Happy Sad Confused - Barry Keoghan

Episode Date: January 13, 2023

Barry Keoghan is coming off quite the year in 2022. A scene stealing performance in THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, playing the Joker in THE BATMAN, and he became a dad! Barry reflects on it all, plus his role in ETERNALS, and looks ahead on this first visit to HAPPY SAD CONFUSED. To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to Josh's youtube channel here! Check out the Happy Sad Confused patreon here! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes of GAME NIGHT, video versions of the podcast, and more! For all of your media headlines remember to subscribe to The Wakeup newsletter here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ontario, the wait is over. The gold standard of online casinos has arrived. Golden Nugget Online Casino is live. Bringing Vegas-style excitement and a world-class gaming experience right to your fingertips. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting. Signing up is fast and simple. And in just a few clicks, you can have access to our exclusive library of the best slots and top-tier table games. Make the most of your downtime with unbeatable promotions and jackpots that can turn any mundane moment into a golden

opportunity at Golden Nugget Online Casino. Take a spin on the slots, challenge yourself at the tables, or join a live dealer game to feel the thrill of real-time action, all from the comfort of your own devices. Why settle for less when you can go for the gold at Golden Nugget Online Casino. Gambling problem call connects Ontario 1866531-260. 19 and over, physically present in Ontario. Eligibility restrictions apply. See Golden Nuggett Casino.com for details. Please play responsibly. During the Volvo Fall Experience event, discover exceptional offers and thoughtful design that leaves plenty of room for autumn adventures. And see for yourself how Volvo's legendary safety brings peace of mind to every crisp morning commute. This September, lease a 2026 XE90 plug-in hybrid from $599 bi-weekly at 3.99% during the Volvo Fall Experience event.

Conditions supply, visit your local Volvo retailer or go to explorevolvo.com. Progressive presents. Adjusting to the suburbs. You just bought a home in the suburbs, but no one told you about all the birds, specifically this one, who seems to be calling out Roy. Roy. But who exactly is Roy? And why doesn't he ever respond? Maybe Roy is just birdspeak for save with Progressive by bundling your home and auto.

I guess until Roy answers, we'll never know. Progressive Casualty Insurance Coverage provided in service by affiliates and third-party insurers. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused begins now. Today on Happy, Sad, Confused, Barry Keogan on Banshees, the Joker, Eternals, and more. Hey, guys, I'm Josh Horowitz, and welcome to another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused. We got a great young rising star on the podcast today, a first-time guest, such a huge fan of Barry Keoggan, young Irish. actor who is just killing it lately, guys, last year alone appeared in the banshees of Inashiren,

the great film from Martin McDonough, which is getting all the accolades right now, just got a couple, I think three awards at the Golden Globes. Barry just got a Screen Actors Guild nomination in Supporting Actor. The film got an ensemble nomination. Every, I think, key performer got actually an individual acting nomination. It is a tremendous movie, if you have not. caught it yet. I highly recommend it. All Martin McDonough movies, three billboards, seven psychopaths in Bruges are well worth your time. And this one might be his best, and it could

very well take home a bunch of Oscars. And Barry is just exceptional in it. So I think it's on HBO Max right now. It might even still be in theaters. If you've not caught up with it, I highly recommend it. And Barry is delightful as Dominic in the film, a role that couldn't be further from his scene-stealing brief appearance, but a memorable one in the Batman as Joker. Yeah. So, I mean, this guy is very much highly in demand, as you can tell from the kind of films and filmmakers that are gravitating towards him.

He, of course, also starred in Eternals, killing him a sacred deer in Dunkirk, and has a lot more on its way. He has just shot a role in Emerald Finnell's. latest film, the director of Promising Young Woman. So yeah, this was a great conversation with a really smart, funny, talented young man who just has a tremendous future ahead of him. And it came at a really cool time. We recorded this just the day after the Golden Globes, the day he was recognized by the Screen Actors Guild. So he is in the thick of it. He's a new dad. So I'm very appreciative that Barry Keogan made the time for happy, sad, confused. We're starting the year off

right. I want to thank all of you guys who have been so kind. We recently announced that we are now part of cast media. We have a new podcast platform home. Cast Media is awesome. They host a bunch of fantastic podcasts, including Sarah Silverman's, Ashley Greens, and more. And now, happy say I confused and we are we are barreling towards our 500th episode this year we have more live offense cooking with 92 and why and I think this is going to be just our best year yet and that that's saying a lot because 2022 was a was a tremendous one so thank you guys for coming along the ride we announced all this in deadline of all places uh you know it doesn't get any bigger a trade than that and to pick up that news so I'm appreciative to them and uh yeah this is

