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.
Killarney`s own Jessie Buckley just took home the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress for HAMNET, and her acceptance speech was pure gold 🏆✨
In HAMNET, Buckley delivers a devastating performance as Agnes, William Shakespeare`s wife, navigating the grief of losing their 11-year-old son. Critics are calling it unforgettable, and now she has the trophy to prove it 🎬💚
More Jessie at irishfilmtv.com.
HAMNET star Jessie Buckley shines in BEAST, now on #Netflix.
A troubled woman living in an isolated community finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider suspected of a series of brutal murders.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🕺✨ DANCING WITH THE STARS IRELAND is back for S9 tonight!
Get ready for spray tans, sequins, and Sunday night sparkle because Ireland`s favourite winter escape is almost here. Who`s ready to vote their faves to victory? 💃
More at irishfilmtv.com.
** Now on Netflix **
RUN AWAY brings Harlan Coben back to form with James Nesbitt doing what he does best—playing a tormented father searching for his missing daughter against all advice.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Available everywhere January 1st!
The fight that divided a nation is finally on screen. SAIPAN brings the infamous 2002 World Cup showdown between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy to life, and it`s absolutely electric. ⚡
Éanna Hardwicke is a revelation as Keane—capturing that legendary intensity, rage, and surprising humor. Steve Coogan matches him beat for beat as McCarthy. This isn`t just sports drama; it`s a masterclass in casting and a story we`re still arguing about 20+ years later.
More at irishflmtv.com.
By order of the Peaky Blinders, Merry Christmas!
A teaser for the new film PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN just dropped, and it features Cillian Murphy’s gangster Tommy Shelby returning to his old ways despite leaving them all behind at the end of the TV series.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
Domhnall Gleeson heads to a remote Scottish isle for THE INCOMER!
He plays an awkward council worker tasked with relocating two siblings who survive by hunting seabirds, talking to mythical beings, and fiercely defending their homeland from outsiders.
More Domhnall at irishfilmtv.com.
Andrew Scott is bringing one of theater`s most powerful true stories to life.
The ALL OF US STRANGERS star will portray Scottish actor Ian Charleson in ELSINORE, chronicling Charleson`s breathtaking final performance as Hamlet at London`s National Theatre before his death in 1990 at age 40.
More via irishfilmtv.com.
Belfast-born Ciaran Hinds shines in Bradley Copper`s IS THIS THING ON?
With Hinds, you`re not just getting an actor. You`re getting decades of gravitas, warmth, and that rare ability to make every scene feel like it matters. From prestige drama to fantasy epics, he`s built a career on understated brilliance. And now? He`s ready to find the humor in heartbreak.
More Ciaran at irishfilmtv.com.
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.
