irishfilmtv.com

In the intimate documentary STEPHEN REA: THE FIRE IN ME NOW viewers are granted unprecedented access to one of Ireland’s most commanding artistic presences as he enters his seventh decade as a professional actor. The film, which premieres on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Thursday, April 10th at 10:15pm (and later on BBC iPlayer from April 24th), captures Rea in a moment of profound artistic reflection while rehearsing Samuel Beckett’s KRAPP’S LAST TAPE in Dublin—a production where he performs opposite recordings of his younger self made over a decade ago.

Born in North Belfast, Rea’s journey unfolds across the landscapes that shaped him—from his childhood home to his current residence north of Dublin, from London’s Maida Vale where he cut his teeth as a young actor, to the wild coastlines of his beloved Donegal. Throughout this geographical odyssey, we witness intimate conversations with long-time friends and collaborators including actor Sinéad Cusack, director Neil Jordan, and Civil Rights activist Eamon McCann, who reveal the self-described “messer” behind the often reserved public persona.

Despite initial hesitations about participating in the documentary—”I am a deeply private person, and I’ve always believed that the work has to be bigger than your ego,” Rea confesses—he ultimately agreed to honor the collaborators who shaped his remarkable career. The film weaves together rare archive footage spanning over fifty years, from student sketches at Queen’s University Belfast in the 1960s to his electrifying recent work with former Royal Court Theatre Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone.

The title, drawn from the final poignant lines of KRAPP’S LAST TAPE, aptly describes the undimmed intensity Rea brings to each performance. Though his collaborations with director Neil Jordan in films like THE CRYING GAME and MICHAEL COLLINS brought him international acclaim, the documentary reveals a man whose artistic fire burns most brightly when challenging conventional expectations. A proud North Belfast native, Rea hopes his story might inspire younger actors: “There’s not one set path to being an actor. It’s about being true to yourself.”

Through this compelling portrait, produced by Walk on Air Films and commissioned by RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland with support from Northern Ireland Screen, viewers witness not just the evolution of a singular talent, but a man whose artistic integrity and hypnotic screen presence have made him one of Ireland’s most treasured cultural ambassadors—a fire that, indeed, burns now as brightly as ever.