This is all good stuff. More podcasts, more amazing guests, more, more, more, more. You know the regular reminders. You can watch this episode as you can with all episodes of Happy Say I Confused on YouTube.com slash Josh Horowitz. Remember to subscribe so you don't miss a single episode. You can also get early access to all the audio, video versions of the podcast, plus early access to our live events, discount codes, merch,

all the good stuff. We have these souvenir posters we've just made. Go over to Patreon. That's patreon.com slash happy, sad, confused. We will take care of you there. And that's for the true connoisseur, the true happy, sad, confused devotee. So yeah, those are all the reminders. No live events to mention yet, but there are a bunch cooking. I will announce them as soon as I possibly can. But this is an exciting time for Happy Say I Confused, for the award season, for Barry Kiyogan and hopefully for you guys. I know you guys are going to dig this chat. Here is me and the star of the Batman, the star of the banshees of Inashirin, Barry Kiyogen. I'm so thrilled to have you on the podcast, man. I don't expect you to remember. We had a brief

chat in Toronto back a few years ago for Calm with Horses, but I was, I gushed to you then and I'm going to gush some more to you now because you're killing. it man this is uh oh thanks man you're doing great stuff i look i mean let's just look at this past well actually before we even get to this past year we are taping this the morning the day after um golden globes which was a big night for banshees uh and the day of a couple more nominations ensemble and an individual one for for barry that's history i heard that's history made you know it's well not the forest time but it hasn't happened in a long time that and i think was like all the and the movies nominated and the ensemble.

Amazing. Someone told me that maybe they're just missing. I don't know. It feels historic. You're part of an amazing ensemble and justifiably. Everybody's getting recognized. First talk to me. Look, this isn't your first rodeo.

You've done some award shows. I'm sure on the Dunkirk train, you went to some cool things. But Globes last night, that's a cool room to be in. You know what? Yeah. I mean, it was my first time ever in a room like that, you know, full of people that.

I admire as well, and, you know, and just the energy was, like, today I'm kind of feeling really, I know maybe jetlight, but I'm kind of feeling a bit, I don't know, I'm just like, ooh. And then the Sagamination this morning that was brought me up. I'm like, it's just a wave of like, and, you know, it's exciting. It's to be here in L.A. and to witness that last night, you know, just to whole, just to be a part of it. It was just amazing. Because I used to watch these shows as a kid and, you know, and just being part of it last night was a, you know, I was just like a young boy, a fan boy, basically. I've seen Spielberry, Tarantino. I've seen all of them. Do you, what, so what do you do? I mean, now you have enough of a resume where they know you. You can go up to them and have an actual conversation. Do you feel like, did you do that last night with anybody?

Did it put people mostly up to you? Yeah. I did. And, yeah, it's Steven Spielberg, yeah, I, yeah, because we, I auditioned for Ready Player One many years ago, and I remember that's the first of my met him and, you know, we're screen testing, and he had a camera in my face, and that was surreal, that was a surreal moment as well, that was actually in New York, and it obviously didn't go my way, but I remember, you know, just that experience, and I said to him last, and I was like, yeah, and he's

like, oh, yeah, of course, I remember, he's like, but I love you, Barry, I think you're great, and you know just to have that that exchange and and he's one of the grades man and it was just yeah i was just buzzing last night i was really buzzing yeah and everyone was in grace spirit as well and you know that makes it like got a lot smoother so yeah i was referencing when we started um 2020 is going to go down for you as a special year for a number of reasons man i mean look the breadth of the work alone of these two key performances of bansheets which we're going to talk about and I have to talk to you about Batman too playing Joker going from Dominic to Joker that's like your that's that shows Dominic is a Joker that shows up what you can do

plus you had a kid I mean you kind of did it all I know jesus I'm really not myself I've got a barred gna going on now you should see me when I got here like you know like hair everywhere and proper like dad brought going on now and you know no money there's no no it's great man it's that that alone, you know, having my boy, Brondo, and, you know, that's a massive, that's just a massive, um, push for me to, to, to, to do what I do and, and to keep making movies. And, you know, I want to now make a movie for him, you know, when he gets a little old that he can watch. Yeah, there's not much on the resume thus far that feels, no, he can't watch anything I've

really, I've done, you know. What age can you possibly watch killing of a sacred deer? I feel like you need to be like 65 years old. Like it's not, there's no time. Um, but, uh, you know, it's, uh, my motives have changed and I now actually look at, you know, signing onto projects because of, I'm not going to be away long enough or, you know, and I know sometimes you shouldn't do that, but I'm just really enjoying my time with him. And, and, of course.

Yeah, massive, massive. So can I ask just about the name? I mean, Brando, let's go. Brando, yeah. So what, what, so Marlon Brando, obviously. But, you know, he, yeah, we, I brought him to New York for the, for the Banshees premiere and we went into the, what theater was it? It was one of the theaters. I'll get it.

