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. 

When Emerald Fennell texted @alisonjoliver about joining WUTHERING HEIGHTS, the answer was immediate: yes. 

"I just love her so much that I would do anything she was doing," Oliver says about reuniting with Fennell after SALTBURN. 

The film is now in theatres, more at irishfilmtv.com.

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Barry Keoghan has arrived.

The Dublin actor who made us unable to look away in SALTBURN is now going head-to-head with Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Halle Berry in CRIME 101 — and he's not just keeping up, he's stealing scenes.

This isn't just another role—this is Keoghan proving he belongs among Hollywood's heaviest hitters, taking his Love/Hate juice straight to LA and reminding everyone that sometimes the hungriest actor in the room is the most dangerous one. 

More Barry at irishfilmtv.com.

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One man. Eight characters. Pure theatrical magic. ✨

Andrew Scott's VANYA won Best Play Revival at the WhatsOnStage Awards after its triumphant West End run at the Duke of York's Theatre and now tops the list of best one-man shows of recent times.

More Andrew at irishfilmtv.com.

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HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST drops Feb 12 on Netflix.

DERRY GIRLS star Saoirse Monica Jackson has been talking about the new series and her excitement is absolutely contagious.

Landing on Galentine's Day feels perfect for this kind of ladies-celebrating-ladies energy.

Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.

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Jamie Dornan is about to make you forget every role you thought defined him. 

THE WORST, a pitch-black British comedy, casts him as Danny, a talent agent so pathologically addicted to self-promotion that he can't stop name-dropping even as the dinner party around him combusts into spectacular social carnage.

More Jamie at irishfilmtv.com.

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Taylor Swift just dropped the OPALITE music video and it's giving major Irish vibes ☘️✨

The nearly 6-minute visual sees Domhnall Gleeson starring as Taylor's love interest, playing two lonely souls who find each other. But here's where it gets even better: eagle-eyed Swifties spotted cameos from Cillian Murphy and Graham Norton, making this a full-on Irish affair.

Want the full breakdown of this transatlantic collaboration? Head to our blog for all the details on how this stunning video came together. Link in bio! 🔗

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The creator of DERRY GIRLS just dropped a murder mystery set at an Irish wake, and honestly? It's the genre mashup we didn't know we needed 🕵️‍♀️

Lisa McGee is back with HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST on Netflix, and if you loved how she found humor in the Troubles (Protestants! Toasters! Cupboards!), you're going to eat this up. 

Three friends reunite for their childhood bestie's funeral, only to realize her death isn't what it seems. Cue an eerie adventure across Ireland that's equal parts creepy and hilarious.

More at irishfilmtv.com.

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