Colin’s bit of trouble with his grumpy wee donkey

THE scenes between Pádraic Súilleabháin, played by Colin Farrell, and his ‘wee donkey’ Jenny are some of the most affecting in Martin McDonagh’s film The Banshees Of Inisherin. But the director revealed that they came at a price: ‘All the animals kicked or bit Colin. It was a Colin issue. It was! Jenny only kicked one person.’ While Farrell may have suffered for his art, McDonagh loved having animals in his picture: ‘The horse really liked being in the house and I liked the weirdness of the horse and calf wandering around the set – it looked like an Old Master painting. We added the horse into scenes because she was so beautiful.’ Producer Graham Broadbent was less convinced. He said: ‘Martin loves animals and it was all: “Can I use some more donkeys?” The trouble is that you can’t train donkeys. They are actually untrainable. Horses are more malleable.’

Farrell, 46, confirmed that he was kicked by the donkey and also bitten by the collie playing Brendan Gleeson’s dog.

He says that even the horse took against him and tried to back him off a cliff when he was driving the cart.

His experience was so negative he confidently predicts it will be Jenny’s final film. ‘She’s a “one and done”,’ he said. ‘She’s like, “Feck showbusiness, you are welcome to it!”’

Both McDonagh and Broadbent were rocked by the huge cost of the ‘fake rubber donkey’ who played the deceased Jenny in later scenes. ‘It cost £75,000!’ exclaimed Broadbent.

Farrell will triumph at the Baftas tomorrow night, according to the bookies, with The Banshees Of Inisherin pipping Everything Everywhere All At Once to the top spot.

Three weeks later, though, on Oscars night, the bookies think there will be a turnabout: with Everything Everywhere triumphing.