I'll get the name of it. But on the wall, I'm pushing them with the pram and I'm waiting for the screen to be doing my girlfriends. And so I'm watching it for the first time and me, Colin, we're all outside waiting. And I pushed the pram just into where, you know, everyone's coming out of the theater. And on the back wall, it has Brando in Lloyd's. and I'm like looking at him looking at that I'm like, you'll never be an actor

son but you know that's kind of it's weird spooky stuff Wait so why do you why do you say that Why do you not want to be an actor? Nah I don't want him taking my roles That's how competitive he is

Yeah Don't be messing And now he'll be what he wants You know and I'll I'll give him every opportunity I can And you know to succeed And to learn the main thing

So was Brando your guy growing up When did you discover Marlon Brando Was that like As a kid As a kid You know Because my granny raised me From the age of 11, 12

And You know There was always old movies On a home And you know I just took I just I just looked on the waterfront

Yeah Street car And you know And then I start going to Paul Newman And James Dean And I just I was just

mesmerized by them and their mannerisms and how different it was as well back then as well how they talked one another and stuff and I was always just kind of curious but yeah my and granny used to say to me she's like why you watch these moves in black and white like look at the age you it I just love it and yeah but yeah Marilyn Brando he's yeah he's he's my favorite he's worthy of obsession I rediscovered not that I ever fell out of what with Newman, but there was that great Ethan Hawk documentary, which I don't know if you've seen. Yeah, yeah.

And what was that, the last movie stars. Yeah. So good, right? Yeah. When I was a kid, I felt one of like, when I started to like watch real film, I remember watching like the hustler when I was a kid and just like. Cool Hand Luke, you know, fucking Cool Hand Luke, I've seen, I'm not even messing

probably about 50, 80 times. Yeah. And I actually work with Paul Newman's daughter. They, Paul Newman had, he opened a charity in Ireland called Barrettstown and I just signed on to work with them with the young kids and that. But yeah, I was like, you know, he, he's a massive icon for me as well, Paul. Yeah. And talk about a life like where like the charity component and the marriage and everything. It's just beautiful to look at it. Anyway, so I was talking about how 2022 was really a special year.

Yeah. And it's funny. I was also thinking as I was looking back, it almost has a mirror symmetry with 2017 which was when sacred deer came out and dunkirk and again kind of showed off these two like oh this guy's got ranged this guy's not a one train pony well that's what honestly honest to go and you know not that i'm trying to show that but i'm trying to do it for myself as well to actually see how far i can push myself and as you get older you learn different things about yourself and you know and and and and different roles you play you take from you take from them you know but I do want to, you know, I do want to see how far I can push myself physically and, and just kind of, you know, adventure into these, these parts and experimenting and kind of breaking the stigma of just playing the body and, you know, a stereotype. That's what Dominic was kind of like a, I was a nice one for me to kind of see could I bring the audience on board and get him to feel.

deal with them and because you know the last time they seen me and Colin would have been sacred there some people get distracted by that if they see it paired up again and they're like oh it's very similar to uh you know Martin and and um I forget Colin's character's name and sacred here but I wanted to see what I could do you know and and what I could really push myself and make people feel that so so this is of course from the great Martin McDonough who is as amazing as we get as a writer, director and look, every actor that's worked with him,

he's one of those. You just talk, they talk about, like, there's a reason he keeps reusing the same company of actors. They keep coming back. I'll keep coming back if he has me. You're saying to last night. I'm like, Martin, you got to get me more of your movies, man. So what is it, I mean, can you encapsulate

the Martin McNano experience? I mean, you've worked with some pretty great filmmakers. What's unique about his process? beyond just the words. The words are fantastic, but also just working day-to-date with him. What strikes you? You know, he doesn't show, he doesn't show stress. He doesn't show, I don't know, the great directors really don't. And, you know, they hold their ship and a composer is everything. But, you know, he really didn't. He, um, it was almost like a little checklist he had.

Like, and again, and he just knew, okay, that's the next one. All right. You know, he just knew what he wanted and he knew what I could get to even if I felt I couldn't I was like I can't he was like no no come on we can we had this thing of one in ten you know kind of played Dominic on how animated he'd be

you know you want to be human you want to humanise Domit you don't want to do it for a comedic factor or anything so we had this thing of how big I'll go or how little I'd go and so we kind of worked on that and so I'd look over after take. I'm like, that was a four.

We do seven. He's like, nope, we'll do two. Seven's more bun. I want to go pick, yeah. I'm not going to do seven, eight. And that, that was our little thing. And, well, he was just, you know, I think Martin really enjoyed being home as well. And, you know, he felt so, so comfy. And, you know, on the Irish cruise as well, like, you don't get any better than the Irish

cruise. It was just such a warm feeling and a very spiritual feeling as well on that island and you know we got incredible what I mean it turned kind of within minutes it'd be raining and then sunny and but it was very it was true you'd get lost

just looking out of the waves and you know I mean there was something magical about it and that kind of brought you back centre to what that movie was about but yeah well you always hear about I was here actors talking about, you know, like, at its best, a film is kind of an adventure, kind of an escape, where you kind of like fall, everything outside of your life. Yeah, it's a euphoric, like a euphoric feeling that.

