The only time Colin Farrell became a method actor: “My hand was forced, in a way”

Posted On June 1, 2025June 1, 2025

Colin Farrell has taken on some great characters across his career. In terms of known quantities, he’s brought James ‘Sonny’ Crockett from TV’s Miami Vice to the big screen and stepped into the muscular shoes of Arnold Schwarzenegger for the 2012 remake of Total Recall. His original creations range from the absurd – Ray from In Bruges – to the sublime – P L Travers’ dad in Saving Mr. Banks – to whatever the hell Bullseye was in the god-awful Daredevil movie.

For his most notable role of recent times, we once again return to the realm of superheroes. An unrecognisable Farrell appeared as Oz ‘The Penguin’ Cobb in Matt Reeves’ dark, gritty (if a little overstretched) movie The Batman in 2022. Two years later, he reprised the rotund mob boss for HBO’s TV series of the same name, wowing audiences with his commitment to the part and ability to do a funny voice without breaking character. His efforts earned him a ‘Best Actor’ prize at the Golden Globes and renewed interest in his abilities.

It wasn’t an easy process to transform the mild-mannered performer into a hefty, sadistic criminal. Much has been made of the extensive prosthetics and make-up used to turn Farrell into Cobb. The team behind them even picked up a gong at the 2025 Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards, as well they should. But how did the man behind the mask feel about it?

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Farrell spoke about how being trapped under so many layers of movie magic turned him towards method acting. “My hand was forced, in a way. If you put your hands over your face and push onto your face — that’s what it felt like all day. So I was constantly aware of that, and the only way to accept that awareness to the point where I became unaware was to do a version of staying in character. Talking in my own accent felt like a greater effort and artifice… That felt more natural, and I became very obsessed by the role. It was so dark.”

Farrell’s version of the character, which was inspired by a character from The Godfather, is one of the most unsettling versions ever brought to the screen. “ If you come out of watching a film for two hours, and it’s a horrific film, and if you’ve seen cruelty take place that’s disturbed you, you’ll come out and your mood will be affected,” the star explained. “So if you’re going into something as an actor and it’s really well designed and you feel connected to it, it can affect your mood — of course, you’re doing it 14 fucking hours a day!”

Prior to the Irishman, the most famous screen version of The Penguin belonged to Danny DeVito in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. He was very complimentary of his successor’s take on the character. Fans of a certain age will also remember Burgess Meredith’s sillier incarnation of the character from the Adam West ‘Batman’ TV show and movie.

Playing The Penguin has brought Farrell’s name to an entire new audience and given him a role that he will likely be associated with for the rest of his life. Just a shame that preparing for it seems like absolute hell.

Related Topics