Boxing isn't a career. Acting is it for me. But they're both very therapeutic.

Barry Keoghan

Categorized in : Me Career Acting Boxing

This industry can take you in and spit you out. It's overwhelming. But I keep my feet on the ground, my Air Max on the gravel.

ground you air feet

After everything I've been through - the foster care, the losing my parents and stuff like that, I was never one to kind of go, 'I'm gonna just not try.' I used it all as ammunition.

parents never care losing

Getting involved with 'Black 47' was like getting involved with 'Dunkirk' for me. I learned a lot. But 'Black 47' was my own history from my own country.

me black country history

In any inner city, there's not a lot of opportunities, and you really have to dig out and chase what you want to do, 'cos it's not handed to you, so.

opportunities city you want

I want to get a wolf and an eagle.

eagle wolf get want

Foster care was a big part of my life.

my-life big care life

Anyone dying is not easy, but certainly not a mother. Me and my brother, we stuck together. The foster families were good to me, and then my nanny took me in.

good me brother mother

It's a hard thing to find in people: to sit and just be present with someone, even for two minutes.

find someone hard people

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.

laugh joke you want

I want to produce. I want to direct. I want to be my own camera man. I want my own boxing club. I have it all written down. I want to do everything.

camera down man my-own

One day, you're talking with Tom Hardy; the next day, you have Nicole Kidman kissing your feet. I never thought I'd be able to say that in my lifetime, Nicole Kidman kissing my feet. It's mad.

day thought you feet

That's why I don't live in L.A. First of all, I don't have the money. But second, I want to stay grounded, to be surrounded by real people, to have my head on my shoulders instead of losing track of reality.

money losing reality people

I'm always wanting to do the impossible.

wanting always impossible

I look like a kid onscreen in most movies.

movies kid like look

I want to play someone like Billy the Kid.

someone like want play

I've been lucky to be educated by watching the old and the great movies, working with good filmmakers, and being educated on sets.

movies great good lucky

Dublin's a great place. It really is. It's a great place. And Ireland, especially, is a great place. I've realized that growing up more. I'm loving my country more as I'm getting older.

place great getting-older country

Acting brings up a lot of the past. I use my memories, whether they're good or bad.

bad good memories past

I have confidence. I don't know where I got it from.

got where know confidence

I hope I inspire younger ones. Whatever you're into - sports, whatever - just go and do something.

you hope sports inspire