It's like a numbness and it's a, you know, it's sometimes it's good and sometimes it's not. And, you know, and apart from like, you know, the purpose of all this is great. I mean, it's, you know, the lifestyles, it's, it doesn't seem real, you know, and sometimes that's, that's, that's very. I live in Scotland with my lady and my baby and, you know, and that's why I lived there is to kind of separate, you know, walking to personal because you can't get lost in it. And I mean, in the process of a film, you get lost. I do, certainly. You get, you know, you really let yourself go and you're trying to get to the most vulnerable estate or the most, you know, you're trying to find that truth and that. so you really do go to places and that in itself is a long process that can be over three months six months whatever

and so to live out here or to you know to you could read it's yeah i find it kind of dangerous do you do you feel like you found that balance because look as you said you're a dad now and you can't like just escape out of your life okay off to l a brando he's doing yeah exactly she's got this one you're good right You go to bed, you go into bed. But, like, at the same time, the actors you admire, I'm sure, are the ones that always talk about, like, going all in and just, like, absorbing it. And you want to do.

I mean, he devotes his whole, you know, life to his craft. And, you know, I think now he's taking this time to, you know, be a home on that. And it makes sense because it is, it's very, like, I don't want to stay on two, you know, I don't know what way to say, but, like, it's painful sometimes. No, it really is. yeah it's uh it's painful and you know and that goes across the board where everyone on on on on the movies like you know you're putting long long hours and we mentally draining as well and you know you're pushing yourself to places you're going back you're touching on memories

you're yeah trying to revisit the past and bring it's false information forward with true information and it's like it can really it can have a have an effect on you it's probably a good that like if you've hooked your ship to another actor it might as well be Colin Farrell this is your third film with him and he is just such a good head on his shoulders and he's been through it as we know he's been on the podcast before

I adore that man as I'm sure you do and just has all the perspective and all the stories and has been down all the roads how has that relationship evolved since Sacred Deer what is he to you now you know what I said this before like you know when when people get

recognized for the work and you know and all the accolades come in and it's great to see but when it happens to someone that's actually a genuine top bloke I mean like Colin you know

there's nothing better he deserves the all man because he's just such he's time for everyone he really he's time for everyone and he's had a lot of time for me and I'm still learning from him you know as an actor

and as a person and as a father as well he's just a great great guy I feel like sometimes I annoy them a bit too much. And as a, as a, as a, I don't think he adores you. And as a roommate too, you guys, you guys spent some quality time together making banshees. And it sounds like it was nice, but it had its ups and downs. It was because like, you know, there's that lovely thing of, all right, this is great living together.

And after a day or two, you know, the milk is getting left out of the fridge or, you know, the blinds are being left up and down. the blanket's on the couch and it's like you know what i said come on barry clean up but you get too comfy but um now it was uh it really did it brought us together a lot as well and you know living with collin and i seen the amount of work he put in he was in every single day and i'd have a lot of days off and the island does not a lot of stuff to do either so um yeah we'd watch movies and you know but constantly learn from that man You know, as he's human, more than that else. But as an actor, he's just had an incredible run.

What's, okay, now it can all be told. We've said nice things. What's the most annoying thing about him as a roommate? I feel like he's sold you down the river and said that, like, you've stolen his food, et cetera. You know what, there is, like, honestly, does not, you know, he just wasn't there enough. It's the only annoying thing.

I'll be left there alone, so sometimes. you're playing your video games like wait where's my friend where's my buddy there's only so much movies you can watch and walk around the field so many times and come on Tom hey hey that was it and you know

nah he's at nah I mean he's just fucking incredible and you know I can't wait to see what he does with the penguin as well and oh yeah whatever else he goes on to do Progressive presents adjusting to the suburbs. You used to associate crickets with silence. But since you bought a house in the suburbs, you know.

Crickets hate silence. If any other creature realized rubbing its legs together made a piercing high-pitched noise, they might think, maybe I won't do that. Constantly, all night long. Luckily, you can save with Progressive by bundling your home and auto. Now that's something to make noise about. Just not constantly. Progressive Casualty Insurance Coverage provided in service by affiliates and third-party insurers.

You bring up an important word I want to bring up. Feckin versus fucking. Explain it to me. Feckin's allowed. Feckin-feckin is allowed. You know what I mean? You can't feckon say fucking, you know. You can't fucking say feckin.

You can fucking say feckon, and you can't feckon say fucking. It's a great little word, isn't it? It's a feck and great little word. Feck's a good word. Feck is another one. Not feck and feck. Feck? Feck.

You can even sort of more feck. Ah, for feck's sake. Is that your go-to? Is that your go-to curse word? Do you hope that feckon... Yeah, I don't say fuck, I. No, that's filthy. Feck off, would you?

