irishfilmtv.com

In a heartwarming and memorable moment at this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, Colin Farrell clinched his first-ever SAG award, though the victory came with an unexpected twist. The Irish actor, recognized for his transformative role in Max’s Batman spinoff THE PENGUIN, received his award for best actor in a limited series from Jamie Lee Curtis, star of THE LAST SHOWGIRL, who playfully called him out for a previous viral moment. “And the Actor goes to… the man who gave me COVID at the Golden Globes: Colin Farrell,” Curtis announced to a laughing audience. Farrell, ever the charmer, accepted the accusation with good humor, though he was quick to pass the blame to his THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN co-star Brendan Gleeson.

The acceptance speech that followed revealed the depth of emotion and gratitude that has marked Farrell’s remarkable career. Speaking with genuine wonder about his fellow actors, Farrell reflected on the ethereal nature of their craft: “It’s just unquantifiable; it’s playtime. You don’t get to fully grow up, you get to keep the dream of a child alive as you try and figure out what it is to be human.” The 48-year-old actor’s words resonated deeply with the audience as he acknowledged both the successes and failures that come with the artistic journey.

In a particularly touching moment, Farrell took time to recognize his family’s crucial role in his success. He gave special recognition to his sister Claudine, his partner of 22 years in the industry, emphasizing her role as a producer rather than merely his assistant. He also celebrated his sister Catherine, the family’s pioneer in acting, and his pajama-clad brother Eamon, who stayed up to watch the ceremony on Netflix. Most movingly, he praised his sons James and Henry, aged 21 and 15, for bringing unprecedented joy and meaning to his life.

Farrell’s winning performance in THE PENGUIN required an extraordinary physical transformation, one that profoundly impacted his sense of self. Reflecting on the experience at the HBO series premiere in September, he shared how the dramatic makeup and costumes altered his self-perception: “It’s not like I ever fully lost sense of myself, but it was a very powerful thing to know yourself a certain way for 45 years and to see a reflection.” This transformation proved to be more than skin-deep, offering him a unique creative freedom that he described as both hypnotic and powerful, allowing him to approach his character with a truly blank slate.