 🔗︎ in bio!
He`s baaaack!
@piercebrosnanofficial returns in MOBLAND season two with Helen Mirren and everyone`s favourite bad boy, Tom Hardy, premiering Sep 18 only on @paramountplus.
Watch now via link in bio 🔗︎
Domhnall Gleeson is back in THE PAPER Season 2!
Ned isn`t just central to the newsroom drama anymore, he`s now the editor of the Toledo Truth Teller, steering the team through two major investigations: a fire death and a tornado aftermath.
Full details via link in bio 🔗︎