It's a bit more polite. Do you hope feckon now takes over, comes to America in a real way? I do. I do. I think it will. I hope I hope it feckin does If there's one great influence Banshees has

it's bringing feckin to the States It has It has No it's Martin's Feckon There we go again Martin's right And it's just

Yeah captured all of that Irish that essence You must take some pride And this is it This is an Irish film With a capital I Obviously the cast

The crew shot there and i'm sure those intangible qualities does it feel like you are embracing the lineage and have you always felt a real you know pride and being irish and you know what i love is the fact that you know it translates everywhere if you get me that this movie this this this story could be you know it'll exist in a hundred years and you know because it's it's you know it's a you know it's a story about a relationship and it's so that's the that's the power of martin like the movie overall is like you know it's a story about relationship but it's like a bit

oh man like taking off his fingers if you keep talking to me it's so it's so you know it's to the point you know it's like the field and and stuff like that it's a bit man and you know on the field and and it's just it's so simple in a way that

so many layers to it and it's that's a movie you know what I mean that's a proper movie and sometimes you don't get that these days it's a I'm not I may be voice enough but you don't you know like it's just sometimes movies can be I don't know well they can just be what they are which is fine and you can leave it alone and you never think of it again but as you say this one I mean I've seen this one a few times and like you can read into it resonates to everyone you know everyone's well it's always the specific ones ironically that have the resonance and and this one has a very specific place yet it feels like almost like a fairy tale something that's bigger and exactly

And then, you know, on the plus side, it's beautifully shot. It's, you know, the backdrop and, you know, everyone on board and the cast and, you know, has it has it all together. But, you know, the standard writing as well. But just the story is like it engaged you so much. And I'm just so happy that that's translated, you know, that no one's like, that's set in Ireland. We don't really understand that what are you on about now? Yeah. You know, it's not, has that Irish humor, that Irish language that, you know, all the lessons is.

But again, everyone relates to it. I definitely want to talk about your other role last year. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, my God, I'm a huge Matt Reeves fan. I'm a huge Batman fan, so I knew this movie was going to be special. Pattinson, I go way back with. And then when I heard the rumors about you, Harry, come on. The Joker, it's like the Hamlet of our times.

It's Batman and the Joker are the roles that every actor wants, as you well know. That's a feck and roll, right? That's a feck and roll. So first I want to talk backstory because you released your Riddler audition. Was that an unsolicited audition? Like were you up for it in a real way or were you like here? No, no, no, not all. Yeah.

I think I read online on variety that they were or somewhere, I want to say it was variety, but I ran online that they were making the Batman and potential villains could be the Riddler. I was like, oh, the Riddler. I was like, I love to play him. You know, oh, my God, I love the Rital. but um i remember then saying you know you know there's no auditions there was no process but i remember going you know what i might make a little tape and send it in and and see what happens

and so i i made a little tape you know and i made it actually in management tree 16 their old building upstairs oh really got a camera let's read put some music over it i pity the person that just walking by in that office building. It just happened to walk down the wrong hallway and see you. Where's he going? Okay. Blood on his hands. So definite clockwork orange vibes, right?

Yeah, yeah. Cuberty kind of thing I was going for because I'm a massive Stanley Kubrick fan. And I'm playing with it like, you know, Demetry and all of these, you know. But I just wanted to make a tape and throw it in. So I've done it. And then, funny enough, I had a general. meeting with Dylan Clark and...

It's a producer, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And so I went over and I met him and, you know, he said, okay, oh, very, so yeah, you're in Dunker. And it's a general, you know, and then at the end, I went, oh, so you're making Batman, and you went, yeah, yeah, yeah. I said, oh, so I made this tape, you know,

for the Riddler and, and Dylan was, Dylan's great, that's such a feck and legend. And he was like, oh, yeah, send it on, send it on. I didn't think I'd love it. You know, I thought I would have sent it. on, you know, you would look at it, but you know, Dylan's Dylan

and you did. But it was four months later that we got a call and they were like, look, they want to see you for Batman. I was like, oh, no, no, no. They want to see you for the Joker. And I was like, ah, no. Yeah, come on.

I didn't believe it. I didn't believe it. So then I went back and met with Dylan and that and I just couldn't believe it. I really couldn't. But yeah, because there's so much history to that role and, you know, you want to be careful and that and you want to, you want to do it justice and there's a lot of fecking. Every actor has been brilliant, so you want to bring your own own take to it, well, you know, but it's, yeah, I then just got into it, you know, and it was two scenes and, you know, I just had so much. like, you know, going on and questions and, and, but yeah, that's fun.

So what was, yeah, I mean, I'm sure proportionate to the amount of screen time, I'm sure it's like the most work you ever did for the, for a small role. Yeah. Because you want to, as you say, the lineage. I mean, this is the opportunity of a lifetime to get a crack at Joker and do your own spin. So what was, did you have a key kind of take on it in your brain of like, oh, this is going to be my, this is going to give me a little twist. This is going to make it Barry's.

