Barry Keoghan biography, height, child, age, girlfriend, relationship, son, 2025

Biography of Barry Keoghan

Barry Keoghan is an Irish actor best known for the films "The Killing of a Sacred Deer," "Dunkirk," and "Saltburn" He won a BAFTA award for his role in "The Banshees of Inisherin."

Childhood and Youth

Many actors have been fortunate since birth. They were born either into celebrity families or to wealthy parents who could provide a bright future. Barry wasn't one of the lucky ones and can't boast of a carefree childhood.

The future actor was born on October 17, 1992, in Dublin. At that time, the capital of Ireland was gripped by a drug epidemic—illegal substances were available everywhere, resulting in a horrifying number of heroin addicts. Barry's mom, who raised him and his younger brother Eric as a single mother, also fell under the harmful influence of drugs. The boys knew nothing about their father.

Barry Keoghan in childhood with his brother and mother

Eventually, the authorities took the children away and placed them in an orphanage. At five, Barry and his brother started moving between foster families, changing about 13 homes. Finally, when he was 10, his grandmother and aunt took the brothers into their home.

...My cousin, whom I call my sister, was 15 and gave up her bedroom for us, sleeping in the room with my aunt. I owe them all a lot.

Barry Keoghan

When the future actor turned 12, his mother, a very young woman of about thirty, died from a drug overdose.

Apparently, the future actor inherited his complex nature from his mother. He grew up as a real rebel. He constantly misbehaved at school, didn't enjoy studying much, and preferred hanging out with friends over hitting the books. The only subject he liked was history because the teacher told interesting stories.

According to Barry, at some point, he became interested in mimicking others. In interviews, he admitted that he loves pretending and imitating, which is why he enjoys transforming himself. However, he still skipped drama club sessions at school, and eventually, they expelled him, which didn't bother him much. Instead of school plays, he went to the cinema, often sneaking in with friends without buying a ticket to enjoy the latest film.

First Roles

At first, Barry wanted to become an athlete, especially since he was successful in boxing and football, but fate had other plans. One day, he saw an advertisement in a shop window: an acting studio was looking for amateur actors for a small role in a crime movie. Barry passed the audition and appeared in a minor role in Mark O'Connor's film "Between the Canals." His debut took place in 2011, after which he decided to devote himself to the art of cinema.

A year later, while studying at the acting studio, he appeared in the films "Stalker" and "King of the Travellers," also directed by O'Connor.

Barry Keoghan & David McDermott scumbags comedy sketch

In 2013, he starred in the comedy "Life's a Breeze" and the independent drama "Stay." Barry also appeared in several episodes of the series "Love/Hate," which tells the story of four friends living in criminal Dublin.

The actor then starred in the historical drama about the Belfast riots "'71" (2014) as Sean, a role that became significant for his career. Between 2014 and 2016, Keoghan also appeared in interesting projects like "Traders," "Mammal," and "Trespass Against Us."

However, he gained fame with the film by the pioneer of the "Greek New Wave," Yorgos Lanthimos, "The Killing of a Sacred Deer" (2017), where Barry played Martin, the son of a man who died on an operating table. Alongside him were stars like Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell.

Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan on The Killing of a Sacred Deer

Barry admitted that after reading the script for the first time, he realized this was a huge opportunity for his career that he couldn't miss. Keoghan instinctively felt that the role of Martin was written "just for him," and he was right: critics loved his performance, and he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male.

Barry Keoghan in the movie 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer'

During the filming, he had to live with his fellow countryman Colin Farrell. Later, the seasoned actor admitted that Barry reminded him of a raccoon, creating chaos in the house. In an interview, Colin joked that the young actor left unfinished milk everywhere, and the uneaten cereal Barry had for breakfast was scattered all over the house. However, the actors managed to get along and even became friends.

Career Blooming

In the same year, 2017, after the successful project "The Killing of a Sacred Deer," the actor received an invitation to star in Christopher Nolan's war drama "Dunkirk."

