Colin Farrell biography, wife, net worth, height, son, age, ethnicity 2025

The Biography of Colin Farrel

Colin Farrell is an Irish actor who rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits like «Tigerland», «Minority Report», «The Recruit», «Alexander», «Daredevil», «Miami Vice». In 2008, his powerful performance in Martin McDonagh's «In Bruges» earned him a Golden Globe. His complex role in season two of «True Detective» also earned critical acclaim. He also played Percival Graves in «Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them», the screenplay of which was written by the author of «Harry Potter» J. K. Rowling. Net worth: $80 million.

Childhood and family

Colin Farrell was born to professional footballer Eamon Farrell, the defender of the Shamrock Rovers Irish FC, as the fourth child in the family. The actor has a brother, namesake of his father – Eamon, as well as two sisters – Catherine and Claudine. The latter works as a personal assistant for her celebrity brother.

Colin Farrell had wanted to become an actor since he was 7 years old, after watching Steven Spielberg's «E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial» movie. He still remembers the final sequence that moved him to tears, when the alien leaves his friend Elliott and returns to the spaceship. After that, both he and his brother got enrolled at the Gaiety School of Acting.

In St. Brigid's National School Castleknock

Young Colin Farrell was a handful. Things only got worse when he turned 10 and his family relocated to the suburbs of Dublin, to a dull and sparsely populated town called Castleknock. With little to do in the area, Colin preferred to hit the bars with his friends and shoplift instead of staying in school. Perhaps the only thing he was truly good at was football – he once planned to follow in his father's and uncle's footsteps, who also played for Shamrock Rovers.

Just before his final exams, 17-year-old Colin was expelled from school, despite his football talent. He had a fight with the teacher, who had caught him dozing off during his class. After the incident, the young rebel unsuccessfully tried to join Irish pop band Boyzone, after which he left for Australia with his friends for a year.

Colin Farrell singing in Russian («The Way Back»)

Acting career

Back in Dublin, Farrell decided to give acting another shot, taking his brother's advice. Turns out his talent hadn't faded one bit. In 1996, Colin made his screen debut in the drama «The Disappearance of Finbar», but his role was so small that his name didn't even make the credits. A year later, he appeared in the short film «Drinking Crude», and in 1998, he landed a small role in the series «Ballykissangel», which follows a priest's life.

Before long, Colin started earning money from commercial appearances. He also gained theater experience, making several appearances on stage at London's «Donmar Warehouse». In one performance, he portrayed Richard, a teenager with autism – a role that led to his meeting Kevin Spacey. Impressed by young Farrell's performance, Spacey recommended him for a supporting role in his film «Ordinary Decent Criminal».

Young Colin Farrell in the movie «Ordinary Decent Criminal»

The new millennium brought Colin's first major screen role. He landed the lead in Joel Schumacher's anti-war film «Tigerland». The film follows a Louisiana training camp where recruits endure brutal military preparation before shipping out to Vietnam. Farrell played Private Rolland, a rebellious pacifist determined to avoid deployment at any cost. Farrell's performance was highly appreciated by the Boston and London Society of Film Critics («Best actor» and «Best debut»).

Colin Farrell's first remarkable role («Tigerland»)

Two years later, Farrell reunited with Schumacher for «Phone Booth». This time, he played slick publicist Stu, trapped in a deadly game because of his sins.

»Phone Booth»: Colin Farrell as the brilliant agent Stu

In the early 2000s, Farrell delivered several standout performances: outlaw Jesse James in the western «American Outlaws», Lieutenant Tommy Hart in the war drama «Hart's War» alongside Bruce Willis (who played a colonel imprisoned in a German POW camp), and gifted CIA recruit James Clayton in the spy thriller «The Recruit» with Al Pacino. Incidentally, the film opens with real childhood photos of Colin Farrell and his father from the actor's family archive.

In 2002, he landed a role in Steven Spielberg's thriller «Minority Report». This film quickly became the greatest event of the year, with a worldwide box office gross of 358 million dollars. Next came the adaptation of «Daredevil», starring Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck. Farrell got the role of the psychopath nicknamed Bullseye, the antagonist of the superhero Daredevil. His charismatic performance and striking appearance (People even named him one of the world's 50 sexiest people in 2003) won the villain a devoted following among Marvel fans.

According to Zoomboola.com, in 2004, the actor appeared in Oliver Stone's high-budget Hollywood blockbuster «Alexander». However, despite the film's epic scope and star-studded cast including Angelina Jolie (Olympias), Val Kilmer (Philip), Jared Leto (Hephaestion) and Anthony Hopkins (Ptolemy), the film barely recouped its $155 million budget. The director also faced criticism for his portrayal of Alexander the Great as bisexual, and Colin Farrell earned a Razzie nomination for his performance.

»Alexander»: Colin Farrell and Jared Leto showed the real meaning of true male friendship

In 2005, Colin starred in the action movie «Miami Vice», a stylish remake of the 80s series. Together with Jamie Foxx, they had to go undercover in a drug cartel and shut down a major drug operation.