And what was the key for you? And Matt was great in that, you know, kind of, you know, just, just any question I had, any doubts I had. I think it was Matt, I said, just be Barry's the Joker, you know. And I remember playing around with the eyes that there was context going to be involved. And I was like, you know, let's make the eyes, let's keep them blue. Because, you know, I was, I just wanted to kind of be some sort of, show some sort of human and, you know, and that. and there's beneath all of that

and what it was it was tough I will admit it was tough in the sense that again there's so much

history with this role and but when I got in there me and Matt just kind of went through it we really did and he was like in this way

and he's oh yeah I know we just had fun with it together man we really did and you know he wanted to make him kind of charming and you know

playing around with him and Joker does. Did you, did you and Matt and Rob talk about, the cool thing is like there's a past. Like you're referring to like Batman and him have a story that I've already taken part in.

Did you talk about what that past was? Yeah, we went into all of that, man. We did. But there's only so much talking you can do and you've got to get in and I really like kind of get into it. And I remember that whole day, you know, we done that.

And Rob is sitting in the back suit and I'm sitting there with the prosthetics and, you know, and it's it's getting hot and the thing on my mouth is kind of getting sore as well and but that's when we found that i think when it started getting like that you know that's when it when it when it came to life and but yeah when mat rase goes all right we got it through your own now you're like oh really i mean he's go for it no because i know he's a he's a meticulous exacting oh yeah yeah oh he's incredible you know such a nice guy him and Dylan two of them together man they're just so fucking good and they were really

really nice to me as well so did you so see what comes of it well i was going to say but i mean i mean yeah i mean i mean if it's one and done would you be satisfied like do you feel optimistic you're going to get another crack at playing that character obviously i'd love another crack i've got a ton of back back forked on them again i want that opportunity does arise and but you know they make the call and I got respect that so if Barry made the call because there's so much cooking

there's going to be a bad I made the call definitely definitely definitely because I've got a few things I've looked to bring from I've actually I've just like a little half-mile skin book I've written them already

and so yeah I've looked to show people what that is what's your favorite Joker story are you killing joke guy are you a yeah killing joke yeah and funny enough my girlfriend

She got me a lovely, oh, sorry. She got me a lovely printed out, a laminated copy of it as well, which is on the wall. It's lovely. Amazing. Well, yeah, let's see what happens. Yeah, yeah. Collins obviously getting a crack at some more penguin. There's a Batman sequel.

There's an Arkham show they're apparently working on. It seems like there's some places you could pop in. I hope so. All right. All right. So let's talk more generally. I got I got you got you if you knew you weren't going to tell me I get it I get it but um look I'm fascinated like your trajectory when we alluded to this a little bit

and then if you dig deeper into the Barry Keogan story I mean to read about your childhood it's like oh you know some some sad sad occurrences needles to say I mean you know you had you had some tough tough times was it like when you look back does that what it seems like like do you think of the tough times or do you think like oh I just had my own issues like I mean, next you get older, you get kind of perspective, you know, you get kind of, you know, you understand what, what was going on. But back then, you don't, you know, it's, you know, you're just a child, you don't know what's happening. But, no, it's, yeah, it was tough, but, you know, there's people out there who's had a tougher, and I like to have a positive spin on it. Did you have to kind of learn how to adapt? I mean, obviously, I know you lost your mom when you were quite,

young, I think of 12. Were you moving around a lot and did that? I mean, you could go one way or another, right? You could be like a mess. Yeah, and not be able to. Yeah, you can take that and you can, you know, not to say that, you know, there's anything wrong with it, but I didn't do that.

I took it and I went, you know what? I'm going to do my mother proud. And it would be kind of funny if, you know, I went, you know, and I made a career of this. because she always wanted to see that she wanted to be a model and oh nice but um yeah i kind around with it and in the sense of you know it's made me who i am it's ammunition it's you know she'd be dead proud back in yeah what did what did acting early on give you you think was it purpose validation escape yeah yeah yeah definitely definitely and you know that chance to kind of

But you're paying through it, an art form. You don't know what it is you're actually doing, really, but you're getting some sort of, oh, this is nice. You know, I'm offloading here, and I'm getting paid for it. Win-win. Right? It's crazy. Like, that was a young kid in me.

I'm like, I'm getting off school. Oh, yeah. But it's, yeah, it is, it's escapism. And then you start to learn about your craft. you dig into it and then it's trying to be careful with you know going back to you know too many places and in the past and that when you look back now like you're you're you're acting you're you're you're working pretty steadily and then as I alluded to there it seems to be like from the outside looking in this kind of shift to a whole other level where you get to work

with Yorgos Lanthamos and you get to work with with Nolan. Did it feel like in retrospect like you were playing with the big boys all of a sudden you've been working with some quality folks. Let's not diminish it. But like suddenly you're in with movie stars and not only movie stars, but movie stars that are great actors like Nicole Kidman and Colin and you're on a boat

basically for probably a couple months I would imagine with Killian and Rylands. These are like mini masterclasses I would think for an actor. They are. Perfect that you said that. You know, that's exactly what they're. mini master classes it's yeah you know what it's trying to know keep that level yeah but no it's you know i didn't really i am blessed i'm really really blessed i won't say lucky i don't believe in luck at all but uh i am blessed in the sense of who i've got to work with and and who've got to learn

