He’s on his way to Hollywood stardom with numerous blockbusters and nominations to his name, but Barry Keoghan’s road to stardom is all the more remarkable given the adversities of his early life.
The 30-year-old Irish actor has starred in The Batman, Eternals, American Animals, Dunkirk and Chernobyl and most recently in the Golden Globe-winning film The Banshees of Inisherin, for which he was suggested for an Oscar nomination.
It’s an incredible rise to stardom after growing up in 13 different foster homes because his father was absent and his mother, who died when he was 12, was a heroin addict.
After being kicked out of school plays for wanting to “goof around,” the father-of-one says acting helped him overcome some of the trauma of his childhood after initially pursuing careers in boxing and soccer.
Pictured: Colin Farrell (left) and Barry Keoghan (right) both starred in the film The Banshees of Inisherin
Blessed with rich black curls, strong cheekbones, good looks and exceptional acting talent, it’s no wonder he’s constantly presented with opportunities.
But success and fame didn’t enter Keoghan’s plate, who has struggled through a quagmire of personal battles.
Raised in Summerhill, in the beating heart of Dublin, the young Irishman had an exceptionally difficult upbringing.
His mother was a heroin addict and very little is known about his father.
Life was made even more crushingly difficult when his aunt grandma broke the news that his mother (centre) had died of a heroin overdose
Barry Keoghan (right) and his brother Eric (left) were in foster care for seven years, during which time the two siblings lived in 13 different homes
Such circumstances plunged him and his younger brother Eric into foster care for seven years, during which time the two siblings lived in 13 different homes.
Life got even harder when his aunt and grandmother broke the news that his mother had died of a heroin overdose.
Keoghan, who was 12 at the time, described the moment as the “worst day of his life” but admitted the experience made him stronger.
Speaking to JOE about the devastating moment, he said: “I remember it wasn’t pretty. It’s not always nice when children are taken away from their parents.
Pictured: Shona Guerin and Barry Keoghan attend the UK Premiere of ‘The Eternals’ at the BFI IMAX Waterloo on October 27, 2021
Keoghan said time has strengthened the bonds between him and his brother Eric, whom he called a “legend”.
Eric often appears on his siblings’ Instagram feed. He has a little girl and enjoys taking photos in his free time.
Growing up, Keoghan’s vision was to make it as a boxer – and still competes at amateur level – or as a footballer.
When he was a pupil at O’Connell School (above) on North Richmond Street, Dublin, he was kicked out of the school’s flagship for “playing around”.
Barry Keoghan poses in the press room with the award for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy for ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel
In fact, his second cousin was Frank Stapleton, 66, a former Manchester United and Arsenal striker who won 71 caps for the Republic of Ireland.
Keoghan was known for being a rascal and a con artist at school.
When he was a pupil at O’Connell School on Dublin’s North Richmond Street, he was kicked out of the school’s flagship theater for “joking around”.
He still managed to get into trouble outside of school, where he recalled sneaking into the local cinema and watching movies without paying.
Keoghan’s Instagram feed also reveals that he enjoyed dressing up. He’s posted a series of pictures donning costumes for a variety of characters, including Frank Sidebottom (above) and Spiderman
Keoghan told the Guardian that staff would pursue him before pulling him out and banning him from the venue.
However, he had no idea that years later one of his films would have a special premiere in the same cinema.
Many people follow the film for fame, but for Keoghan, acting has been, and remains, a cathartic release.
He explained how the work was therapeutic on a deeper level and allowed him to let go of some of the pain he endured growing up.
Nonetheless, it’s also apparent from his Instagram feed that he’s always enjoyed dressing up.
The Irish actor plays the role of Druig in Marvel film Eternals (pictured). He has played a number of key roles in blockbuster films
Growing up, Keoghan wanted to make it as a boxer – who he still plays at an amateur level – or footballer (Pictured: Barry Keoghan attends the 2018 American Animals premiere)
In his twenties he released a series of images trying on costumes of famous characters including Frank Sidebottom and Spiderman.
Keoghan began acting in 2011 when he auditioned for a role in Between the Canals – an Irish film about the lives of three criminals.
He then studied acting at the Factory in Dublin before appearing on the Irish soap opera Fair City at the age of 18.
His big break came when he landed a role in the WWII film Dunkirk, portraying the character George Mills.
In 2021, it was reported that Keoghan had entered another relationship with Alyson Kierans and the two welcomed a child in August 2022
Since then he has appeared in a number of famous films including The Batman, Eternals, American Animals and the television series Chernobyl.
Upon hearing that the latest The Batman film was in production, he auditioned unsolicited for the role of Ridler.
When he met the film’s producer, Dylan Clark, the role was already taken.
Months later, however, he received a call back and the team asked if he could step in and play the Joker.
The Batman star in April 2022 also opened up about being diagnosed with ADHD and revealed how he felt he had it growing up.
His condition has made it difficult to read great books, which admits the reason he was more drawn to film.
His romantic life is known to have started a relationship with Shona Guerrin in 2017 after meeting her in a pub.
Shona was working as a bartender at the time but said the two should never have gotten together as she recalled Keoghan was dating another woman at the time.
The two became boyfriend and girlfriend after Keoghan didn’t take “no” for an answer.
During their three-year relationship, pictures on Shona’s social media show the pair enjoying a beach vacation, sipping cocktails and posing at a Late Late Show premiere.
In 2021, Keoghan began a new relationship, this time with Alyson Kierans, a dentist whose father is from County Cavan.
Just months after getting together, he broke the news that the couple was expecting a baby.
His son Brandon was born in August 2022 and called the moment “indescribable” in an interview with GQ magazine.
He has now amassed almost a million followers on Instagram and posts regularly on the site.
It was reported that he was arrested early Sunday in Dublin, Ireland, in connection with a public intoxication on a flat balcony.
Officials “were called to the apartments after receiving reports of a man on a balcony intoxicated,” a source told the outlet.
“When they arrived he was not threatening in any way but was arrested and taken to Garda station where he was treated before being released.”
The Dublin, Ireland native was taken to Coolock Garda Station and cautioned before being released without charge, according to the outlet.
A source at the time told independent.ie that the issue was over pretty quickly “and nothing more will come of it”.
A year before his arrest, he was the victim of an attack and was reportedly hospitalized and left with facial injuries.