Barry Keoghan has said that he hopes he can inspire other young people to achieve their dreams.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer actor spoke candidly about his upbringing in Dublin’s Summerhill and his subsequent time spent with 13 foster families following the death of his mother.
He told Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show:
“The drugs hit the area. It affected all the families. She was one of them that got caught. We went into foster care.
“As a kid, you don’t know what’s happening. You get attached and then boom: ‘Let’s move over here, let’s move over there’.”
"I have great memories of her, very proud of her" – @BarryKeoghan speaking about his mother on the #latelate and why he hopes that his story is an inspiration to other young people pic.twitter.com/LA7He77wBZ
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) April 13, 2018
Keoghan said that after his mother’s passing, he was raised primarily by his grandmother and his aunt, both of whom were in the audience.
The 25-year-old said that the experience was “a weird one” but he remembered his mother fondly.
“I’ve great memories of her,” he said. “Very proud of her.”
Keoghan also said that he hoped he would be a role model for young people in Ireland who might be in a similar situation.
“What I mentioned there – 13 homes, you know? If that was on paper you’d go, ‘He’s destined to mess up’.
“But I went against it. Didn’t dwell on it and used it as ammunition almost.”
Keoghan has appeared in a string of critically acclaimed films as of late including The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dunkirk, and his latest achievement – American Animals.
He told Tubridy that he’d be back soon with a load of Oscars to show off.
“I’ll put the Oscar there,” he said, gesturing to Tubridy’s desk. “Put the other one there, and the other one there.”
American Animals is released in Irish cinemas on Friday, September 7.
