Domhnall Gleeson
Biography
Domhnall Gleeson is an Irish actor and writer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill Weasley in the Harry Potter film franchise (2010-2011), About Time (2013), Ex Machina (2015) and The Revenant (2015).
He is the son of actor Brendan Gleeson, alongside whom he has appeared in several films and theatre projects.
Gleeson starred in Anna Karenina (2012), Frank (2014), Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017). He also portrayed the First Order's General Hux in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).
In 2013 he starred in the Black Mirror episode Be Right Back.
His film debut was Boy Eats Girl (2005).
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Trivia
Son of actor Brendan Gleeson and Mary (Weldon) Gleeson.
Was nominated for a Tony award for Best featured actor in a play for the role of Davey in Martin McDonagh's "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" on Broadway.
Has a degree in media arts from the Dublin Institute of Technology.
2011: Named as one of European films' Shooting Stars by European Film Promotion.
Older brother of Irish actor Brian Gleeson, Fergus Gleeson and Rory Gleeson.
His first name is pronounced "doh-nall" with the "m" being silent.
Appeared in four films in 2015 and all four titles received nominations at the 88th Academy Awards. The films were: The Revenant (2015), Ex Machina (2014), Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) and Brooklyn (2015). The only other actor to achieve a similar record was Benedict Cumberbatch, who also appeared in four films that were Oscar nominated in 2013 - though he made a fifth movie that wasn't nominated.
As of 2016, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: True Grit (2010), The Revenant (2015) and Brooklyn (2015).
Every film Domnhall appeared in in 2015 subsequently received multiple Academy Award nominations - Brooklyn, Ex Machina, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and The Revenant.
Competed with his father for Best Supporting Actor at the British Independent Film Awards in 2015. Brendan Gleeson won the category.
Competed with his father for Best Lead Actor - Film at the Irish Film and Television Awards in 2014. Brendan Gleeson won the award.
In the episode Black Mirror: Be Right Back (2013) he interpreted a synthetic that falls in love with a human; In the movie Ex Machina (2014) he is a human who falls in love with a synthetic.
He and his father Brendan Gleeson have both starred in films with Tom Cruise that were directed by Doug Liman: Brendan in Edge of Tomorrow (2014) and Domhnall in American Made (2017).
He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2015 British Independent Film Awards for his performance as Jim Farrell in Brooklyn (2015) but lost to his father Brendan Gleeson, who was nominated for his performance as Inspector Arthur Steed in Suffragette (2015). The younger Gleeson accepted the award for his father.
Personal Quotes
[on being cast in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)] I'm incredibly excited, but the only way I can be of value is by ignoring fandom, ignoring the other movies to a certain extent, and just trying to do the best job possible. And I think it will be the same for everyone else.
I'd been very certain about not wanting to do the acting thing because of my father. I thought I'd always have the father-son thing of 'He got you the part.'
It was when I was on stage that I realized that acting could be such a brilliant job.
Look at Cillian Murphy: 'Batman,' 'Tron'... those are some heavy-hitting franchises. But he works his way around it. He manages to have a great career and a great life.
I'm pretty lowbrow. It's a failing.
Though rom-coms aren't necessarily my cup of tea, I was a huge fan of Notting Hill (1999). I laughed a lot, and the romance got to me.
Has anybody seen The Notebook (2004) and not cried? I don't know, I don't know if that's the case. It sort of hangs around for a while.
Often times, I just do a job and tell my agents, 'I'm in lockdown now.' I won't talk to anybody about anything else in the meantime, and I think that's generally the way to go because I also like to have a gap in between jobs.
Most of the time, I do what I'm offered, but after I worked for it. I think I try much harder for the things that scare me and inspire me. The things that scare and inspire you are things that are different from what you did before.
I've gotten work based on how I look, and I've not gotten work based on how I look. It's all good.
I'm pleased to say I grew up in a happy family in Dublin. I feel we're very close.
I like cashew nuts.
If there's one person in the world with whom a chemistry read is unnecessary, it's Rachel McAdams.
I'm not going to get better as an actor working on bad stuff.
The worst thing as an actor is when you're not getting opportunities to try and show what you can do; the best thing is when you get material that really lets you express something and that you're excited about.
As an actor, there's very little you can do if people don't want to see you. Just getting yourself into the room to audition is tough.
When you work with actors, what you're hoping to absorb is good ways to be an actor as opposed to how to handle being famous.
I think everybody's got their insecurities and hang-ups. Everybody! Unless you're an idiot.
I like films that are gritty and hard-hitting and suspenseful. Thrillers, too.
Everyone talks about how we're on our phones all the time, but the fact remains that when I'm away on a film set for two months, I can Skype my family. I remember the phone calls my parents had to make when my dad was away for a while when I was younger - that once-a-week expensive phone call! The time pressure on talking to your father!
Two things are always happening in acting. On the one hand, it's a team sport. We're all pulling together. But on the other, you have to look after your own character. Guard their interests.
