Domhnall Gleeson - This Charming Man

His roles in Harry Potter and Star Wars made Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson one to watch. Now he’s using ‘the force’ to take on another Hollywood blockbuster.

- Olivia Foster

‘I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, IT’S THE WEIRDEST backhanded compliment ever!’ I’m sitting in a hotel room with Domhnall Gleeson and he’s laughing at being asked what it feels like to be labelled a ‘weird crush’. It’s a tag that has been attached to the actor ever since he played the geekish but utterly adorable Tim Lake in About Time alongside Rachel McAdams in 2013. He thinks about it for a minute, ‘I don’t think I care,’ he says. (For the record, 32-year-old Domhnall – pronounced Doh-nal – is not at all weird. In fact, he’s incredibly Irish and incredibly charming.)

When I first enter the room, Gleeson is singing to himself, waiting for a strong black coffee – he has a long day of interviews ahead of him. He’s tall, slim and shifts constantly about in his seat, waving his arms around expressively as he answers my questions. It’s unsurprising really: hailing from Dublin, the actor is from dramatic stock; his father is Brendan Gleeson, star of Braveheart and Gangs Of New York; his brother Brian is also in the film industry.