Colin Farrell has continuously reinvented himself through many genres and characters over his career. While he has had several memorable collaborations with Martin McDonagh for films like In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths and The Banshees of Inisherin, Farrell also has an impressive resume outside of that. He's a bit of a chameleon, consistently disappearing into characters. He's overcome many hardships and it hasn't always been a smooth road over the years, but Farrell has shown great tenacity in bouncing back and continuing to grow and impress as an actor.
1998: Early BBC Days
Before he was a leading man, Farrell worked on several BBC shows and TV movies, and even dropped out of acting school in Dublin for a role on Ballykissangel. This film, Falling for a Dancer, was set in Ireland in the rural 1930s, and Farrell played a minor character Daniel McCarthy.
2000: First Lead in Tigerland
Despite having a relatively low profile, Farrell was selected as the lead actor for Joel Schumacher's Vietnam War drama Tigerland. The film, and Farrell's performance as Private Roland Bozz, were praised, but it was a resounding box office failure, only earning $26,417 in its domestic opening and just below $150k overall.
2000: Farrell & Fam
Farrell's sisters Claudine (left) and Catherine (right) joined him at the Tigerland premiere. He also has an older. brother, Eamon Jr. Claudine used to work as Farrell's personal assistant, and seems to be even more involved now as a member of his management team, and co-founder of their production company Chapel Place Productions.
2000: Whirlwind Romance
Farrell attended the Cast Away premiere with the musician and former actress Amelia Warner, and the two dated for several months into 2001. Rumors bubbled up through their relationship that they married in a non-legal ceremony then suddenly split.
2002: Farrell & Bruce Willis in Hart's War
Farrell found himself in yet another period drama opposite Bruce Willis, playing a tough role as a former Prisoner of War on trial for confessions he made to German forces. This was another well-made drama that unfortunately performed below expectations when it hit theaters.
2002: Filming A Home at the End of the World with Dallas Roberts & Robin Wright
Farrell anchored this drama, adapted from the Michael Cunningham novel of the same name. He was nominated for the Irish Film Award for Best Actor for his performance as Bobby Morrow.
2002: On break while filming A Home at the End of the World
The actor waits on a break while filming this Michael Meyer-directed film in NYC's East Village.
2002: Farrell in Phone Booth
Farrell reunited with Schumacher for this tense psychological thriller Phone Booth, which saw the actor trapped in one place for almost the entire film. It was a box office hit and pleased critics as a solid nail-biter.
2002: Farrell with Tom Cruise & Neal McDonough in Minority Report
2002 was a huge year for Farrell, and the biggest role for him is definitely his turn in Steven Spielberg's film Minority Report. He played Department of Justice agent Danny Witwer who leads a manhunt for Tom Cruise's character John Denton in a futuristic society where clairvoyant humans predict homicides.
2002: Rocking the Minority Report Premiere
Smoking's bad, kids, but we can admit Farrell makes it look pretty cool with this look at the Minority Report premiere.
2003: Presenting with Beyoncé at the Globes
At the 60th Golden Globe Awards, Farrell helped present the trophy for Best Original Score to Elliot Goldenthal for the film Frida alongside Beyoncé.
2003: With date Britney Spears at The Recruit Premiere
Farrell and the pop icon Spears had a brief relationship that most of the world took note of when she joined him for the premiere of The Recruit, a spy thriller starring Farrell and Al Pacino. Their time together fueled a fair amount of tabloid chatter, but it was short lived and ended the same year.
2003: With Mom at the Daredevil Premiere
He wouldn't forget family just because of his rising profile. Farrell brought his mother Rita to the premiere of the Marvel film Daredevil. Farrell committed fully to his part of Bullseye, but this Ben Affleck-fronted adaptation didn't really hit with fans or critics.
2003: Pouring a pint in Dublin
Farrell was born in the Dublin suburb of Castlenock and spent pretty much his whole upbringing in Ireland. His home country is still clearly important to him, and Farrell has said that he tries to spend a few days in Ireland whenever he has work nearby in the UK.
2003: Noshing on his MTV Movie Award
For his excellent performances in the past year like Phone Booth and Minority Report, Farrell was awarded the Best Trans-Atlantic Breakthrough Award by the MTV Movie Awards.
2003: Locked & Loaded at the S.W.A.T. Premiere
Farrell continued his hot streak with a part in the action thriller S.W.A.T. alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner and Michelle Rodriguez. For some reason, Access Hollywood is interviewing Farrell at the film's premiere while he wields a loaded Nerf gun. Don't shoot!
2004: Headlining Alexander
Farrell took on one of his biggest, or Greatest, roles yet as Alexander the Great in Oliver Stone's 2004 historical epic Alexander. This film had eye-candy out the wazoo, but was a total critical flop upon its release.
2004: Dealing with Criticism
In a recent Actor Roundtable in The Hollywood Reporter, Farrell admitted that the film's reception was difficult for him to handle after such an astronomic rise to fame at a young age. "We were all like 'Right lads, we're off to the Oscars. This is a sure thing,'" Farrell recalled. Then, when negative reviews landed, "I felt so much shame. I found myself in a place where with everyone I met I wanted to say, 'Have you seen Alexander? If you have, I’m really sorry.'"
2004: Making his Saturday Night Live debut
Farrell tried his hand at sketch comedy when he hosted SNL in December of 2004, showing some impressive range after being mostly known for dramas or blockbuster thrillers.
2005: Playing John Smith in The New World
Farrell collaborated with the director Terrence Malick in the historical romantic drama The New World, set during the founding of Jamestown and inspired by the figures John Smith and Pocahontas.
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