Barry Keoghan ponders the forces that have shaped him into the man standing before us today. The Saltburn native, whose parents lost their battle with addiction when he was but a child, now bares his soul, detailing his arduous journey.
"My father succumbed to the same demons that eventually claimed my mother, Debbie," Barry recently confessed to Hollywood Authentic, referencing her passing when he was just 12 years old. "I have also lost two uncles and a cousin to drugs."
"One would think that losing so many loved ones to addiction would serve as a stark warning," he continued. "But curiosity is a potent force. Sometimes it guides us beneficially, and other times, it leads us astray. For me, it was a detrimental detour."
Reflecting on his Dublin upbringing, Barry's memories are tinged with pain. "I recall being a child," he said solemnly, "listening to my mother's cries echoing through the letterbox as she struggled with her heroin addiction, desperation driving her to seek money for her next fix."
Barry's mother fought her battle until her death in 2003, following a stint in rehab. "We were instructed to stay in bed," he recalled, his voice tinged with nostalgia for the inseparable bond he shared with his brother, Eric Keoghan. "We weren't allowed to comfort her."
After his mother's passing, Barry's childhood was a whirlwind of foster homes before finding refuge with his "nannie," Patty. Throughout primary and secondary school, he discovered a passion for acting, albeit briefly banned from school plays due to his bold, misbehaving nature.
Somewhere during this tumultuous period, the Eternals actor found himself grappling with addiction. "I'm no longer in denial," the 32-year-old admitted. "I acknowledge my addiction and embrace my identity as an addict. Accepting this truth has allowed me to move forward and learn to cope."
Even the birth of his two-year-old son, Brando, whom he shares with his ex-partner Alyson Sandro, could not fully extricate him from his perilous habits. "You find yourself in places like LA, Hollywood, where the pressure is immense and the lifestyle is a double-edged sword," he explained. "You're surrounded by temptation, and sometimes, you're the one who succumbs. My scars bear witness to that struggle."
However, in recent months, the Batman actor has taken ownership of his struggles and resolved to channel his energy into becoming a better father. "I am at peace now," Barry said, his voice resolute. "I am accountable for my actions. I am accepting, present, content, and a father."
"I feel like I've finally arrived," he added, his tone tinged with genuine remorse. "I apologize, mostly to myself, for the pain I've inflicted on those around me and myself."