In 2007, the actor appeared in Woody Allen's drama «Cassandra's Dream», playing the "bad" brother - a playboy and renegade that reminded him of his school days - opposite the "good" brother played by Ewan McGregor.

Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor co-starring in «Cassandra's Dream»

Colin Farrell's performance in the art-house film «In Bruges», also released that year, earned him a Golden Globe. He played a young, inexperienced hitman who makes a fatal mistake and finds himself hunted by a more seasoned colleague.

»In Bruges» Colin Farrell was awarded a Golden Globe

After that breakthrough performance, Farrell seemed to deliberately step back from the spotlight. During this period, his filmography filled with several forgettable projects: «Horrible Bosses», «Miss Julie», «Saving Mr. Banks», «Fright Night»... In 2012, he starred in the remake of «Total Recall», taking over Arnold Schwarzenegger's role from the 1990 original. The movie was poorly received (critics favored the original), but it helped restore Farrell's fading popularity. Soon after came the dark comedy «Seven Psychopaths» and action thriller «Dead Man Down», both starring Farrell.

Farrell starring in the «Total Recall» remake in 2012

Soon after, Farrell starred in the second season of the iconic «True Detective» series, proving once again that he's a powerhouse dramatic actor, not just another pretty face in Hollywood. His detective character Ray Velcoro was corrupt and rogue – collaborating with the mafia and never hesitating to use brute force to get what he wanted. However, critics felt the second season didn't match the intensity of the first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Still, it received generally positive reviews.

His performance in the absurdist film «The Lobster» was captivating. Set in a hotel where residents must find their soulmate within 45 days or be transformed into animals. «The Lobster» undoubtedly caused a sensation at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, winning 3 of its 4 nominations: «Jury Prize», «Queer Palm» and «Dog Palm». However, the top prize («Palme d'Or») went to the French drama «Dheepan», which follows Sri Lankan refugees assimilating into life in Parisian slums.

In 2016, the first installment of the new five-part Harry Potter film series was released. The blockbuster «Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them» brought Colin Farrell the role of Percival Graves, an Auror and head of MACUSA's Department of Magical Law Enforcement. The lead role of Newt, a magizoologist, was played by British actor Eddie Redmayne.

In 2016, Colin Farrell played in the new Harry Potter-verse movie

In 2018, Farrell appeared in the thriller "Widows" as corrupt politician Tom Mulligan and teamed up with Denzel Washington in the crime thriller "Roman J. Israel, Esq".

Colin Farrell's personal life

While tabloids love to paint him as a notorious heartbreaker, Colin Farrell isn't actually chasing after every woman who crosses his path – though he's not exactly the settling-down type either. Shortly after his breakthrough in «Tigerland», he married up-and-coming actress Amelia Warner, who was just 20 at the time.

Amelia Warner was Colin Farrell's first wife

Less than a year after their divorce, Colin Farrell became a first-time father in September 2002 – but his newborn son James's mother wasn't Amelia, it was Canadian model Kim Bordenave. Shortly after his son's birth, James was diagnosed with a serious genetic condition called Angelman syndrome. The challenges of raising a child with special needs may have contributed to Colin and Kim's split.

In the photo: Colin Farrell and Kim Bordenave

In late 2005, the actor checked himself into rehab to battle his drug addiction. According to official reports, Colin Farrell's addiction began with painkillers he was taking for back pain.

Farrell's eldest son James (on the right) and his youngest – Henry (on the left)

A year later, Farrell found himself at the center of a scandal when his ex-lover, Playboy model Nicole Narain, leaked their sex tape online.

Farrell's ex-lover Nicole Narain leaked the actor's compromising tape

In 2008, while filming the drama «Ondine», Farrell met Polish actress Alicja Bachleda, who would become the mother of his second son, Henry Tadeusz Farrell. But this relationship didn't last long either.

Colin Farrell and Alicja Bachleda at the premiere of «Ondine»

Colin Farrell's current girlfriend remains a mystery – in May 2016, paparazzi caught the actor kissing a woman who appeared to have no connection to the entertainment world, as even his most devoted fans couldn't identify her.

The name of Colin Farrell's current girlfriend is still a mystery

Colin Farrell in the present day

In 2020, Colin Farrell was busy filming "The Batman", which was set to premiere in 2021. His partners on the set were Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz.

Colin Farrell: latest news and articles

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Paul Griffith

The most good movie with Colin is in Seven Psychopaths and there is nothing else

2021-04-15 23:19:01
Elizabeth Jones

Farrell is still in his prime, many movies should come out with him, I guess in 2020 something will release

2021-04-12 12:03:30
Frank Adkins

Good that they took him to The Gentlemen. I like how he played there his role :)

2021-04-11 11:27:26
Hilda Reyes

Colin has a very bright appearance so it`s easy to remember him in the movies and he is not bad as an actor

2021-04-06 10:10:59
Matthew Adrian Hughes

I remember the time when Farrell was playing almost in every movie, I saw him all the time

2021-02-25 12:57:22

Photos: Colin Farrell