from as well and you know i do look back and i'm like feck and hell man there's there's a long list there of incredible people you know directors, but actors, actresses, there's a long list of a lot of people that I've come across that I've learned from and just, yeah. But it's also been cool to see, like, again, we're talking again about the breadth of the work. And, you know, you famously kind of manifested a few things. People have said, you know, whether it's, we'd have a reference the fact that you had, for those who don't know, he had Martin McDonough on the wallpaper of his phone, apparently. Until I met him, literally until literally

two minutes before I met him in Midtown and we sat down I had a borgo I had him on the front of my phone and I had to take him off because you know even my friend was like

who's that dude on the front of your phone is that sting? I was there not it's Martin McDonough but when I met with him I had to take it off I was like oh shit

I should take this off because he may fucking think I'm aware though and then I told him I was like Martin just to let you know I've had this picture of you

on my phone because I'm a big believer in the law of attraction. Well, speaking the law of attraction, you famously tweeted many years ago to Stan Lee, the late, great Stanley, I believe, right, about being in a Marvel movie. And of course, you got to be in Eternals. And I want to ask a little bit about that because I just had Kumal on the podcast.

We reminisced a bit. Oh, I look, Camille. The best. Oh, man. He's a legend. So you were pretty late to the party, though. As I recall, you were cast, it's seemingly late in the process. Was there anything to, like, where you?

I was the last one cast. Did they put you through the ring or what was up with that? No, I was like, yeah, I think they came in like four, three weeks out, four weeks out. And, you know, everyone was like kind of getting ready. And I think they wanted to go older at my part. That was the problem. And then I think Chloe was like, let's see what Barry can do with tape. and she was right by my side

for that as well which was great so I sent in a tape I went out to like not the once but I got to a green area somewhere here in L.A. I was actually here at the time and she put a bit of green behind me like the Amazon kind of thing and done a little tape.

Yeah, I got it and I actually couldn't believe because I'm a massive rival fan and when I got that part it was like all right that just moved quick all right back to UK Pinewood you know and just the costume fittings you're all in

suddenly you're in a super costume vines so everything's so quick like you know yeah and but yeah do you think that I was talking to Kumail about this and he was pretty honest about it

like do you feel like that movie got a bad rap I mean like you know the critics of the fans it made a ton of money obviously by any standard but the standards

from Marvel movies are pretty tough what's the what's your I think Chloe brought a whole kind of feel to it you know and so chloe's a very uh as you've seen from our past films you know raw performances and really really touching performances and i i don't think it was i think it was just you know i think it was new i think it was just new it's different it was a different yeah it was new different vibe yeah and and i don't think it was it was bad i think was kind of you know

just a new kind of movie in the marvel universe. Are you optimistic about returning for that one? I mean, again, I feel like, yeah, yeah, always optimistic. I actually put into Victoria last. Victoria Alonzo, she was there. And I didn't get to chat with too much,

but yeah. And yeah, I'm always optimistic. Always. Do you... I wonder what Throog is doing right now. So many people to hang out with. Harry Styles, Kumail. Who knows? Anyways, we'll see You're not going to get that over me All right, okay

I don't know him I don't believe you're too good an actor I know it Oh, here's one that I'm interested in I don't know if you got Because there was talk on the internet And maybe you even talked about this Did you get a chance to meet with Deney

About Dune? Did you get a chance to know Never Because were you interested in Fade? I mean, who wouldn't be interested in working with Deney? Come on. Oh, yeah, definitely I want to work with Timothy as well.

You know, you know, Timmy, don't you? Yeah, I'm a massive fan of his as well. And I'd love to see if we could find something together. Yeah. I think that'd be sensational. So who, not, not, Nate, you're like, oh, be sensational because we're in it. I'm just saying, it'd be sensational to the world. I'd finally make a Timothy shallow movie good.

Yeah, exactly. I'd finally show the world what he can do. So what's the wall paper on your phone now? What's the, what are you manifesting now? What's the wallpaper now on the phone? Right now on my phone, I have a picture of me, my baby, a picture of me. So I know it's weird, but the reason being is I look at that every day, you know, as to why I do this, he's my motivation. But also that young boy there, the bottom screen, me, it's my motivation as well.

Because I want to remind myself, you know, why I do this. I remember being a young boy. All I wanted was this. You know, sometimes you have to remind yourself of that. Amazing. When I look at that face of mine, I'm like, ugh. I'm like, oh, I get it. Someone looked at you that day and they're like,

why is your face so stretched out? Yeah, it's like a fun house mirror. Yeah. It's like it. Wait, wait, wait, let me see. Oh, come on. This camera is so weird, man. Okay, it looks weird anyways.

That's okay. How old are you in that? How old are you in that? I took a selfie when I was younger. I took a selfie on a little throwaway camera. But yeah, I just thought I'd have to, myself and my little boy, Brando on the front. Does it feel like you're just getting started? This feels like this is Act 1.

