ON THE RECORD: Domhnall Gleeson
For more than two decades, Domhnall Gleeson has carved out one of the most diverse and compelling careers in contemporary cinema. The Irish actor has moved seamlessly between fantasy blockbusters and intimate character studies, between comedy and horror, between the familiar warmth of time-traveling romance and the cold brutality of frontier survival. In a recent episode of “For the Record,” Gleeson opened up about the experiences that have defined his journey, from the magic of the HARRY POTTER set to the punishing shoot of THE REVENANT, offering rare glimpses into what it takes to inhabit such wildly different worlds.
Then came STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, and with it, General Hux, a character that would become one of the sequel trilogy’s most memorable antagonists. Gleeson brought a seething intensity to the First Order’s fanatical young general, a true believer in authoritarianism whose barely controlled rage made him both ridiculous and genuinely threatening. His delivery of Hux’s Nuremberg-style rally speech remains one of the trilogy’s most chilling moments, a reminder that evil often announces itself with theatrical conviction. The role required him to embrace villainy without camp, to find the human pettiness and ambition beneath the Nazi-inspired uniform, and he did so with magnetic commitment across multiple films.
Perhaps his most physically demanding role came with THE REVENANT, where he joined Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, and director Alejandro González Iñárritu in one of the most grueling productions in recent film history. Shot in brutal natural conditions using only natural light, the film tested everyone involved, and Gleeson has been candid about the challenges of working in freezing temperatures, the endless takes, and the uncompromising vision that drove Iñárritu’s approach. Playing Captain Andrew Henry, the pragmatic leader trying to guide his men through a hostile wilderness while navigating the moral complexities of frontier justice, Gleeson held his own alongside some of cinema’s most intense performers. The film’s commitment to authenticity meant real cold, real exhaustion, real discomfort, all in service of creating something visceral and unforgettable.
In recent years, Gleeson has continued to demonstrate his versatility across both television and film. His turn as Sam Fortner, a serial killer, in the FX psychological thriller series THE PATIENT opposite Steve Carell earned him Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations, showcasing his ability to inhabit deeply disturbing characters with nuance and complexity. He followed that with a portrayal of John Dean in the satirical political miniseries WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS, bringing his talents to the realm of historical drama and political satire.
Gothic drama LIES WE TELL is now on Netflix.
With powerful performances by Agnes O`Casey and David Wilmot, the Irish drama takes Sheridan Le Fanu`s classic novel UNCLE SILAS and transforms it into something urgent and vital for our moment.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
When Colin Farrell and Jessie Buckley finally sat down together, they were strangers—but within moments, the conversation became profound.
Both Irish actors are carrying the weight of devastating roles this year: Farrell as a gambling addict spiraling in Macau in BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER, Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare grieving her son in HAMNET.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
From FAIR CITY to KNIVES OUT! Daryl McCormack shines in the new #netflix film WAKE UP DEAD MAN.
McCormack just wrapped Netflix`s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE opposite Jack Lowden, Emma Corrin, and Olivia Colman. Talk about range: trading viral grift for Jane Austen elegance. Same actor, different century, wildly different moral compass.
More Daryl at irishfilmtv.com.
Eve Hewson brings ghosts to life in Noah Baumbach`s JAY KELLY.
From her breakout in THIS MUST BE THE PLACE to BAD SISTERS and beyond, she`s now haunting George Clooney as Daphne—a face from the past that forces a movie star to confront who he became while chasing fame.
More Eve at irishfilmtv.com.
When the past catches up with you in Amsterdam 🌊
Ciarán Hinds and Lesley Manville star in MIDWINTER BREAK—a retired couple`s winter getaway becomes a reckoning with memories they`ve tried to outrun for decades, in theatres Feb 20.
New trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
James Nesbitt is back in Harlan Coben`s twisted universe. 🔍
RUN AWAY drops January 1st on #Netflix — and this one`s personal.
When Simon (Nesbitt) finally finds his missing daughter strung out in a city park, it`s supposed to be a second chance. Instead, it`s the beginning of a nightmare.
New trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
Are you loving STEVE on #Netflix?
Legendary war photographer Sir Don McCullin spent days on set capturing behind-the-scenes magic from this raw Netflix drama starring Cillian Murphy about a head teacher fighting to save his reform school while battling his own demons.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🏆 RIVALS just scooped the International Emmy for Best Drama Series!
The Disney+ hit starring Irish talents Aidan Turner and Victoria Smurfit brought home the gold for this deliciously scandalous 1980s romp through the world of wealthy media types.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
From THE COMMITMENTS to THE TUDORS to KIN, @mariadoylekennedy has built a career that defies categories.
In a brand new interview with The Irish Examiner, Maria opens up about the artists and art that shaped her creative journey—from her Dublin roots to international screens and stages.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
🎭 From Shakespeare to a Beatle: Paul Mescal is doing the impossible!
Oscar-nominated Irish actor Paul Mescal is taking on TWO iconic roles that prove he`s one of the most fearless actors working today.
Watch Paul`s latest interview at irishfilmtv.com.
Kerry Condon`s brief but powerful performance in TRAIN DREAMS is pitch perfect.
She inhabits her character with quiet competence, moving through a male-dominated world with both caution and grace.
Watch now on @netflix!
🎬 HAMNET stars to receive Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards!
A stunning meditation on love`s fragility and art`s power to transform suffering into transcendence. This is Irish talent at its absolute finest on the world stage.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Netflix just quietly dropped a crime thriller you`ve been sleeping on, and Brendan Gleeson`s performance alone makes it mandatory viewing.
MR MERCEDES, Stephen King`s dark detective series that somehow flew under the radar, is finally streaming – and it`s everything fans of slow-burn psychological thrillers have been craving.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Andrew Scott is about to steal another movie and we`re absolutely here for it! 🔍
The trailer for WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY has dropped, and our beloved Irish actor is joining Daniel Craig`s Benoit Blanc for what looks like the most deliciously twisted instalment yet.
Scott plays bestselling author Lee Ross, one of several suspects in a seemingly impossible murder that rocks a small town`s religious community.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
From GLADIATOR II`s arena to the quiet forests of Maine collecting folk songs on wax cylinders—Paul Mescal`s latest role in THE HISTORY OF SOUND might be his most vulnerable yet.
Now on @amazonprime, the film follows Lionel, a shy musician from a Kentucky farm in the 1910s, who meets David White (Josh O`Connor) at the New England Conservatory.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