Barry's next success was the film "American Animals." He played one of the main roles—a student who, along with a group of friends, planned to steal a rare book from a library. Their plan failed, and guilt tormented them for a long time. Barry portrayed this very vividly. He starred alongside Evan Peters, known for the series "American Horror Story."

Barry Keoghan and Evan Peters in the movie 'American Animals'

At the same time, the drama "Black '47" was released, depicting the Great Famine in Ireland. The story centers on an Irish ranger who deserts to save his family but faces a series of tragic events. Barry played a character named Hobson.

Keoghan then appeared in the Marvel blockbuster "Eternals," which grossed impressive box office revenues and featured a host of celebrities: Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, and Kit Harington. Barry joined them as Druig, one of the Eternals who can control people's minds.

In 2021, Irish director Martin McDonagh invited Keoghan to his drama "The Banshees of Inisherin." The film, starring Colin Farrell and Domhnall Gleeson, tells the story of two friends, one of whom suddenly decides to end their friendship. In this ambiguous tragicomedy, Barry played a village lad named Dominic. Though a secondary character, he is crucial to understanding the film's allegorical meaning. For his efforts, the actor received a BAFTA award and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Barry Keoghan in the movie 'The Banshees of Inisherin'

Additionally, the actor appeared in notable projects such as the fantasy "The Green Knight" and the HBO series "Chernobyl." He also played the Joker in the 2022 movie "The Batman" starring Robert Pattinson.

The Batman - Arkham Deleted Scene (2022) Robert Pattinson, Barry Keoghan

The task was challenging since Keoghan would inevitably be compared to his predecessors. The actor himself said:

Playing the Joker is very scary. Heath Ledger is the best for me. But there are many people to draw inspiration from. Again, it's crucial to bring your own energy to the character. That's what I try to do with any role—I play it my way. Returning to the topic, I don't want to label myself or follow a specific method. I'm just evolving. I try to show my interpretation of the character.

However, the final scene with Barry Keoghan as the Joker was cut. Director Matt Reeves explained, "His time has not yet come."

Barry Keoghan's Personal Life

Barry previously dated a girl named Shona Guerin, but the couple broke up in 2020. They went their separate ways, and in 2021, Barry met Alyson Kierans. She is slightly older than Barry and worked as a dentist.

Their relationship developed quickly. In 2022, the couple's first child, Brando, was born. A happy Barry eagerly talks about his son and says he is ready to do everything to ensure the boy is happy and avoids the tough childhood Barry had.

Despite having a son, his relationship with Alison didn't work out. At the end of 2023, Barry started dating actress and singer Sabrina Carpenter.

In the summer of 2024, Barry appeared in the music video for Carpenter's song "Please Please Please." They played a couple of love-struck criminals.

Barry Keoghan in Sabrina Carpenter's Music Video

In his free time, the actor pays attention to sports. Some time ago, he even prepared to enter the ring as an amateur boxer. Unfortunately, an injury prevented this, but Keoghan continues to stay in shape.

Barry Keoghan and Alison Sandro with their son

Besides all this, the actor loves animals—he has a dog at home that he adopted from a shelter. Barry admits that he has loved nature since childhood and continues to cherish it even in his adult life.

Barry Keoghan Now

Among Keoghan's recent works is the series "Masters of the Air," produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. Barry stars alongside Austin Butler, Callum Turner, and others. The series tells the story of pilots during World War II, with Barry playing one of the lead roles.

Barry Keoghan in the series 'Masters of the Air'

He also played the lead role in the tragicomedy about class struggle, "Saltburn." His character, a poor intellectual named Oliver Quick, gets invited to a mansion for the holidays by the charming Felix (Jacob Elordi). Oliver quickly adapts and becomes part of the troubled aristocratic family. Keoghan received nominations for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for this role.

"Saltburn" caused a sensation with at least three striking scenes: Oliver's crying at the grave (Keoghan admitted it was improvised), the scene of drinking from a bathtub (it was actually a mix of yogurt, milk, and water), and the final scene where Barry appeared fully nude on camera.

Ethel Pate Journalist