We're still in Act 1, maybe, of the Berwick-Yogan story. I think we are, definitely. Definitely. You know what? You know what the difference is, all right? The only difference is opportunities. Everything remains the same. My hunger, my discipline, to work.

towards it, my determination, my, my need to want to venture into new characters and explore and, you know, take myself to place and learn as human and as an actor, that is all the same. The only difference is opportunities. For being apart of movies like this, people now look at you and go, oh, so you get a chance now to showcase or, that is the only difference. I mean, as you well know, the smartest thing you can do is surround yourself. with the best, right? And that's what you're finally, not finally, but you're more so than ever getting the opportunity to do.

Looking at this last year, but also looking ahead, you know, you show. Well, it's exciting because I do. I want to push myself in new characters. I want to physically change. I want to, you know, look at Joaquin Phoenix and look at Christian Bale, Daniel DeLuis. You know, you look at all these heck and incredible actors and they really immersed themselves. And I want to do that.

These are the years to do it. You don't want to keep, bail has to stop. He's going to kill himself if he goes up and down again. But you're at the age where you can still do it a few times, right? Well, I want to, like, you know, and I felt like banshees. I got given an opportunity to do that. And, you know, and so the next part, the next one I'm going to do, I'm looking for it to kind of really take you somewhere and take myself somewhere.

And do you feel like you can manifest that specifically? or is it more of just like at the like do you are you are you asking for meetings with folks or you at this point can you kind of hang back and wait for the material to come to you i don't think ever hang back well don't think also ever pursue on a needy level or anything like that i think you know the right collaboration comes at the right time yeah you know and filmmakers speak to me because i'm genuinely look at the movies or interested in what they have to do next or you know and is a challenge for me and what can we make together

but it's a bit of both and you know I'm always going to share it a load when I see the film maker I want to see whoever I'm going to let them know I'm a massive fan if I'm a massive fan yeah you know what I mean

and that goes a long way yeah especially if you can dissect why you're a massive fan not just big fan big fan but you can go I'm a big fan because this movie what I've done for me yeah you know what I mean that means a lot when you can articulate

let me go on let you go rather on this give me one or two examples of just like a filmmaker or something it doesn't need to be someone you approached or not but like who are you in the spot

well who are you obsessed with like who's Andrea Arnold obsessed with yeah fish tank and on right yeah yeah there's so many there's so many I could go on

I could honestly go on and well these are the this is like why I love like someone like Colin too it's like you guys legit love the craft love the filmmakers to talk about movies for like this is not

performances they get from people and you know and just i love a movie that takes you you know what mean that can take you out because we've so much shit going on we really do we've so much shit go on in our heads and you know when you can sit and watch a movie or go to sit in and watch a movie and be like just get to a euphoric state i always say whether it's even for 10 seconds or 10 seconds a very long time for like two seconds you know just kind of a numbness or a you know just a total present where you're engaging with this movie or I don't know

that's to me is that's the goal and I get it it's like and that can take different forms can't it it can be like a James Cameron kind of thing where he just yeah right but it can also be like an Aronovsky or a PTA or just anyone that can like really

Tarantino that knows how to just draw you. I don't always feel good things you know they always make you feel good they just make you feel that's that's the bottom one. That's the thing they just make you feel deal. Yeah. So you leave the cinema, you ask questions, you can't really figure out, you go watch it again, since which you, you know, it's mooch in a way that's, you know, that to me is just powerful. That's powerful. Yeah. You know? Well, I appreciate that time today, man. I mean, I do feel like we're kind of in the end of act one and I'm so excited to stay with you, man. No, we're not in the actual. We're still in act one. Okay, we're still in act one. Yeah. But what I'm saying is I'm excited to go on the journey with you and to watch you just evolve. and push yourself and I couldn't be more thrilled for you

in this film in fatherhood and the adventure you're on right now. Thanks for a feck and good time, Barry Keoggan. And it's Barry Keoggan. We got it right. Keogin, yeah, you got it right, bro. You got it right. And so ends another edition of happy, sad,

confused. Remember to review, rate, and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley and I definitely wasn't pleasure to do this by Joe. American history is full of infamous tales

that continue to captivate audiences, decades or even hundreds of years after they happened. On the infamous America podcast, you'll hear the true stories of the Salem Witch Trials and the escape attempts from Alcatraz, of bank robbers like John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd, of killers like Lizzie Borden and Charles Starkweather, of mysteries like the Black Dahlia and D.B. Cooper and of events that inspired movies like

Goodfellas, Killers of the Flower Moon, Zodiac, Eight Men Out, and many more. I'm Chris Wimmer. Join me as we crisscross the country from the Miami Drug Wars and Dixie Mafia in the South, to mobsters in Chicago and New York, to arsonists, kidnappers, and killers in California, to unsolved mysteries in the heartland and in remote corners of Alaska. Every episode features narrative writing and cinematic music, and there are hundreds of episodes available to binge. Find Infamous America, wherever you get your podcasts.