Irish Independent

Keoghan ‘waiting for the right roles’ as he films $250m ‘Chernobyl’ series

- Kirsty Blake Knox

IRISH actor Barry Keoghan is to star in HBO’s new $250m (€215m) mini series ‘Chernobyl’.

The drama is set around the 1986 nuclear disaster and stars ‘Mad Men’s’ Jared Harris and Emily Watson.

The five part mini-series is currently being shot in Lithuania and will focus on the tragedy and subsequent investigat­ion that took place.

It also features renowned Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard.

Keoghan has become more discerning about the roles he selects in recent years.

“I’m in Lithuania shooting ... and waiting for news on something big,” he told the Irish Independen­t.

“I have turned down a lot this year waiting for the right thing to come along, so fingers crossed.”

The 25-year-old’s rise in the film industry has been meteoric.

He started out in ‘Love/ Hate’ as the infamous cat killer, and has gone on to star in global blockbuste­r’s such as Christophe­r Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’ and acclaimed arthouse films including Yorgos Lanthimos’s ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’.

Earlier this year, he was presented with an Oscar Wilde Award acknowledg­ing his achievemen­ts.

He was presented with the gong by Colin Farrell, who spoke of the “insurmount­able loss” Keoghan had endured during his childhood.

The Summerhill native spent five years in foster care after his mother died of a heroin overdose.

“Heroin came into Dublin, and it caught every family,” he said. “My mother was one of the unlucky ones. She got caught on it, then she passed away.”

The actor is one of several personalit­ies to appear in photograph­er Barry McCall’s new portrait series for Ivy Dawson Street – the sister restaurant of the London brasserie.

The series also features actor Brendan Gleeson and model Aoife Walsh.

“I’ve actually eaten in The Ivy in London,” Keoghan said. “I love their shepherd’s pie. I’m a guy with simple tastes.”

He’s not alone; the dish has a cult following with Tracey Emin, David Walliams and the late Roger Moore all swearing by it. Ivy Dawson Street’s reservatio­n lines open on July 3.

 ?? Photo: Barry McCall ?? A photograph of Barry Keoghan which will be included in a portrait series for Ivy Dawson Street – the sister restaurant of the London brasserie.
Photo: Barry McCall A photograph of Barry Keoghan which will be included in a portrait series for Ivy Dawson Street – the sister restaurant of the London brasserie.

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