Irish actor Barry Keoghan has been generating buzz in the film world with his dynamic and compelling acting skills. He has starred in a range of independent and big-budget movies, receiving recognition such as a British Academy Film Award and being nominated for an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.
Barry Keoghan Profile Summary
Name: Barry Keoghan
Age: 31 years old
Date of birth: October 18, 1992
Place of birth: Dublin, Ireland
Material status: Unmarried
Children: 1
Religion: Christian
Nationality: Irish
Eye color: Blue
Hair color: Brown
Height: 5 ft 10 in
Weight: 70 kg
Profession: Actor
Childhood
Born on October 18, 1992, Barry Keoghan grew up in the Summerhill area of Dublin. Keoghan had no connection with his father, whose identity remains undisclosed. His mother, Debbie, struggled with a heroin addiction.
Due to his mother’s drug addiction, 5-year-old Barry and his younger brother, Eric, were put into foster care. The Daily Mail reports that they resided in 13 different households before finally settling into a two-bedroom apartment with their grandmother Patricia, aunt Lorraine, and cousin Gemma, who Barry considers to be his “sister.”
At the young age of 12, Barry lost his mother Debbie. Despite her challenges, he cherishes happy thoughts of her. During an interview with Lucy Kennedy in 2019, he revealed that he prays to her for luck before auditions.
Education
During his time as a student at the O’Connell School in Dublin, he was expelled from the school production for causing disruptions. Keoghan also managed to sneak into a nearby cinema to watch movies without buying a ticket; however, he was eventually caught and barred from the theater.
At first, Keoghan’s goal was to become a sportsman like his distant relative, Frank Stapleton, who was a member of the Irish national football team.
However, he discovered his passion for boxing and started practicing and honing his skills in high school. He continued to compete for 10 years until he took a break to concentrate on his acting aspirations.
Career
During his time with his grandmother, Keoghan’s passion for acting grew as he immersed himself in timeless Hollywood movies. He was particularly drawn to the performances of icons such as Marlon Brando, James Dean, and Paul Newman.
Barry Keoghan has acknowledged that his brother, Eric, played a significant role in supporting his decision to pursue acting as a serious career. In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, Keoghan revealed,
“Because where I’m from, to do acting is not heard of. Being one of the lads and all, you don’t just go, ‘Oh, I want to be an actor.'”
“They’d laugh and joke about it. Not in a mean way, but like taking the piss. But once you get the seal of approval from your brother, you just know.”
After attending The Factory, a renowned acting institution in Dublin currently called the Bow Street Academy, Keoghan landed the small yet impactful role of Wayne in the crime drama series Love/Hate in 2013. This role gained him recognition throughout his native country and propelled his acting career internationally.
By 2013, Keoghan had established a consistent source of income but was frequently pigeonholed into playing nervous troublemakers in his initial movie roles such as ’71 (2014) and Trespass Against Us (2016). However, his breakthrough in the film industry came in 2017 with two vastly contrasting movies.
Initially, Barry Keoghan portrayed the character of George, a young civilian sailor, in the war movie Dunkirk directed by Christopher Nolan. The cast also included Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Harry Styles. Later, the up-and-coming actor delivered a chilling performance in the psychological thriller The Killing of a Sacred Deer, alongside Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman.
In 2022, Keoghan reunited with Farrell for The Banshees of Inisherin and their relationship evolved into a mentorship and friendship.
After fulfilling these two roles, Barry Keoghan went on to star in films such as American Animals (2018), Calm with Horses (2019), and The Green Knight (2021) before landing roles in two major comic book movies.
He portrayed Druig in the 2021 installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eternals, and made a brief appearance as the “Unseen Arkham Prisoner” in The Batman (2022), later revealed to be the infamous villain, the Joker.
Keoghan has recently suggested that his portrayal of the character may play a more significant role in the upcoming sequel, The Batman Part II, set to be released in October 2025.
Love Life
When not on camera, Barry Keoghan fulfills his parental responsibilities to his son, Brando, who was born in August 2022 and was named after one of Keoghan’s beloved actors, Marlon Brando. Brando’s mother is Keoghan’s former girlfriend, Alyson Sandro.
There have been rumors about Keoghan’s romantic involvement with Sabrina Carpenter in the recent past. In December 2023, photographers caught them together in Los Angeles, heading to a dinner date. This sparked speculation about their potential relationship, but neither of them has officially addressed it.
Barry Keoghan’s Net Worth
Barry Keoghan takes pride in possessing a remarkable home in Scotland, as well as real estate in Los Angeles and Ireland. By 2024, his net worth is estimated to be $6 million. The continuous increase in his net worth throughout the years serves as proof of his continued triumph in the field.
