The Son Also Rises: Interview with Domhnall Gleeson

He attracted obsessive fans with his role in the Harry Potter franchise, won over the purists in stunning adaptations of Never Let Me Go and Anna Karenina. And he achieved critical success with True Grit and Shadow Dancer. Now Domhnall Gleeson, son of Brendan, has passed the ultimate test. No, no just becoming a leading man in Richard Curtis’ rom-com About Time – but making this stoic, rumoured-to-be heartless critic cry her eyeliner off.

The movie looks likely to be a major career chapter for Gleeson. The 30-year-old admits he found the prospect of being a leading man daunting.
“Insecurities arise, and you think, ‘If I’m going to fail, do I really want to fail in a movie of this scale, when I’m front and centre?’ So I was concerned. Not about being in a Richard Curtis movie but fucking up a Richard Curtis movie!”
He needn’t have worried. As a leading man, he’s funny, endearingly awkward, utterly fanciable. Above all, he radiates an innate decency. As with all of Curtis’ leading men, the director writes much of himself into the character, which Gleeson immediately spotted.
 “The character’s attitude to love and his decency and generosity are all qualities Richard has in spades. It’s a lovely trait, and something that’s very evident in [Gleeson’s character] Tim... in his way with a one-liner.”
A self-professed “old soul” Gleeson admits the themes of growing up and making the most of your life resonated with him.
“The night I turned 20, I cried! I thought ‘Well, it’s over now, I’m done, I’ve wasted my life.’ I’ve always had a little bit of worry about the future and that silly self-centred nonsense. I also want to, even in terms of work, leave something behind to be proud of. So in a way I feel really young, because I hope I’ve still lots of good work to do. Then again, I generally feel a bit old. Particularly when I see anyone younger than me in the industry, I’m immediately like, ‘Ah, fuck you!’”
If it’s an impressive legacy he’s after, he’s well on-track. Gleeson has just filmed Lenny Abrahamson’s surreal comedy Frank, co-starring Michael Fassbender.
“It was wonderful, from day one. Lenny is someone I always wanted to nab, I love his work so much. Michael Fassbender too, I was practically a fanboy of his, and he was amazing. I love it when people you work with exceed your expectations. It’s so rare, but it’s happened. I’ve been lucky. And it was such fun – what else would you be doing of a Saturday but playing a fake South By Southwest?”
He’s also still hoping to star in his father’s directorial debut, At Swim-Two-Birds, held up for years because of funding issues.
“It’s hugely frustrating,” the actor admits. “I hope it works out before I’m too old to play the part. Because I would also really like to work with my brother and Dad again. They’re two of my favourite people to collaborate with. I learn so much from both on set.”
One thing is certain: About Time is sure to make Gleeson very famous indeed. He doesn’t take the prospect too seriously.
“If you worried about that, you’d be an eejit, wouldn’t you? The world will bring you what it’s going to bring, so what’s up to you is the work. The only thing I’m recognised in the street for is the Your Bad Self comedy sketch where I poo in a bottle! I get recognised for that more than I get recognised for anything else I’ve done, by a long shot! Trust me, I did not know that was going to be the case when I wrote that with my friend. So you just do the work, and accept what comes after.”