Biography of Mark McKenna
Mark McKenna is an Irish actor and singer, famous for his roles in the musical comedy Sing Street (2016) and the TV series Wayne (2019). He is playing in such bands as Milk and THE | GIRL | TALK.
His Childhood and Family
Mark McKenna was born on May 5, 1996, in Dublin, the capital of Ireland. Mark's father is a musician. McKenna remembers with a smile how his dad has taught him to play the guitar for two years before he and his on-screen character, a musician from the Sing Street, won applause at the Sundance Film Festival.
He wanted to be like me as a teenager. So it was quite strange to me, – Mark says.
Acting Career
Mark McKenna made his movie debut in 2016. Mark was lucky to play one of the lead roles in the musical comedy Sing Street. Its director, Irishman John Carney (the creator of the movie Begin Again with Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo), admitted that he had planned to shoot unknown actors.
So, it happened. Most of the cast became open to the public: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Kelly Thornton, Percy Chamburuka, singer Maria Doyle Kennedy and Mark McKenna, who first appeared on the set. However, in the movie, there were starred such well-known artists as the star of Game of Thrones Aidan Gillen and the young actress Lucy Boynton.
Sing Street is a nostalgic musical drama about growing up. The events take place in the 1980s in Dublin. The protagonist is a teenage, transferred from a prestigious private school to the state one. He falls in love with a pretty girl and starts the rock band Sing Street there. Mark has starred as multi-instrumentalist Eamon, in whose house the newly musicians rehearse. His character also writes the original songs for the band. It is funny, that McKenna's name is Eamon, and he is also a musician.
Mark and Ferdia recorded songs for the movie themselves.
We have different tastes in music. Ferdia enjoys folk, and I am fond of pop music of the 1980s. But Carney [a former Irish rock bassist] had written the songs before he met us, – McKenna says.
I had been at the theaters, and I was not drawn to this area. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, – Mark says.
Personal Life of Mark McKenna
Little is known about Mark McKenna’s personal life. The actor does not talk about his relationship with the girls, but fans are sure that the heart of such a talented and handsome young man cannot be free.
Mark’s favorite band is the British indie rock band The 1975. McKenna also enjoys punk and jazz music. The actor prefers the old classic movies, as well as the romantic teen movie 10 Things I Hate About You with Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles.
The height of the actor is 173 cm.
Mark McKenna Now
The first season of the American television series with elements of thriller and comedy Wayne was released in January 2019. The plot revolves around a teenage boy (Mark McKenna), who goes on a journey with his girlfriend (Siera Bravo) by motorcycle to return his late father’s Pontiac, which the wife has taken away after their divorce. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the authors of Deadpool, are the producers.
For me, Wayne is a role that I have even dreamed of before I became interested in acting. In fact, Wayne is Dirty Harry as a teenager. As a child, after watching the action movies, I wanted to be as a cool dude. But I have always been sure that the actors get such roles at least at the age of 28, – Mark says.
In February 2019, McKenna and his band Milk (Mark and his three fellows from Dublin) presented the debut single DramaQueen, written under the obvious influence of Mark’s favorite band The 1975. The actor also plays in the band THE | GIRL | TALK.
