There's a lot of Irish in London and have been for years - they're very much a part of the city.

Brian Gleeson

Categorized in : City Irish Years London

I'm sure there's some sort of cynicism or fatalism in Ireland and England. We are fatalistic here, and sometimes we need to be shaken out of that.

here need some sometimes

Film acting is so different from theatre acting, and TV is about letting things pay off and not winning every scene.

things theatre acting winning

Acting is probably what I'm best at, but there are certain stories kind of rattling around in my head that I like the idea of developing over time.

best like acting time

'Love/Hate' was a milestone in terms of working on something at home that felt very special.

working something special home

For me, you have to do as much work as you can beforehand and, once you get on stage or set, throw it out the window because you need to be collaborative. You shouldn't have too many ideas about where it goes before you get into the room with the director and other actors.

me you work window

I loved 'Lord of the Rings,' growing up, so I always wanted to play a wizard with a staff.

loved always growing-up play

I was impressed that when it came to making 'Rebellion,' they sought out Aku Louhimies, a Finnish director who's part of that new wave of Scandinavian realist drama.

new rebellion wave drama

I was always goofing around. I suppose having a father who was an actor made you think that it was a real possibility as a career.

think you real father

For me, Domhnall is an acting teacher as much as anything. If I turn out to be half the actor he is, I'll be happy.

be-happy me happy teacher

America's very refreshing when you go over there; they're all just open about what they want, and they want you to be open, too.

go you refreshing want

There's no problem with trying to be successful, but it's all about just doing good work. It's not about fame.

good good-work problem work

Initially, I resisted going into acting. You want to have your own identity, and I thought about doing other things, but that didn't last very long.

thought you identity long

I'm crazy in how boring I am.

i-am how boring crazy

I have a bit of a temper.

bit temper

I've led a very middle-class, very boring kind of life.

very boring kind life

I loved plays in school.

plays loved school

My father is an actor as well, so I used to look to him.

actor well look father

I had always enjoyed playing characters and dressing up, but it wasn't until I got to school and I started getting on stage for plays that I got the bug.

dressing always stage school

I think that if you can work and travel, that is the best deal you can strike.

best you work travel

The global capitalist project, which we are all a part of, leaves people behind. I don't know what the answers are - I don't think any actor does - but figuring it out through entertainment can be very useful.

behind think know people