Barry Keoghan Emphasizes His Background as Inspiration, Not a “Pity Story”

Actor Barry Keoghan, known for his role in Saltburn, has stated his desire for his personal history not to be perceived as a “pity story,” expressing hope that it can serve as inspiration for other children with comparable upbringings. He and his brother spent the majority of their formative years in foster care, as their mother’s struggle with drug addiction rendered her incapable of providing their care. Keoghan stated, “I speak about it to let younger kids know no matter where you come from, you can always achieve what you put your mind to.” On The Louis Theroux Podcast, Keoghan confronted various rumours and condemned internet trolls for speculating about his personal family circumstances. When questioned regarding his mother’s heroin addiction, the actor commented that it “caught her,” along with his uncle and father. He explained, “She was just unable to look after us. My father wasn’t there and so we got taken into care.” Keoghan added, “That kind of thing still haunts me,” continuing, “you don’t forget waiting on the social worker steps and waiting for a new family to come and play with you.“You ask why you?”” Between the ages of five and nine, Keoghan resided in 14 foster homes, encompassing 13 different families and his grandmother, an experience he attributes to developing “trust issues.” He elaborated, “I never trusted when someone said they love me. I’d always think, ‘nah, this isn’t real’.” While residing with his grandmother, Keoghan recalled his mother “screaming through the letterbox… just wanting money.” He remarked, “That was one of the last times I heard her, her voice and that stuff haunts me.” His mother passed away when he was 12 years old. After discovering a passion for performing during his school years, he chose to pursue acting studies at The Factory, Bow Street Academy. His feature film debut occurred in the 2011 Irish production, Between the Canals. Following his ascent to international recognition for roles in The Banshees of Inisherin and Saltburn, Keoghan has encountered online abuse, including mockery of his physical appearance and criticism of his relationship with his son. These incidents intensified after his relationship with singer Sabrina Carpenter attracted significant media attention. “There’s a lot (of abuse) online,” he stated, adding, “If I didn’t have tough skin or the strength to have, I wouldn’t be sitting here.” He further noted, “The more public I’ve become, the less I’ve posted about my child because I don’t think it is fair to put my child online.” Keoghan continued, stating, “because I have reined that in, people draw a narrative and go ‘absent father, deadbeat dad’. “I’m not an absent father…people love to use my son as ammunition.” He concluded, “It sickens me, makes me furious.” Responding to Theroux’s inquiry about his feelings regarding attacks on his “distinct” appearance, Keoghan described it as “absolutely disgusting” for individuals to “pick someone’s appearance apart.” “It’s lucky I have tough skin to be honest,” he commented. Despite his relationship with Please Please Please singer Carpenter generating increased attention across social media platforms, Keoghan affirmed that he feels “incredibly blessed.” He characterized her as a “strong independent lady who is massively talented and very special.” Keoghan, slated to appear in the forthcoming Peaky Blinders film, indicated that he opts to channel his life experiences into his acting as a form of therapy. “I try bring real emotion into it,” he stated, adding, “I do therapy and I have a good way of managing stuff now.” Keoghan was raised in Summerhill, an economically challenged district of Dublin. He informed Theroux that he felt “lucky to get out” but maintains affection for the area, describing it as “full of gorgeous people.” He further expressed, “I want to go back and set up some sort of youth club and employ people from the area.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.